Minnesota
Cities
Historical Moments
Dudley Riggs Establishes the Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis
Dudley Riggs, a fifth-generation circus aerialist, established the Instant Theatre Company and settled permanently in Minneapolis in 1958. In 1961, the company was renamed the Brave New Workshop, a reference to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, and moved to 2605 Hennepin Avenue, which became its home for four decades. The company went on to produce nearly 400 original satirical revues.
HUGE Theater Founded in Minneapolis
Jill Bernard founded HUGE Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2009, establishing the Twin Cities' first dedicated long-form improv venue. The company grew to include house ensembles, a training program, and the annual HUGE Improv Festival. Over fifteen years, HUGE built a substantial class program, hosted national improv festivals, and trained a generation of Minnesota improvisers before financial pressures forced its permanent closure.
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.
Dudley Riggs, Founder of the Brave New Workshop, Dies in Minneapolis
Dudley Riggs died on October 14, 2020 in Minneapolis at the age of 88. The former circus aerialist founded the Brave New Workshop in 1958, making it the oldest continuously operating satirical comedy theatre in the United States. Riggs pioneered audience-interactive comedy in Minneapolis over six decades.
HUGE Theater Closes Permanently
HUGE Theater closed permanently in October 2024 after fifteen years as the Twin Cities' primary long-form improv venue. Founder Jill Bernard cited financial pressures including rising costs and the lasting impact of the 2020-2021 pandemic closure on the company's audience base.
Includes moments from child regions. View full timeline →
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Minnesota. Retrieved March 23, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/locales/north-america/united-states/minnesota
The Improv Archive. "Minnesota." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/locales/north-america/united-states/minnesota.
The Improv Archive. "Minnesota." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/locales/north-america/united-states/minnesota. Accessed March 23, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.