Improv Asylum

Founding (1997-1998)

Paul D'Amato, Norm Laviolette, and Chet Harding were performing together in a troupe called Rock Hard Improv at the Hard Rock Cafe on Clarendon Street in Boston when the venue converted its performance space to music in spring 1997. The three incorporated in summer 1997, secured a $75,000 SBA loan, signed a five-year lease on a vacant restaurant at 216 Hanover St in Boston's North End, and opened in May 1998.

Growth and Reputation

Over the following 27 years, Improv Asylum became one of New England's premier comedy institutions, performing over 7,500 shows for more than 2 million audience members. The company was repeatedly voted Boston's Best Comedy and expanded to include a co-working space alongside its theatrical programming.

Flood and Rebuild (2025)

In March 2025, St. Patrick's Day weekend flooding deposited a foot and a half of water in the original 216 Hanover St venue. The company temporarily relocated to 74 Warrenton St ("The Lil Chuck") while undertaking a full million-dollar rebuild of the original space. The original location reopened in October 2025.

Improv Asylum's mainstage show blends scripted sketch comedy with improvised scenes, combining theatrical precision with spontaneous performance in a single cohesive program. This hybrid format distinguishes the company from purely improvised shows and from purely scripted sketch revues, situating it in the tradition of Chicago review-style comedy adapted for the Boston market.