The 2010s
89 milestones documented from 2010–2019.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Organization Renamed The Improv Embassy and Incorporated as Nonprofit
In 2016 Dani Alon and Chris Hannay renamed the organization The Improv Embassy and incorporated it as a nonprofit, establishing it as Ottawa's dedicated improv school and festival producer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
DSI Comedy Theater Closes
DSI Comedy Theater permanently closed on August 28, 2017, following the resignation of founder Zach Ward amid allegations of misconduct.
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 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.
The Improv Pit Begins Regular Collingwood Shows
The ensemble that became The Improv Pit began weekly shows in Collingwood in 2018, transitioning from festival touring to a regular local performance schedule.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Shore Thing Theater Founded in Ocean Grove, New Jersey
Ria Torricelli and Mike O'Keeffe founded Shore Thing Theater in Ocean Grove, New Jersey in 2019 as the ComedySportz Jersey Shore franchise, bringing competitive short-form improv to the coast.
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.
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.
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.