List of improvisational theatre companies explained

Improvisational theatre companies, also known as improv troupes or improv groups, are the primary practitioners of improvisational theater. Modern companies exist around the world and at a range of skill levels. Most groups make little or no money, while a few, well-established groups are profitable.

Although improvisational theater has existed in some form or another since the 16th century,^[1] modern improv began with the teachings of Viola Spolin in Chicago, Illinois, USA and Keith Johnstone during the 1940-50s in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.^{[2] [3]} Spolin's teachings led to the creation of The Compass Players, the first modern improvisational theater company, in 1955. The presence of The Compass Players, The Second City, and ImprovOlympic in Chicago created a strength in the form within the city that continues to this day.^[4] New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Toronto are other major hubs of improvisational theater in the North America.

Many companies host improvisational theatre festivals or give improvisational theatre classes. Professional groups often perform a regular stage show acted by the most senior members. Along with this, they host "house" improv teams made up of improv students or graduates from their classes. In the past decade, professional improvisational theater groups have gradually started working more with corporate clients, using improvisational games to improve productivity and communication in the workplace.

Major Professional companies have branches in more than one city, have touring groups, and/or host large-scale improvisational comedy schools. Professional troupes are those not affiliated with a university or secondary school. Collegiate groups are those associated with a post-secondary educational institution. If a company performs more than one type of improvisational comedy, they are defined as using Multiple improvisational comedy types. If it is unclear what particular kind of improvisational comedy a group performs, they are defined as Improvisational. Those marked Semi-improvisational generally perform shows that are partially improvised and partially scripted.

The following is a list of noteworthy improvisational theatre companies from around the world.

Improvisational theatre companies in Canada

Name	Group Level	Improv Type	Location	Date Established	Reference
The Bad Dog Theatre Company	Professional	Multiple	Toronto, Ontario	2003
Die-Nasty	Professional	Television	Edmonton, Alberta	1991	^[5] ^[6]
Ligue nationale d'improvisation	Professional	Improvisational	Quebec	1977
Loose Moose Theatre	Professional	Theatresports	Calgary, Alberta	1977	^[7]
Rapid Fire Theatre	Professional	Theatresports	Edmonton, Alberta	1982

Improvisational theatre companies in the United States

Name	Group Level	Improv Type	Location	Date Established	Reference
ACME Comedy Theatre	Professional	Theatresports	Los Angeles, California	1989	^[8]
Baltimore Improv Group	Professional	Multiple	Baltimore, Maryland	2004	^[9] ^[10] ^[11] ^[12] ^[13] ^[14] ^[15]
The Annoyance Theatre	Professional	Improvisational	Chicago, Illinois	1987
Bassprov	Professional	Long-form	Chicago	2000	^[16]
BATS Improv	Major Professional	Theatresports, Long-form, Musicals	San Francisco, California	1986
The Bent Theatre	Professional	Multiple	Charlottesville, Virginia	2004	^[17]
Blackout Improv	Professional	-	Minneapolis, Minnesota	2015	^[18] ^[19]
Bovine Metropolis Theater	Professional	Multiple	Denver, Colorado	1998	^[20]
The Brave New Workshop Comedy Theatre	Professional	Multiple	Minneapolis, Minnesota	1958	^[21]
Chicago City Limits	Major Professional	Shortform	New York City, New York	1977	^[22] ^[23]
Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte	Professional	Longform	Charlotte, NC	2016	^[24]
ComedySportz	Major Professional	Shortform	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	1984	^[25]
Compass Players	Professional	Cabaret	Chicago, Illinois	1955*	^[26]
Complete Theater Company	Professional	Improvisational	Manhattan, New York	2009	^[27]
Dad's Garage Theatre Company	Professional	Multiple	Atlanta, Georgia	1995	^[28]
Dead Parrot's Society	Collegiate	Multiple	Bellingham, Washington	1998	^[29] ^[30] ^[31]
The Diggers	Professional	Guerrilla	San Francisco, California	1966*	^[32]
Erasable Inc.	Collegiate	Improvisational	College Park, Maryland	1986	^[33]
Face Off Unlimited	Professional	Multiple	New York City, New York	2003	^[34]
The Focus Group	Professional	Long-form	Bangor, Maine	2009
Friday Night Improvs	Collegiate	Improv Jam	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	1989
The Groundlings	Major Professional	Semi-improvisational	Los Angeles, California	1974
Highwire Improv	Professional	Multiple	Baltimore, Maryland	2020	^[35] ^[36]
HUGE Theater	Professional	Long-form	Minneapolis, Minnesota	2005	^[37]
The Immediate Gratification Players	Collegiate	Long-form	Cambridge, Massachusetts	1986	^[38]
ImprovOlympic	Major Professional	the Harold	Chicago, Illinois	1980	^[39]
Improvolution	Professional		New York City, New York	2002	^[40]
Improv Asylum	Major Professional	Semi-improvisational	Boston, Massachusetts	1998	^[41]
ImprovBoston	Major Professional	Multiple	Cambridge, Massachusetts	1982	^[42]
Improv Everywhere	Professional	Guerrilla	New York City, New York	2001	^[43]
Improv for the People	Professional	Multiple	Los Angeles, California	2009
Improv Institute	Professional	Improvisational	Chicago, Illinois	1983*
Jet City Improv	Professional	Multiple	Seattle, Washington	1992	^[44]
Just Add Water	Collegiate	Improvisational	New Haven, Connecticut	1986	^[45]
Laughing Matters	Professional	Shortform	Atlanta, Georgia	1985	^[46]
The Lobby	Professional	Shortform	Fullerton, California	2005	^[47]
Madcap Theater	Professional	Shortform	Westminster, Colorado	2006	^[48]
Magnet Theater	Major Professional	Long-Form	New York City, New York	2005	^[49]
The N Crowd	Professional	Shortform	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	2005	^[50]
The National Comedy Theatre	Major Professional	Shortform	San Diego, California		^[51]
On Thin Ice	Collegiate	Shortform	Cambridge, Massachusetts	1984	^[52]
Peoples Improv Theater	Major Professional	Multiple	New York City, New York	2002	^[53]
Philly Improv Theater (PHIT)	Major Professional	Multiple	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	2005	^[54]
The Playground	Professional	Long-form	Chicago, Illinois	1997
Providence Improv Guild	Professional	Multiple	Providence, Rhode Island	2013	^[55]
The Purple Crayon of Yale	Collegiate	Long-form	New Haven, Connecticut	1985	^[56]
SAK Comedy Lab	Major Professional	Multiple	Orlando, Florida	1991	^[57]
The San Francisco Improv Alliance	Professional	Multiple	San Francisco, California	2005
The Second City	Major Professional	Semi-improvisational	Chicago, Illinois	1959	^[58] ^[59]
Second Nature Improv	Collegiate	Long-form	Los Angeles, California	2002
Starla and Sons	Collegiate	Longform	Providence, Rhode Island	2006	^[60]
Stevie Rays Comedy	Professional	Multiple	Chanhassen, Minnesota	1988	^[61]
Theatre Strike Force	Collegiate	Multiple	Gainesville, Florida	1989	^[62]
The National Comedy Theatre	Professional	Multiple	Phoenix, Arizona	2007	^[63]
Unexpected Company	Professional	Long-form	Warwick, Rhode Island	2003	^[64]
Unexpected Productions	Professional	Theatresports, Long-form	Seattle, Washington	1983	^[65]
Under the Gun Theater	Professional	Multiple	Chicago, Illinois	2014	^[66]
The Upfront Theatre	Professional	Multiple	Bellingham, Washington	2004	^[67] ^[68]
The Un-Scripted Theater Company	Professional	Multiple	San Francisco, California	2002
Upright Citizens Brigade	Major Professional	Multiple	New York City, New York	1999
Washington Improv Theater	Professional	Longform	Washington, DC	1998	^[69]
Whole World Theatre	Professional	Shortform	Atlanta, Georgia	1994	^[70]
Wing-It Productions	Professional	Multiple	Seattle, Washington	1992
The Yale Ex!t Players	Collegiate	Short-form	New Haven, Connecticut	1984	^[71]

*This group is no longer performing.

Improvisational theatre companies in the United Kingdom

Name	Group Level	Improv Type	Location	Date Established	Reference
The Comedy Store Players	Professional	Improvisational	London, England	1985
Improverts	Collegiate	Theatresports	Edinburgh, Scotland	1989
Hoopla Impro	Professional	Multiple	London, England	2005	^[72]
The Free Association	Professional	Long-form	London	2014	^[73]
The Oxford Imps	Semi-Professional	Improvisational	Oxford, England	2003	^[74]
Showstoppers	Professional	Musical Theatre	London, England	2008	^[75]
The Suggestibles	Professional	Improvisational	Newcastle upon Tyne, England	2001	^[76]
The Spontaneity Shop	Professional	Multiple	London, England	1996
The Antics	Collegiate	Shortform	Sheffield, England	2008	^[77]
The Maydays	Professional	Longform	Brighton, England	2003	^[78]
Austentatious	Professional	Longform	London, England	2011	^[79]
Mischief Theatre	Professional	Multiple	London, England	2008

Improvisational theatre companies in Asia

Name	Group Level	Improv Type	Location	Date Established	Language	Reference
Tokyo Comedy Store	Professional	Multiple	Tokyo, Japan	1994		^[80]
Seoul City Improv	Professional	Multiple	Seoul, South Korea	2007		^[81] ^[82]
TBC Improv HK	Professional	Multiple	Hong Kong	2014	English	^[83] ^[84] ^[85]
The Improv Company	Professional	Multiple	Singapore	2013		^[86]
Beijing Improv	Semi-Professional	Multiple	Beijing, China	-	English	^[87]
Zmack	Semi-Professional	Multiple	Shanghai, China	2009	English, Chinese	^[88] ^[89]

*This group is no longer performing.

Improvisational theatre companies in other regions

Name	Group Level	Improv Type	Location	Date Established	Reference
Improv Bandits	Professional	Multiple	Auckland, New Zealand	1997	^[90] ^[91]
Improv Comedy Copenhagen	Professional	Multiple	Copenhagen, Denmark	2014	^[92] ^[93] ^[94] ^[95]
The Court Jesters	Professional	Multiple	Christchurch, New Zealand	1989	^[96]
Wellington Improvisation Troupe	Professional	Multiple	Wellington, New Zealand	2004	^[97]
Boom Chicago	Professional	Multiple	Amsterdam, Netherlands	1993	^[98]
IGLU Theatre	Professional	Multiple	Ljubljana, Slovenia	2013	^[99]
Narobov	Professional	Theatresports	Ljubljana, Slovenia	2004

See also

• Commedia dell'arte
• List of comedians
• List of improvisational theater festivals

Notes

1. Mel Gordon, Lazzi: The Comic Routines of the Commedia dell'Arte 2001,
2. Improvisation for the Theater (1963)
3. Reddick, Grant. "Keith Johnstone," Theatre 100. Calgary: Alberta Playwrights Network, 2006
4. Bernstein, David (September 3, 2005). "In Chicago, Honoring Athletes of Improv". The New York Times. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
5. Irvine, Lindesay (December 22, 2005). "Say yes to improv", Guardian Unlimited, Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved January 6, 2008.
6. Web site: Improv Embassy studio aims to be Ottawa's comedic hub. Metro Ottawa. August 4, 2016.
7. Web site: Loose Moose Theatre Company. Calgary Plus. October 18, 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20061005005337/http://www.calgaryplus.ca/arts_entertainment/loose_moose_theatre_company/77444. October 5, 2006.
8. http://www.acmecomedy.com/ .
9. Web site: Maryland improv comedy shows & classes. Baltimore Improv Group (BIG). en. 2020-03-10.
10. Web site: How an improv class is relieving anxiety. Amy . Chillag. CNN. 5 July 2018. 2020-03-10.
11. Web site: Baltimore's comedy scene continues to grow, nurture aspiring talent. Kaltenbach. Chris. baltimoresun.com. 24 May 2017 . 2020-03-10.
12. Web site: Baltimore Improv Group tries unconventional method of growing business: offering its shows for free. www.bizjournals.com. 2020-03-10.
13. Web site: Nine Great Improv Scenes from around the Country. 2019-02-03. pastemagazine.com. en. 2020-03-10.
14. Web site: XFest Celebrates Gender Minorities in Comedy. Gerr. Sheilah Kast, Melissa. www.wypr.org. en. 2020-03-10.
15. Web site: Coffee With: Baltimore Improv Group. en-US. 2020-03-10.
16. Web site: Torontoist . 2011-05-20 . Fishing for Life's Answers with BASSPROV . 2023-03-02 . Torontoist.
17. http://www.benttheatre.com .
18. News: Blackout Improv strives to shed comedic light on what's not so funny . . July 28, 2016 . September 26, 2017 . Hewitt . Chris .
19. News: At Blackout Improv, comedy wrestles with tragedy . . September 20, 2017 . Combs . Marianne. September 26, 2017.
20. http://www.bovinemetropolis.com/ .
21. http://www.bravenewworkshop.com/ .
22. News: THEATER REVIEW; Challenges for a Troupe Of Fast-Thinking Actors. Bruckner. D. J. R.. 1995-08-18. The New York Times. 2019-02-13. en-US. 0362-4331.
23. Web site: OB's Chicago City Limits Celebrates Two Decades With New Lineup, Opening June 8. 2000-06-08. Playbill. 2019-02-13.
24. Web site: Charlotte . Comedy Arts Theater of . Be bold. Say yes. CATCh some improv. . 2023-08-23 . Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte . en.
25. Winn, S. (November 26, 1990). "These Games Are Strictly for Laughs". Sports Illustrated.
26. Coleman, Janet (1991). The Compass: The Improvisational Theatre that Revolutionized American Comedy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 362 pages. .
27. BBW NewsDesk (November 18, 2015). Complete Theater Company's US Premiere of Shakespeare (IN SPACE) Begins Tonight".Broadway World.
28. http://www.dadsgarage.com .
29. Web site: WWU's Dead Parrots Society wins 2010-2011 national College Improv Tournament | Western Today | Western Washington University .
30. Web site: Dead Parrots Society advances to national improv tournament | Western Today | Western Washington University .
31. Web site: Dead Parrots Society seeks second national title | Western Today | Western Washington University .
32. "Overview: who were (are) the Diggers?". The Digger Archives. http://www.diggers.org/overview.htm. Retrieved June 17, 2007.
33. Woodhouse, Kellie (September 19, 2008). "Do Terrapins have a funny bone?" . The Diamondback. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
34. http://www.faceoffunlimited.com/ .
35. Web site: Highwire Improv - Spreading Joy Through Improv In Baltimore & Beyond. Highwire Improv.
36. https://www.visitmaryland.org/listing/performing-arts/highwire-improv>
37. http://www.hugetheater.com/about-us/ .
38. http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=506019 .
39. Web site: IO Chicago Theater . 2009-03-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090331224622/http://chicago.ioimprov.com/ . 2009-03-31 . .
40. Web site: 2024-03-26 . The Best NYC Improv Classes Improvisation Classes New York City . 2024-06-01 . Time Out New York . en-US.
41. http://www.improvasylum.com/ .
42. http://www.improvboston.com/ .
43. Gallagher, Brian Thomas. "Prank You Kindly". New York. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
44. http://www.jetcityimprov.org .
45. Web site: Archived copy . 2011-01-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110320095529/http://www.yale.edu/justaddwater/ . 2011-03-20 . .
46. http://www.laughingmatters.com/ .
47. http://thelobbyimprov.com/ .
48. http://www.madcapimprov.com/newsupdates/1-latest-news/61-articlequickwittedfamily.html .
49. http://www.magnettheater.com/ .
50. Walsh, Bruce (July 25, 2007). "The N Crowd: They're Making Philly Funny" (PDF). Philadelphia Metro. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
51. Web site: National Comedy Theatre - San Diego improv comedy, corporate entertainment, San Diego Comedy, San Diego Comedy Shows and Improv Workshops . 2009-01-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090220111300/http://nationalcomedy.com/index.html . 2009-02-20 . .
52. http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=89621. "Improv Comedy Groups Play for Laughs"
53. http://www.thepit-nyc.com/ .
54. McCormack, Max (April 7, 2008). "Philly Improv an Out of Control 'Comedy Vortex'". The Temple News. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
55. Web site: P.I.G. Providence Improv Guild . Improvpig.com . 2017-01-10.
56. Web site: The Purple Crayon of Yale . 2009-06-12 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090611190518/http://www.yale.edu/crayon/ . 2009-06-11 . .
57. http://www.sak.com/ .
58. Christiansen, Richard (2004). Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L.:"Second City Theatre". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago 744. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
59. Robertson, Campbell (June 4, 2008). "Paul Sills, a Guru of Improv Theater, Dies at 80". The New York Times. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
60. http://www.projo.com/lifebeat/content/wk-comedyfest_10-16-08_UTBRMUI_v11.261d9a5.html "Improv: Making It Up for Laughs"
61. https://www.stevierays.org/ .
62. Web site: Home . theatrestrikeforce.org.
63. Web site: National Comedy Theatre | Phoenix's Home for Improv Comedy. National Comedy Theatre.
64. "Best Comedy Troupe". Rhode Island Monthly. August 2004. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
65. Burton, Lynsi (June 12, 2008). "Unexpected Productions Celebrates 25 Years". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
66. Wachtler, Mark (September 29, 2014). "Under The Gun Theater Opening in Wrigleyville" . Illinois Herald. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
67. Web site: Our Story | the Upfront Theatre | Improv Comedy Club . 2021-08-19 . 2020-11-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112023442/https://theupfront.com/our-story/ . dead .
68. https://www.whatcomtalk.com/2017/06/20/bellinghams-the-upfront-theatre/ "Bellingham's Upfront Theatre in Four Acts"
69. http://witdc.org .
70. http://www.wholeworldtheatre.com .
71. http://www.exitplayers.com .
72. http://www.hooplaimpro.com/ .
73. Web site: https://thefreeassociation.co.uk/" . thefreeassociation.co.uk . July 5, 2019.
74. http://www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/stage/2005/06/oxford_imps.shtml "The Oxford Imps"
75. Web site: The Showstoppers – The award-winning creators of improvised musicals, comedy and drama . Showstopperthemusical.com . 2017-01-10.
76. http://www.thesuggestibles.com/ .
77. http://www.anticsimprov.com/ .
78. http://www.themaydays.co.uk/ .
79. Web site: Austentatious. Austentatious.
80. http://www.tokyocomedy.com/ .
81. https://seoulcityimprov.com/ .
82. Kerry, Paul (May 29, 2018). "SCI offers improv course to help you think on your feet" The Korea Herald. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
83. Web site: Talking improv with TBC . 2022-10-27 . Time Out Hong Kong . 20 March 2020 . en-GB.
84. Web site: The People Behind TBC Improv HK Just Want To Play . 2022-10-27 . VENDORS . en-US.
85. Web site: TBC Improv Comedy: (We're No) Spring Chickens . 2022-10-27 . Sassy Hong Kong . en-GB.
86. Web site: The Improv Company . 2022-10-27 . Time Out Singapore . 25 January 2019 . en-GB.
87. Web site: BeijingImprovEnglish . 2019-12-02 . Beijing Improv: Improvised Comedy . 2022-10-27 . www.thebeijinger.com . EN.
88. Web site: Lilian Shen on 12 Years of Zmack Improv Comedy Laughs . 2022-10-27 . That's Online . en.
89. Web site: Zmack Improv Shanghai SmartShanghai . 2022-10-27 . www.smartshanghai.com.
90. News: Review: Improv Bandits back again. Christian. Dionne. 2016-11-23. The New Zealand Herald. 2019-08-31. en.
91. Web site: Improv Bandits. Improv Bandits.
92. Web site: ICC Theatre Award winning English Comedy Shows and Improv Classes. www.improvcomedy.eu.
93. Web site: NYT teater byder på impro-comedy i København. 3 July 2017.
94. Web site: http://cphpost.dk/news/two-years-and-450-performances-later-how-improv-is-here-to-stay.html.
95. Web site: Murmur » Copenhagen says 'yes' to improv comedy.
96. http://www.courtjesters.co.nz/ .
97. Web site: The Wellington Improvisation Troupe. The Wellington Improvisation Troupe.
98. van Gelder, Henk (May 6, 2008). "NRC Review: Best Boom Show in 15 Years". NRC Next.
99. http://www.siol.net/kultura/oder/2013/11/trije_domaci_improvizatorji_predstavljajo_iglu.aspx IGLU: Čar improvizacije sta spontanost in iskrenost

^[100]

External links

• improv groups worldwide