List of improvisational theatre companies

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.

An improvisational comedy group performing onstage.

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[nb 1] from around the world.


Improvisational theatre companies in Canada


NameGroup LevelImprov TypeLocationDate EstablishedReference
The Bad Dog Theatre CompanyProfessionalMultipleToronto, Ontario2003
Die-NastyProfessionalTelevisionEdmonton, Alberta1991[5][6]
Impro Montréal / Montreal ImprovProfessionalMultipleMontreal, Quebec2008
Ligue nationale d'improvisationProfessionalImprovisationalQuebec1977
Loose Moose TheatreProfessionalTheatresportsCalgary, Alberta1977[7]
Rapid Fire TheatreProfessionalTheatresportsEdmonton, Alberta1982
Vancouver Theatresports LeagueProfessionalTheatresportsVancouver1980

Improvisational theatre companies in the United States


NameGroup LevelImprov TypeLocationDate EstablishedReference
The Improv Syndicate Professional Multiple Phoenix, Arizona 2015
ACME Comedy TheatreProfessionalTheatresportsLos Angeles, California1989[8]
Baltimore Improv GroupProfessionalMultipleBaltimore, Maryland2004[9][10][11][12][13][14][15]
The Annoyance TheatreProfessionalImprovisationalChicago, Illinois1987
Bassprov Professional Long-form Chicago 2000 [16]
BATS ImprovMajor ProfessionalTheatresports, Long-form, MusicalsSan Francisco, California1986
The Bent TheatreProfessionalMultipleCharlottesville, Virginia2004[17]
Blackout ImprovProfessional-Minneapolis, Minnesota2015[18][19]
Bovine Metropolis TheaterProfessionalMultipleDenver, Colorado1998[20]
The Brave New Workshop Comedy TheatreProfessionalMultipleMinneapolis, Minnesota1958[21]
Brooklyn Comedy CollectiveMajor ProfessionalMultipleBrooklyn, New York2018[22]
Burpee Seedy Theatrical Company Collegiate Shortform Granville, Ohio 1979
Chicago City Limits Major Professional Shortform New York City, New York 1977 [23][24]
Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte Professional Longform Charlotte, NC 2016 [25]
Commedus InterruptusCollegiateMultipleLos Angeles, California1989[26]
ComedySportzMajor ProfessionalShortformMilwaukee, Wisconsin1984[27]
Compass PlayersProfessionalCabaretChicago, Illinois1955*[28]
Complete Theater CompanyProfessionalImprovisationalManhattan, New York2009[29]
Dad's Garage Theatre CompanyProfessionalMultipleAtlanta, Georgia1995[30]
Dead Parrot's SocietyCollegiateMultipleBellingham, Washington1998[31][32][33]
The DiggersProfessionalGuerrillaSan Francisco, California1966*[34]
Erasable Inc.CollegiateImprovisationalCollege Park, Maryland1986[35]
Face Off UnlimitedProfessionalMultipleNew York City, New York2003[36]
The Focus GroupProfessionalLong-formBangor, Maine2009
Friday Night ImprovsCollegiateImprov JamPittsburgh, Pennsylvania1989
The GroundlingsMajor ProfessionalSemi-improvisationalLos Angeles, California1974
HUGE TheaterProfessionalLong-formMinneapolis, Minnesota2005[37]
The Immediate Gratification PlayersCollegiateLong-formCambridge, Massachusetts1986[38]
Impro TheatreMajor ProfessionalTheatreports, Long-Form, NarrativeLos Angeles, California1988[39]
ImprovOlympicMajor Professionalthe HaroldChicago, Illinois1980[40]
Improv AsylumMajor ProfessionalSemi-improvisationalBoston, Massachusetts1998[41]
Improv At The Comedy PalaceProfessionalLong-FormSan Diego, CA2019[42]
ImprovBostonMajor ProfessionalMultipleCambridge, Massachusetts1982[43]
Improv EverywhereProfessionalGuerrillaNew York City, New York2001[44]
Improv for the PeopleProfessionalMultipleLos Angeles, California2009
Improv InstituteProfessionalImprovisationalChicago, Illinois1983*
Jet City ImprovProfessionalMultipleSeattle, Washington1992[45]
Just Add WaterCollegiateImprovisationalNew Haven, Connecticut1986[46]
Kismet Improv Professional Multiple Pawtucket, Rhode Island 2021
Laughing MattersProfessionalShortformAtlanta, Georgia1985[47]
The LobbyProfessionalShortformFullerton, California2005[48]
Madcap TheaterProfessionalShortformWestminster, Colorado2006[49]
Magnet TheaterMajor ProfessionalLong-FormNew York City, New York2005[50]
Moment Improv TheaterProfessionalLong-FormSan Francisco, California2014[51]
My Mother's FleabagCollegiateMultipleChestnut Hill, Massachusetts1980
The N CrowdProfessionalShortformPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania2005[52]
The National Comedy TheatreMajor ProfessionalShortformSan Diego, California[53]
On Thin IceCollegiateShortformCambridge, Massachusetts1984[54]
The Pack TheaterMajor ProfessionalMultipleLos Angeles, California2007[55]
Peoples Improv TheaterMajor ProfessionalMultipleNew York City, New York2002[56]
Philly Improv Theater (PHIT)Major ProfessionalMultiplePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania2005[57]
The PlaygroundProfessionalLong-formChicago, Illinois1997
Providence Improv GuildProfessionalMultipleProvidence, Rhode Island2013[58]
The Purple Crayon of YaleCollegiateLong-formNew Haven, Connecticut1985[59]
Push Comedy TheaterProfessionalMultipleNorfolk, Virginia2014[60]
The RevivalProfessionalMultipleChicago, Illinois2015
SAK Comedy LabMajor ProfessionalMultipleOrlando, Florida1991[61]
The San Francisco Improv AllianceProfessionalMultipleSan Francisco, California2005
Sea Tea ImprovProfessionalMultipleHartford, Connecticut2009
The Second CityMajor ProfessionalSemi-improvisationalChicago, Illinois1959[62][63]
Second Nature ImprovCollegiateLong-formLos Angeles, California2002
Starla and SonsCollegiateLongformProvidence, Rhode Island2006[64]
Theatre Strike ForceCollegiateMultipleGainesville, Florida1989[65]
The National Comedy TheatreProfessionalMultiplePhoenix, Arizona2007[66]
Unexpected CompanyProfessionalLong-formWarwick, Rhode Island2003[67]
Unexpected ProductionsProfessionalTheatresports, Long-formSeattle, Washington1983[68]
Under the Gun TheaterProfessionalMultipleChicago, Illinois2014[69]
The Upfront TheatreProfessionalMultipleBellingham, Washington2004[70][71]
The Un-Scripted Theater CompanyProfessionalMultipleSan Francisco, California2002
Upright Citizens BrigadeMajor ProfessionalMultipleNew York City, New York1999
Washington Improv TheaterProfessionalLongformWashington, DC1998[72]
Whole World TheatreProfessionalShortformAtlanta, Georgia1994[73]
Wing-It ProductionsProfessionalMultipleSeattle, Washington1992[45]
The Yale Ex!t PlayersCollegiateShort-formNew Haven, Connecticut1984[74]

*This group is no longer performing.

Improvisational theatre companies in the United Kingdom


NameGroup LevelImprov TypeLocationDate EstablishedReference
The Comedy Store PlayersProfessionalImprovisationalLondon, England1985
Black Cherry Company Professional Impro/Musical Bournemouth, Dorset 2010
ImprovertsCollegiateTheatresportsEdinburgh, Scotland1989
Hoopla ImproProfessionalMultipleLondon, England2005[75]
The Free AssociationProfessionalLong-formLondon2014[76]
The Oxford ImpsSemi-ProfessionalImprovisationalOxford, England2003[77]
ShowstoppersProfessionalMusical TheatreLondon, England2008[78]
The SuggestiblesProfessionalImprovisationalNewcastle upon Tyne, England2001[79]
The Spontaneity ShopProfessionalMultipleLondon, England1996
The AnticsCollegiateShortformSheffield, England2008[80]
The MaydaysProfessionalLongformBrighton, England2003[81]
Austentatious Professional Longform London, England 2011 [82]
Mischief Theatre Professional Multiple London, England 2008
Rhymes Against Humanity Semi-Professional Musical Theatre Nottingham, England 2016
The Blank Slates Collegiate Multiple London, England 2011
Three WorldsProfessionalImprovisationalLondon, England2015

Improvisational theatre companies in Asia

NameGroup LevelImprov TypeLocationDate Established LanguageReference
Tokyo Comedy StoreProfessionalMultipleTokyo, Japan1994 [84]
Yours Truly Theatre Professional Multiple Bangalore, India 2003
Pirates of the Dotombori Semi-Professional Bilingual Osaka, Japan 2005* English, Japanese
Seoul City ImprovProfessionalMultipleSeoul, South Korea2007 [85][86]
TBC Improv HK Professional Multiple Hong Kong 2014 English [87][88][89]
Pirates of Tokyo Bay Semi-Professional Multiple Tokyo, Japan 2009 English, Japanese [90]
Second Circle Semi-Professional Long-form Tokyo, Japan 2018 Japanese
The Improv Company Professional Multiple Singapore 2013 [91]
Impro Comedy Bangalore Professional Multiple Bangalore, India 2015
Beijing Improv Semi-Professional Multiple Beijing, China - English [92]
Zmack Semi-Professional Multiple Shanghai, China 2009 English, Chinese [93][94]
Crammers' Collective Youth Multiple Manila, The Philippines -

*This group is no longer performing.

Improvisational theatre companies in other regions

NameGroup LevelImprov TypeLocationDate EstablishedReference
American Improv Professional Multiple Vienna, Austria 2019 [95]
Didinò Improvvisazione Olistica Semi-Professional Multiple Emilia Romagna, Italy 2018
Improv BanditsProfessionalMultipleAuckland, New Zealand1997[96][97]
Improv Comedy CopenhagenProfessionalMultipleCopenhagen, Denmark2014[98][99][100][101]
Improv Theater IsraelProfessionalTel-AvivTel-Aviv, Israel2007[102]
The Court JestersProfessionalMultipleChristchurch, New Zealand1989[103]
Wellington Improvisation TroupeProfessionalMultipleWellington, New Zealand2004[104]
Boom ChicagoProfessionalMultipleAmsterdam, Netherlands1993[105]
easylaughsProfessionalMultipleAmsterdam, Netherlands2005
IGLU TheatreProfessionalMultipleLjubljana, Slovenia2013[106]
NarobovProfessionalTheatresportsLjubljana, Slovenia2004
ImprovvisartProfessionalMultipleLecce, Italy2009
Cia ImprovisoriaSemi-ProfessionalMultipleAraraquara-SP, Brasil2016[107]
Euphorium CreativeSemi-ProfessionalMultipleGeraldton, Australia2014[108]
KITAS KAMPASProfessionalMultipleVilnius, Lithuania2009[109]
Heraklion Improv Theater Professional Multiple Heraklion, Greece 2019 [110]

See also

Notes

  1. A company is presumed noteworthy if it has received significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the company and satisfies the inclusion criteria for a stand-alone article.

References

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