YES&Co.

Founding (2019)

Yes &Co. Improv was established in Portland, Maine in 2019, adding a dedicated long-form improv and storytelling company to the Portland comedy scene. The organization's programming emphasizes the narrative and character dimensions of long-form improv alongside traditional game-based approaches.

Programming

Yes &Co. runs shows and workshops in Portland, serving performers and audiences in a New England coastal city with a small but engaged arts community. The company's storytelling focus reflects an interest in improv as a vehicle for character-driven narrative as well as moment-to-moment play.

Yes &Co. Improv brings long-form and storytelling-focused improv comedy to Portland, Maine, building the city's improv community through performance and training.

YES&Co. performs on the second Saturday of each month at the Portland Media Center in downtown Portland, Maine. Each show pairs the improv ensemble with a guest storyteller who shares a true personal narrative, which the improvisers then use as source material for scenes. Past featured storytellers have included Chris DeFilipp, Leonard Kimble, Natalie Dibenedetto, and Joshua N Hsu. The company has also collaborated with Running With Scissors and Maine Improv Studio for joint performances.

Founded in 2019 by a group that met through a Portland Adult Education improv class, YES&Co. created a distinctive format that merges improvisational comedy with non-fiction storytelling. Founding member Tara brought over 25 years of improv teaching and performing experience, while co-founder Charlie contributed physical comedy skills honed over eight years of performance. The storyteller-driven format distinguished YES&Co. from other Portland comedy groups by grounding every show in real human experience rather than pure audience suggestions.