Chaotic Good Improv

Founding (2020)

Chaotic Good Improv was established in Birmingham, Alabama in 2020, adding a short-form improv comedy presence to the city's arts scene. The company performs at the Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema in Birmingham's arts district, pairing improv comedy with one of the city's established arts venues.

Programming

Chaotic Good runs audience-driven short-form improv shows, drawing suggestions and participation from Birmingham audiences. The Sidewalk Film Center partnership gives the company a reliable performance home in a venue that also serves Birmingham's independent film community.

Chaotic Good Improv delivers short-form audience-interactive improv to Birmingham's arts district through its home at the Sidewalk Film Center.

Improv! at the Cinema is a fast-paced short-form show performed at Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema with full bar service, the company's primary recurring public venue. Roll for Chaos! is a Dungeons and Dragons-inspired improv show in which the cast guides audiences through an improvised adventure campaign. The Wizarding World of CGI is a magical-themed production with interactive audience participation. Player Vs. Player pits two teams against each other in scored head-to-head games judged by the audience. Wheel of Chaos selects games and performers at random for fully spontaneous combinations. Chaos in the Heights is a more intimate show at Cala Coffee in Cahaba Heights. Tuesday Night Jackbox Games is a recurring online show streamed on Twitch, Facebook, and YouTube featuring interactive digital games with live audience participation.

Chaotic Good Improv was formed during the COVID-19 pandemic by performers who had worked together for years and sought to keep their craft and community alive through virtual shows during lockdowns. The ensemble transitioned to in-person performances once conditions allowed, establishing partnerships with Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema in downtown Birmingham and venues in the Cahaba Heights neighborhood to bring short-form improv to multiple pockets of the metro area. The company's name references the Dungeons and Dragons alignment system, a reflection of the playful, audience-forward sensibility that characterizes its programming.

CGI operates under six stated core values: creativity through integrity, transparency and authenticity, safe and supportive environments, inclusivity, community benefit through improv, and respect for the privilege of entertaining audiences. Beyond stage performances, the company offers corporate training workshops and has maintained a digital audience through its Twitch channel, extending Birmingham improv beyond the physical theater. The company's breadth of themed productions, from RPG adventure to love-story formats to competitive game shows, reflects a programming philosophy oriented toward accessibility and variety for audiences unfamiliar with improv conventions.