The 2010s
96 milestones documented from 2010–2019.
Steel City Improv Theater Founded in Pittsburgh
Justin Zell and Kasey Daley founded Steel City Improv Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2010 after a decade in New York City's improv scene, teaching long-form improv in Lawrenceville before opening their first dedicated theater in East Deutschtown in 2011 and relocating to Shadyside in 2014.
Academy of Improvisation Founded in Sydney
Richard Bennett founded the school in Chatswood, Sydney in 2010 as Improv Theatre Company, introducing Chicago long-form improvisation teaching to Australia. Bennett claims the school was the first in Australia to teach Chicago long-form improvisation, and its 11-level curriculum is the most comprehensive offered by any Australian improv school.
OTRimprov Founded in Cincinnati
OTRimprov was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2010 as a long-form improv collective, initially performing in Know Theatre's "Little Big Night" series before formalizing an independent producing partnership at Know Theatre Underground in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. A distinct organization from Improv Cincinnati (founded 2016), OTRimprov grew from a loose ensemble into an independent producing company with a formal partnership under Know Theatre's Jackson Street Market resource-sharing program.
Salt City Improv Theatre Founded in Syracuse
Salt City Improv Theatre was founded in 2010 in Syracuse, New York, establishing a comedy venue and training program at Shoppingtown Mall in DeWitt. The company operated from a space in Shoppingtown Mall in DeWitt, New York presenting improv, sketch, and stand-up alongside classes.
Comedy Store Players Certified as World's Longest-Running Comedy Show
In 2010, on the troupe's 25th anniversary, Guinness World Records certified the Comedy Store Players as the world's longest-running comedy show. The recognition affirmed the group's unbroken weekly residency at London's Comedy Store since Kit Hollerbach, Dave Cohen, Neil Mullarkey, and Mike Myers first took the stage in October 1985.
Big City Improv Festival Founded in Toronto
Adrianne Gagnon founded the Big City Improv Festival in Toronto in 2011, creating Canada's largest annual improv gathering and a multi-venue showcase for national and international companies. The festival grew to attract performers and troupes from across North America and beyond, becoming a key fixture on the Canadian improv calendar.
Nashville Improv Founded
Nashville Improv was founded in 2011 as a collective of actors and comedians building an improv community in Tennessee, growing by 2012 into a formal company with 15 performers, regular shows, classes, and corporate programming. The company appeared at the Chicago Improv Festival and was featured on Comedy Central's "Drunk History."
Station Theater Founded in Houston
Station Theater grew from the Houston chapter of Austin's The New Movement, which began offering improv classes in 2011 under Shyla Ray. The organization rebranded as Station Theater in fall 2012, establishing a Houston-centric identity and growing into the city's primary independent comedy hub.
Backline Comedy Founded in Omaha
Dylan Oakes Rohde founded Backline Comedy in Omaha, Nebraska in 2011, launching with a single improv class in the basement of Studio Gallery after years performing at UCB and iO West in Los Angeles. The theater grew into Omaha's primary multi-genre comedy institution.
Alchemy Comedy Theater Founded in Greenville
Harrison Brookie, Ben Burris, Jason Underwood, and Meg Pierson, four Clemson University alumni, founded Alchemy Comedy Theater in fall 2011 in the basement of Coffee Underground in downtown Greenville, South Carolina. Located in the basement of Coffee Underground at 1 East Coffee Street in downtown Greenville, the company presents six shows per week combining improv, sketch comedy, and stand-up.
Paper Street Theatre Founded in Victoria, BC
Dave Morris founded Paper Street Theatre in Victoria, British Columbia in 2011, creating a company focused on theatrical long-form improvisation that embodies specific playwright styles and theatrical genres. The company opened a dedicated studio in Victoria in March 2015, produces the Paper Street Theatre Improv Festival, and has performed at festivals in Vancouver, London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Seattle, and Romania.
The Improv Centre Opens on Granville Island
Vancouver TheatreSports League opened its purpose-built 186-seat theatre at 1502 Duranleau Street on Granville Island in 2011, naming it The Improv Centre and expanding to 12 shows per week. The company presents 12 shows per week, 52 weeks per year to more than 60,000 audience members, artists, and students annually.
Vancouver TheatreSports Opens Dedicated Granville Island Theatre
Vancouver TheatreSports League opened its purpose-built 186-seat theatre at 1502 Duranleau Street on Granville Island in 2011, naming it The Improv Centre and expanding to 12 shows per week. One of the earliest companies to adopt Johnstone's Theatresports format, VTSL became one of Canada's most active improv organizations and opened its own dedicated 186-seat theatre on Granville Island in 2011.
Voodoo Comedy Playhouse Opens in Denver
Stephen Wilder opened Voodoo Comedy Playhouse on October 26, 2011, in Denver's Five Points neighborhood, establishing Colorado's primary dedicated improv and comedy venue; the company later rebranded as RISE Comedy. The company operates Colorado's most comprehensive improv comedy training center and is home to Hit and Run Musical Improv, Denver's longest-running improv show.
Josephine Forsberg, Founder of the Players Workshop, Dies in Chicago
Josephine Forsberg died on December 10, 2011 in Chicago at the age of 84. Forsberg founded the Players Workshop in 1971, one of the earliest structured improv schools in the United States, and trained a generation of Chicago performers, including several future Second City cast members.
The Second City Opens a Las Vegas Residency at the Flamingo
In 2012, The Second City opened a residency at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in partnership with Caesars Entertainment, producing satirical revues for hotel audiences. The Las Vegas engagement brought The Second City's performance brand to the largest entertainment hospitality market in North America, adapting its revue format for a tourist audience. The residency was the company's most prominent hotel entertainment venture alongside its Norwegian Cruise Line partnership.
Bristol Improv Network Founded in Bristol
The Bristol Improv Network (later Bristol Improv Theatre) was founded in 2012 as a volunteer-led collective to connect Bristol's improv groups, debuting at Bristol Old Vic's Improv Jam. The company runs the annual Bristol Improv Festival, operates from the Grade II listed Polish Ex-Servicemen's Club building on St Paul's Road in Clifton, and became a registered charity in March 2024.
Improv HI Founded in Honolulu
Kimee Balmilero founded Improv HI in 2012 in Honolulu, establishing Hawaii's primary improv company after training in Los Angeles and New York. The company began as an online event calendar and touring ensemble before acquiring The Tiny Stage in 2020, a dedicated studio and class space at 419 South Street in the Kakaako neighborhood.
Laugh Masters Academy Founded in Sydney
Eran Thomson founded Laugh Masters Academy in Surry Hills, Sydney in 2012, establishing what the school describes as Australia's first dedicated Chicago-style long-form improv and sketch comedy school. The school positions itself as Australia's first dedicated provider of Chicago-style long-form improv and sketch comedy classes, and has produced the Australian Improv Festival.
Providence Improv Guild Founded
Providence Improv Guild was founded in summer 2012 by local improvisers and educators to unify Providence's fragmented improv scene, embedding within the AS220 arts complex at 95 Empire Street. The organization was formed specifically to address the fragmentation of Providence's improv scene, providing a unified weekly performance stage, a four-level class curriculum, and an open-stage policy that incubates new groups.
The Improv Conspiracy Founded in Melbourne
Adam Kangas launched the first public Harold performance and monthly show series in February 2012 in Melbourne, formally founding The Improv Conspiracy after private training sessions began in September 2011. Starting with private Harold-format training sessions, the company opened its own dedicated training centre and theatre at Meyers Place in the Melbourne CBD in March 2015 and has been Melbourne's primary home for Harold-based long-form improvisation since.
Finest City Improv Founded in San Diego
Amy Lisewski founded Finest City Improv in September 2012 to provide San Diego with a dedicated long-form improv performance and training space, beginning with classes at the Ocean Beach Playhouse. Lisewski established the company because San Diego improvisers had no dedicated local performance space and were commuting to Los Angeles.
Compass Improv Founded in St. Louis
Eric Christensen founded Compass Improv as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in St. Louis in October 2012, launching an annual improv festival honoring the city's connection to the original Compass Players (1955) who performed at the Crystal Palace before their Chicago work. The organization developed the CORE Improv school program and detention-center workshops alongside its festival.
Tucson Improv Movement Founded
Justin Lukasewicz founded Tucson Improv Movement on October 25, 2012, in Tucson, Arizona, with the first Improv 101 class on the founding day and the first public performance at Red Barn Theater on December 15, 2012. The Soap Box, Tucson's longest-running long-form team, has performed weekly at T.I.M.
Dojo Comedy Founded in Washington, D.C.
Murphy McHugh founded Dojo Comedy in 2013 in Washington, D.C., opening the District's first dedicated improv and sketch venue at 3503 Georgia Avenue NW in May 2015. The company established itself as a central hub for improv training and performance in the D.C. comedy community.
Bleach Improv Founded in Las Vegas
On the encouragement of comedian Paul Mattingly, Eric Angell, Neil Corso, Kimberly Faubel, Philip Kotler, and Tommy Todd formed Bleach Improv in Las Vegas in 2013. The ensemble adopted white shirts and black pants as their uniform, giving them their name and establishing a weekly long-form improv presence in the city.
Hitchhikers Improv Company Founded in Regina
Andy Parry, Cameron Chomyn, Danny Murphy, and Samantha Gross founded Hitchhikers Improv Company in Regina, Saskatchewan in 2013, beginning in a space above a shoe store and growing into the anchor of the city's improv scene. The company helped establish Regina as a hub for improv comedy in Saskatchewan, growing from a single short-form troupe to a producing organization with multiple performing teams and regular shows at the Artesian on 13th.
Jackalope Comedy Theater Founded in Tulsa
Jackalope Comedy Theater opened in 2013 in Midtown Tulsa at 3406 South Yale Avenue, establishing a dedicated improv and comedy venue in Oklahoma's second city. The intimate 40-seat theater presents weekly improv, sketch, and collaborative comedy shows and offers improv, storytelling, and sketch comedy classes for a Tulsa community served by no other dedicated comedy venue.
Urban Yeti Improv Founded in Anchorage
John Hanus and Mallory Hanus founded Urban Yeti Improv in 2013 in Anchorage, pioneering long-form improv in Alaska. The company performs long-form and short-form improv at venues across Anchorage and at festivals statewide rather than operating a permanent dedicated venue, and is credited as the pioneer of long-form improv in Alaska.
"The UCB Comedy Improvisation Manual" Published
Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh, and Amy Poehler publish "The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual," the most comprehensive written articulation of the UCB approach to long-form improv. The book covers the structure of the Harold in exceptional detail, addresses the principles of game-based scenework, and provides exercises for developing the skills the UCB curriculum emphasizes. The manual becomes the primary text for UCB training programs worldwide and shapes how long-form improv is taught in the twenty-first century.
Bernie Sahlins, Co-Founder and Producer of The Second City, Dies in Chicago
Bernie Sahlins died on June 16, 2013 in Chicago at the age of 90. Sahlins invested the initial $6,000 to open The Second City in 1959 and served as its producer for three decades, guiding the institution through its formative years and establishing it as the most influential comedy theatre in North America.
Impatient Theatre Co. closes in July 2013
The Impatient Theatre Co. closed in July 2013 after a twelve-year run under Kevin Patrick Robbins. The closure marked the end of one of Toronto's most visible long-form institutions, ended the company's role as Toronto's primary Harold-based training centre, and forced the cancellation of the planned 2013 Toronto International Improv Festival.
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Opens a Second Los Angeles Venue on Sunset Boulevard
In 2014, the Upright Citizens Brigade opened a second Los Angeles location at 5419 Sunset Boulevard, a larger facility incorporating a theatre, training centre, production offices, and a performance space called the Inner Sanctum. The Sunset Boulevard venue significantly expanded UCB's West Coast capacity and represented the organisation's peak physical footprint before the pandemic. The Sunset location was sold in December 2020 during the COVID-19 shutdown.
Moment Improv Theatre Founded in San Francisco
Marcus Sams founded Moment Improv Theatre in San Francisco in 2014 at 533 Sutter St, establishing one of the first African American-owned improv theatres and training centers in the United States. The organization operates in the San Francisco Harold tradition with an emphasis on authenticity and inclusive community-building.
ImprovBroadway Opens in Provo
ImprovBroadway opened in 2014 in Provo, Utah, as the state's first full-time comedy theater and school, specializing in improvised musical comedy. Located at 496 North 900 East in Provo, the company presents improvised musicals blending short-form games, scenes, songs, and fully improvised musical shows with a family-friendly and clean comedy orientation.
Improv Theatre Sydney Founded by Carlo Ritchie and Steen Raskopoulos
Carlo Ritchie and Steen Raskopoulos founded Improv Theatre Sydney in 2014, growing from 16 students in their first class to over 200 enrolments and establishing Sydney's primary improv training institution. Starting with classes at various inner-west venues, ITS opened its purpose-built dedicated space at 44-54 Botany Road in Redfern in 2019 with two classrooms, a bar, and a 50-seat theatre.
Laugh Index Theatre Established as LIT Comedy
Nancy Safavi formalized Laugh Index Theatre as a regular comedy school and performance organization in Washington, D.C. in 2014, building on a performance group and production brand that began in 2010. comedy organization founded by Nancy Safavi, tracing its origins to a performance group called Hot and Sweaty in 2010, formalized as Laugh Index Theatre with a regular training program in 2014, and incorporated as LIT Comedy Inc.
Social Capital Theatre Founded in Toronto
Ralph MacLeod, Carmine Lucarelli, and Kerri Griffin founded Social Capital Theatre at 154 Danforth Avenue in Toronto around 2014, creating a multi-form independent performing arts venue above the Black Swan Tavern. The venue hosts up to six shows per night across improv, sketch, stand-up, independent theatre, storytelling, burlesque, and music, alongside an improv school and weekly drop-in classes.
Experimental Farm Theatre Founded in Ottawa
Dani Alon and Chris Hannay began producing shows in Ottawa in summer 2014 under the name Experimental Farm Theatre, the organization that would become The Improv Embassy. Based at Arts Court Theatre, the organization runs classes from beginner through advanced levels and produces the Ottawa Improv Festival.
Sour Dog Theatre Founded in Calgary
Ali Froggatt, Sarah Ferguson, and Quinn Contini founded Sour Dog Theatre in Calgary, Alberta in 2014, the company that would later become Tightrope Theatre in Vancouver. Based in Mount Pleasant, Tightrope presents weekly improv shows, runs classes for all experience levels, and offers applied improv programs in partnership with the Parkinson Society of BC and the BC Brain Wellness Program.
Unscrewed Theater Opens Tucson's First Dedicated Improv Venue
Unscrewed Theater opened its first dedicated performance space at 3244 East Speedway Boulevard on January 30, 2014, becoming Tucson's first theatre devoted exclusively to improv comedy. In 2018 the theatre relocated to 4500 East Speedway Boulevard, where it continues to run weekly performances and open-enrollment improv classes.
Harold Ramis, Second City Alumnus and Comedy Filmmaker, Dies in Chicago
Harold Ramis died on February 24, 2014 in Chicago at the age of 69. Ramis trained and performed at The Second City before co-writing "Animal House" and "Ghostbusters" and directing "Caddyshack" and "Groundhog Day." His career demonstrated the direct pipeline from Chicago improv training to Hollywood comedy.
iO Theater Relocates to Purpose-Built Kingsbury Street Venue
In August 2014, Charna Halpern purchased a building in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighbourhood and relocated iO Theater to 1501 North Kingsbury Street, a purpose-built multi-stage venue designed specifically for improv performance and training. The Kingsbury Street facility was the most significant capital investment in the theatre's history, providing dedicated performance spaces, rehearsal rooms, and a bar. It served as iO's home from 2014 until the pandemic closure announced in June 2020.
Jamie Wyllie, Co-Founder of the Canadian Improv Games, Dies at Age Fifty-Six
Jamie Wyllie, who co-founded the Canadian Improv Games in 1977 alongside Howard Jerome and devoted thirty-seven years to building the organization, died in October 2014 at age 56 after complications from leukemia. Wyllie served as primary organizer and board chair through stretches when institutional support was uncertain, personally securing sponsors and managing matters that sustained the organization’s growth from eight Ottawa high school teams to a national program with fourteen regional chapters.
The Free Association Gives First Show in London
Graham Dickson founded The Free Association with its first show above the De Beauvoir Arms in Haggerston on October 19, 2014, introducing a UCB and iO-style long-form improv school model to the UK. The company offers a six-level Harold-based curriculum modelled on the UCB and iO schools where Dickson trained.
Mike Nichols, Compass Players Alumnus and Acclaimed Director, Dies in New York
Mike Nichols died on November 19, 2014 in New York City at the age of 83. Nichols began his career improvising with the Compass Players in Chicago, where he developed a celebrated comedy partnership with Elaine May. He went on to become one of the most decorated directors in American entertainment, winning Oscar, Emmy, Tony, and Grammy awards.
The Revival Opens in Chicago's Hyde Park Near the Compass Players' Original Stage
John Stoops founded The Revival in 2015 at 1160 E. 55th Street in Chicago's Hyde Park neighbourhood, siting the theatre near the corner of 55th Street and University Avenue where the Compass Players had performed in 1955. The location was chosen to connect the new venue to the birthplace of American long-form improvisation and to bring improv performance and training to Chicago's South Side.
Reno Improv Founded
Ben Craig and Aurora Boles co-founded Reno Improv in Reno, Nevada in 2015 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, establishing the city's first dedicated improv organization with an explicit mission of inclusion and accessibility. Craig had performed with Second City Las Vegas and found no improv community in Reno after moving there in 2004.
The Second City Ends Its Las Vegas Flamingo Residency
The Second City ended its Las Vegas residency at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in 2015, concluding a three-year engagement with Caesars Entertainment. The closure returned the company's primary hospitality entertainment focus to its Norwegian Cruise Line partnership. The Las Vegas residency had extended The Second City's commercial performance reach beyond its core Chicago and Toronto home markets and its touring operations.
Big Fork Theatre Founded in Brisbane
Cameron Watson, Rosa Sottile, Taylor Edwards, and Chris Martin founded Big Fork Theatre in Brisbane in 2015, bringing Chicago-trained improv and sketch comedy to Queensland. All four original founders trained at iO Chicago and other major North American improv institutions.
Guild Theater Founded in Lawrence, Kansas
John Robison founded Guild Theater in Lawrence, Kansas in 2015, establishing the Lawrence Improv Guild as a performance and training home for the local improv community. The company offers long-form and short-form improv performances and classes for performers at all experience levels.
Paper Street Theatre Opens Victoria Studio
Paper Street Theatre opened a dedicated studio space in Victoria, BC in March 2015, providing a permanent home for rehearsals, classes, and performances. The company opened a dedicated studio in Victoria in March 2015, produces the Paper Street Theatre Improv Festival, and has performed at festivals in Vancouver, London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Seattle, and Romania.
Improv Conspiracy Opens Dedicated Theatre at Meyers Place
In March 2015, The Improv Conspiracy opened its own training centre and theatre at 1/19 Meyers Place, Melbourne CBD, consolidating all shows at the new venue from January 2016. Starting with private Harold-format training sessions, the company opened its own dedicated training centre and theatre at Meyers Place in the Melbourne CBD in March 2015 and has been Melbourne's primary home for Harold-based long-form improvisation since.
Villain Theater Founded in Miami
Peter Mir and Jeff Quintana founded Villain Theater in August 2015 in Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood, establishing Chicago-style long-form improv and alternative comedy in South Florida. The company established Chicago-style long-form improv in South Florida alongside sketch, devised comedy, stand-up, and drag programming.
ImproQuo Founded in Manchester
Eji Osigwe founded ImproQuo in Manchester in October 2015, introducing structured improv and character-building training to fill a gap in the city's offering. Within months of its founding, ImproQuo grew from a single class to a multi-level programme, becoming Manchester's dedicated provider of improv training.
Vermont Comedy Club Opens in Burlington
Nathan Hartswick and Natalie Miller opened Vermont Comedy Club in November 2015 at 101 Main Street in Burlington, Vermont, creating the state's first dedicated comedy club with an attached school and bar. The club presents professional stand-up and improv performances, hosts sketch comedy productions, and offers comedy training through its school.
Improv Cincinnati Founded
Colin Thornton and Jon Ulrich co-founded Improv Cincinnati in 2016, launching with 9 students and growing to over 300 enrolled annually. The organization established its home at 404 Ludlow Ave in Cincinnati's Clifton Gaslight District, operating as the Clifton Comedy Theatre.
Strike Theater Opens in Minneapolis
Strike Theater opened in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2016 in the North Loop neighborhood, providing a permanent home for improv, sketch, and stand-up comedy in the Twin Cities. The venue developed class programming and house team performances alongside its bar and event space operations.
Central Kentucky Improv Founded in Lexington
Central Kentucky Improv was established in Lexington, Kentucky in 2016 as a nonprofit organization, providing performance opportunities and training while building toward an annual festival. The organization focuses on community building through performances, workshops, and its annual improv festival, serving improvisers across the Central Kentucky region.
The Focus Theater Opens in Rochester
The Focus Theater opened in 2016 in Rochester's South Wedge neighborhood, offering improv and comedy programming and multi-level training to the Rochester area. Co-owner Austin Scott, who has performed in Rochester improv for over fifteen years, leads programming that includes multi-level improv and sketch classes alongside Friday and Saturday performances.
London Improv Theatre Founded in West Hampstead
Jake Lyons founded London Improv Theatre in 2016 at 104 Finchley Road, West Hampstead, establishing a dedicated short-form improv venue in the area. Lyons established the venue in response to a perceived shortage of dedicated short-form improv spaces in London, focusing on audience-accessible formats in the style of Whose Line Is It Anyway?.
Haroldfest Launches in Toronto
Martha Stortz founded Haroldfest, Toronto's long-form improv festival, in 2016, preceding the opening of The Assembly Theatre's physical home and signaling the collective's mission to establish a dedicated long-form improv space in the city. Described as Toronto's only dedicated long-form improv company, The Assembly hosts 14 or more resident long-form teams and produces Haroldfest, Toronto's annual long-form improv festival.
Ottawa Improv School Rebrands as The Improv Embassy and Incorporates as Nonprofit
In 2016, Dani Alon and Chris Hannay renamed their Ottawa improv school The Improv Embassy and incorporated it as a nonprofit organization. The rebrand established The Improv Embassy as Ottawa's dedicated improv training centre and festival producer. Based at Arts Court Theatre, the organization runs classes from beginner through advanced levels and produces the Ottawa Improv Festival.
Kevin Hanssen Takes HIFA Hit Production to Rosebank Theatre
In March 2016, Kevin Hanssen, founder of The Impro Show, brought a production that had been a hit at the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) to Rosebank Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa. The engagement marked a notable expansion of The Impro Show's reach beyond Zimbabwe into the South African market.
Glasgow Improv Theatre Founded
Martin James founded Glasgow Improv Theatre in April 2016 with the first Harold Night at The Griffin pub, establishing Scotland's first dedicated improv organisation on the UCB long-form model. Beginning with a monthly Harold Night at The Griffin pub in April 2016, the company moved to The Old Hairdressers on Renfield Lane and now offers a full training curriculum alongside weekly shows including Harold Night and Perfect Improv.
Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte Founded
Abigail Head and Kevin Shimko co-founded the Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte (CATCh) on November 16, 2016, establishing a long-form improv venue focused on theatrical, character-driven performance. The company opened its first permanent venue in February 2019 at 4200 South Blvd in Charlotte.
Nest Theatre Founded in Columbus, Ohio
Tara DeFrancisco and Rance Rizzutto, alumni of iO Theater and The Second City, founded Nest Theatre in Columbus, Ohio in November 2016, bringing Chicago-style long-form training to Central Ohio. The theater offers classes, workshops, and regular performances rooted in the Harold tradition and Chicago-style long-form.
Queen City Improv Founded in Manchester, New Hampshire
Queen City Improv was founded in Manchester, New Hampshire in 2017, bringing short-form improv comedy to the state's largest city. The company performs regularly for Manchester-area audiences, establishing a local improv presence in a region with few dedicated comedy venues.
Baltimore Improv Group Opens Station North Venue
Baltimore Improv Group opened its permanent home at 1727 North Charles Street in Baltimore's Station North Arts District in 2017, gaining its first dedicated performance and training space. The company moved into a dedicated venue at 1727 North Charles Street in Baltimore's Station North Arts District in 2017, offering long-form improv performances and classes to the Baltimore community.
Stomping Ground Comedy Theater Founded in Dallas
Lindsay Goldapp and Andrea K. Baum founded Stomping Ground Comedy Theater as a nonprofit in the Dallas Design District in 2017, creating a dedicated home for long-form improv and comedy education in the DFW metro. Located in the Dallas Design District, Stomping Ground produces long-form improv shows, runs a full curriculum of comedy classes, and presents themed variety events for the DFW community.
Vegas Improv Power Founded in Las Vegas
Natalie Sullivan and Ryan Neufeld founded Vegas Improv Power in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2017, establishing a dedicated improv performance and training company in a city dominated by large-scale entertainment. The company offers improv performances and classes in Las Vegas, building a local improv community in a city better known for large-scale entertainment.
Second Beat Improv Theater Opens in Phoenix
Sam Haldiman opened Second Beat Improv Theater in Phoenix, Arizona on January 7, 2017, drawing on training at iO Theater and Annoyance Theater in Chicago and experience as training director at The Torch Theatre. The theater brought dedicated long-form improv to the Phoenix market.
Gary Austin, Founder of The Groundlings, Dies in Los Angeles
Gary Austin died on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles at the age of 75. Austin studied with Viola Spolin and founded The Groundlings in 1974, building it into one of the most influential improv comedy companies in the United States and a major pipeline for television comedy performers.
DSI Comedy Theater Closes
DSI Comedy Theater permanently closed on August 28, 2017, following the resignation of founder Zach Ward. The company ran a multi-level training center and hosted the North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival, one of the largest annual improv festivals in the country.
MMA Improv Founded in Anchorage, Alaska
Darryl Akins founded MMA Improv in Anchorage, Alaska in September 2017 as a nonprofit focused on representation for performers of color, making it one of the very few improv organizations operating in Alaska. The organization centers on representation and inclusion for performers of color, offering improv classes, workshops, and performances that reflect Anchorage's diverse community.
The Assembly Theatre Opens at 1479 Queen Street West
Geoffrey Cork, Martha Stortz, and Spencer Thompson opened The Assembly Theatre at 1479 Queen Street West, Toronto in September 2017 in partnership with Leroy Street Theatre, establishing Toronto's dedicated long-form improv home. Described as Toronto's only dedicated long-form improv company, The Assembly hosts 14 or more resident long-form teams and produces Haroldfest, Toronto's annual long-form improv festival.
Anubis Improv Founded in New Orleans
David James Hamilton founded Anubis Improv in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2018, establishing long-form improv comedy in a city with limited dedicated comedy infrastructure. The company later established a second location in Oxford, Mississippi in 2022, bringing long-form improv performance and training to both communities.
Improv Falls Founded in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Improv Falls was founded in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 2018, establishing short-form improv comedy performance in one of the few such companies operating in the state. The company performs short-form improv shows at the Icon Lounge, bringing live audience-interactive comedy to the Sioux Falls community.
Improv Incubator Founded in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Anthony Jensen founded Improv Incubator in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 2018, establishing long-form improv performance and training in Eastern Iowa. The organization provides long-form improv performance and training to the Eastern Iowa community, operating as one of the few dedicated improv companies in the state.
Rocket Improv Comedy Founded in Maplewood, New Jersey
Lulu French founded Rocket Improv Comedy in Maplewood, New Jersey in 2018, creating a youth-focused improv education program for young performers in Northern New Jersey. The company specializes in improv comedy education and performance for young people, providing classes and shows that build confidence and creative skills through the principles of improvisation.
The Improv Pit Begins Regular Weekly Shows in Collingwood, Ontario
The Improv Pit began presenting weekly improv shows in Collingwood, Ontario in 2018, transitioning from festival touring to a regular local performance schedule. The company became the primary live improv presence in the Georgian Bay region. The company grew out of a performing ensemble that toured festival circuits before establishing regular shows in Collingwood from 2018 and formally branding as The Improv Pit in 2020.
iO West Closes Permanently in Los Angeles After Twenty-One Years in Hollywood
On February 24, 2018, iO West closed permanently at 6366 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, ending twenty-one years of West Coast operations. iO West had been founded in 1997 by former iO Chicago student Paul Vaillancourt and grew into one of the most prominent improv training venues in Los Angeles, training thousands of performers over its two decades. The closure consolidated iO Theater's operations entirely to Chicago after years of bicoastal presence.
Rozzie Square Theater Founded in Roslindale, Boston
Courtney Pong founded Rozzie Square Theater in May 2018 in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston, combining ComedySportz short-form and Riot Improv long-form into a neighborhood comedy venue. The company combines ComedySportz short-form play with Riot Improv long-form formats, offering performances and classes in an accessible neighborhood setting.
ComedySportz Las Vegas Founded
Robert Cochrane and Justin Green secured the CSz Worldwide franchise for Las Vegas in June 2018, launching the company's first show in September 2018. Cochrane had first sought the franchise in the early 2000s after performing with Second City Las Vegas; a decade of negotiations preceded the successful launch.
Bandit Theater Founded in Seattle
Annie Barry founded Bandit Theater in Seattle, Washington in August 2018, establishing the city's only female-founded and female-run improv theatre as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The organization grew to serve over 4,500 audience members annually and enroll 330 students in its training programs.
Belfast Improv Comedy Festival Launched
Paul Mone launched the Belfast Improv Comedy Festival on August 1-5, 2018, the first improv festival in Northern Ireland, featuring companies from Chicago, Shanghai, London, Dublin, Galway, and Detroit. Mone began teaching classes at Accidental Theatre in Shaftesbury Square, grew to 150+ students and multiple nights per week, and launched the Belfast Improv Comedy Festival in August 2018.
Logan Square Improv Opens in Chicago's Logan Square Neighbourhood
Alex Prichodko and Andrew Lemna co-founded Logan Square Improv in November 2018, opening a non-profit improv venue in Chicago's Logan Square neighbourhood. Built on an accessibility model: no formal auditions, rotating independent ensembles, shows priced between free and five dollars, the theatre was named Best New Theater Company by the Chicago Reader in 2019 and became one of the city's most active independent improv venues.
David Shepherd, Co-Founder of the Compass Players, Dies in New York
David Shepherd died on November 2, 2018 in New York City at the age of 94. Shepherd co-founded the Compass Players with Paul Sills in 1955 and later created ImprovOlympic's predecessor, making him one of the architects of professional improvisational theatre in America.
Last Best Comedy Founded in Bozeman
Levin and Annie O'Connor and Molly Hannan founded Last Best Comedy in Bozeman, Montana in 2019, connecting with local performers and producing shows before opening a dedicated venue in the historic Bozeman Hotel in September 2021. The venue became self-described as Montana's first comedy club.
The Faculty Lounge Founded in New Mexico
Rachel Michaela and Brian Crane founded The Faculty Lounge in the summer of 2019 as New Mexico's first dedicated long-form improv ensemble, performing at partner venues across Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Performing at partner venues across the state including Jean Cocteau Cinema in Santa Fe and venues in Albuquerque, the group bills itself as New Mexico's longest-running professional long-form improv team.
Improv New Mexico Founded in Santa Fe
Peter and Danette Sills founded Improv New Mexico in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2019 under the Stage Santa Fe name, creating an improv performance and training organization for Northern New Mexico. Founded in 2019 by Peter and Danette Sills and later led by Rachel Michaela as Executive Director, the organization serves New Mexico's comedy community.
Improv Theatre Sydney Opens Dedicated Redfern Venue
ITS opened its purpose-built venue at 44-54 Botany Road, Redfern in 2019, featuring two classrooms, a bar, and a 50-seat theatre, marking the first purpose-built improv theatre in Sydney. Starting with classes at various inner-west venues, ITS opened its purpose-built dedicated space at 44-54 Botany Road in Redfern in 2019 with two classrooms, a bar, and a 50-seat theatre.
Shenanigans Comedy Theatre Founded in Huntsville, Alabama
Kimberly Wilson and Jessica Cotton founded Shenanigans Comedy Theatre as a nonprofit in Huntsville, Alabama in 2019, establishing improv and sketch comedy programming in North Alabama. The company provides improv performances, sketch shows, and comedy classes to the North Alabama community.
Yes &Co. Improv Founded in Portland, Maine
Yes &Co. Improv was founded in Portland, Maine in 2019, establishing long-form and storytelling-focused improv comedy performance and training in Maine's largest city. The organization brings long-form improv and narrative-driven comedy to Maine's largest city, providing performance and training for the Portland area community.
Shore Thing Theater Founded in Ocean Grove, New Jersey
Ria Torricelli founded Shore Thing Theater in Ocean Grove, New Jersey in 2019 as the ComedySportz Jersey Shore franchise, bringing competitive short-form improv to the Jersey Shore coast. Governed by a women-led board, the theater operates as both a performing venue and training center with an open-access financial policy.
Flying Pig Improv Founded in Wichita
Jessie Gray founded Flying Pig Improv on April 20, 2019 in Wichita, Kansas, bringing 35+ years of San Francisco Bay Area improv performance and teaching experience back to her hometown. By 2023-2024 the school had hosted over 300 shows for more than 7,000 audience members and graduated 600+ students.