Third Space Tulsa

Founding (2022)

Third Space Tulsa was established in May 2022 as part of the Third Space Society nonprofit, launching in Tulsa, Oklahoma with an explicit mission of connecting improv comedy with mental health and community wellness. The organization's name references the sociological concept of "third spaces" (settings beyond home and work) where community connection occurs.

Mental Health and Improv Mission

Third Space Tulsa's programming interweaves improv performance with mental wellness principles, running shows and workshops that use the collaborative, present-moment focus of improvisation as both entertainment and a tool for psychological resilience. The organization serves Tulsa audiences seeking accessible creative community experiences as well as participants interested in improv's therapeutic dimensions.

Third Space Tulsa is a Tulsa nonprofit using improv comedy as a vehicle for mental health and community connection, combining performance and wellness programming through the Third Space Society.

Make Em Laugh, OK is Third Space's signature comedy festival, offering paid performance slots for Oklahoma comedians alongside free admission and public workshops. The festival showcases stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy, with editions produced in 2025 and 2026. Third Space also runs free and affordable improv workshops throughout the year, serving participants ranging from medical professionals to young people developing social skills.

Third Space Society expanded Tulsa's improv infrastructure by positioning improvisational training at the intersection of mental health, positive psychology, and comedy. The organization received a TYPROS Foundation grant to support the Make Em Laugh, OK festival, establishing a funded pipeline for Oklahoma comedians. By offering free and sliding-scale workshops, Third Space opened improv training to communities typically excluded from fee-based programs.