Imposters Theater

Founding (2021)

Michael Busch, a Cleveland native who had spent 15 years in Los Angeles' comedy scene, returned home in 2021 noting that Columbus, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Pittsburgh all had multiple comedy and improv theatres while Cleveland lacked a permanent dedicated alternative comedy space. Busch founded Imposters Theater in August 2021, launching as a 20-person intimate venue that quickly became a Cleveland Chain Reaction semi-finalist and secured a 10-month residency in the Tremont Business Incubator.

Permanent Venue (2022)

In fall 2022 Busch ran a Kickstarter campaign to fund a permanent 1,200-square-foot space on Lorain Avenue in the Ohio City neighborhood. The campaign succeeded, giving Imposters a dedicated home at 4828 Lorain Ave described as "Northeast Ohio's first permanent home of improv" since the region lost its prior comedy institutions.

Ongoing Operations

Imposters Theater continues to operate at 4828 Lorain Ave in Ohio City, presenting improv, sketch, and alternative comedy programming.

Imposters Theater presents improv, sketch, and alternative comedy with a deliberately inclusive and community-oriented identity. Busch's Los Angeles experience informs the programming while the Ohio City location grounds the venue in Cleveland's independent arts district. The theater positions itself as both a performance space and a community hub for Northeast Ohio's comedy scene.