Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised May 30, 2026

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.

Last revised
May 30, 2026
Read time
≈ 13 min
Length
3,029 w
Citations
115
Source
Wikipedia ↗
An improvisational comedy group performing onstage. source ↗

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.23 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 companiesnb 1 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 56
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
8th Floor Improv Comedy Collegiate Multiple Columbus, Ohio 2004 8910
ACME Comedy Theatre Professional Theatresports Los Angeles, California 1989 11
Baltimore Improv Group Professional Multiple Baltimore, Maryland 2004 12131415161718
The Annoyance Theatre Professional Improvisational Chicago, Illinois 1987
Bassprov Professional Long-form Chicago 2000 19
BATS Improv Major Professional Theatresports, Long-form, Musicals San Francisco, California 1986
The Bent Theatre Professional Multiple Charlottesville, Virginia 2004 20
Blackout Improv Professional - Minneapolis, Minnesota 2015 2122
Bovine Metropolis Theater Professional Multiple Denver, Colorado 1998 23
The Brave New Workshop Comedy Theatre Professional Multiple Minneapolis, Minnesota 1958 24
Chicago City Limits Major Professional Shortform New York City, New York 1977 2526
Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte Professional Longform Charlotte, NC 2016 27
ComedySportz Major Professional Shortform Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1984 28
Compass Players Professional Cabaret Chicago, Illinois 1955* 29
Complete Theater Company Professional Improvisational Manhattan, New York 2009 30
Dad's Garage Theatre Company Professional Multiple Atlanta, Georgia 1995 31
Dead Parrot's Society Collegiate Multiple Bellingham, Washington 1998 323334
The Diggers Professional Guerrilla San Francisco, California 1966* 35
Erasable Inc. Collegiate Improvisational College Park, Maryland 1986 36
Face Off Unlimited Professional Multiple New York City, New York 2003 37
Flipside Theatre Professional Multiple Superior, CO 2019
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 3839
HUGE Theater Professional Long-form Minneapolis, Minnesota 2005 40
The Immediate Gratification Players Collegiate Long-form Cambridge, Massachusetts 1986 41
ImprovOlympic Major Professional the Harold Chicago, Illinois 1980 42
Improvolution Professional New York City, New York 2002 43
Improv Asylum Major Professional Semi-improvisational Boston, Massachusetts 1998 44
ImprovBoston Major Professional Multiple Cambridge, Massachusetts 1982 45
Improv Everywhere Professional Guerrilla New York City, New York 2001 46
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 47
Just Add Water Collegiate Improvisational New Haven, Connecticut 1986 48
Laughing Matters Professional Shortform Atlanta, Georgia 1985 49
The Lobby Professional Shortform Fullerton, California 2005 50
Madcap Theater Professional Shortform Westminster, Colorado 2006 51
Magnet Theater Major Professional Long-Form New York City, New York 2005 52
Monks' Night Out Professional Multiple Austin, Texas 1994* 53
The N Crowd Professional Shortform Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2005 54
The National Comedy Theatre Major Professional Shortform San Diego, California 55
On Thin Ice Collegiate Shortform Cambridge, Massachusetts 1984 56
Peoples Improv Theater Major Professional Multiple New York City, New York 2002 57
Philly Improv Theater (PHIT) Major Professional Multiple Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2005* 58
The Playground Professional Long-form Chicago, Illinois 1997
Providence Improv Guild Professional Multiple Providence, Rhode Island 2013 59
PseudoRandomNoise Improv Theater Professional Multiple and show-based Temecula, California 2010 60
The Purple Crayon of Yale Collegiate Long-form New Haven, Connecticut 1985 61
SAK Comedy Lab Major Professional Multiple Orlando, Florida 1991 62
The San Francisco Improv Alliance Professional Multiple San Francisco, California 2005
The Second City Major Professional Semi-improvisational Chicago, Illinois 1959 6364
Second Nature Improv Collegiate Long-form Los Angeles, California 2002
Starla and Sons Collegiate Longform Providence, Rhode Island 2006 65
Stevie Rays Comedy Professional Multiple Chanhassen, Minnesota 1988 66
Theatre Strike Force Collegiate Multiple Gainesville, Florida 1989 67
The Home Comedy Theater Professional The Harold Chicago, Illinois 2024 68
The National Comedy Theatre Professional Multiple Phoenix, Arizona 2007 69
Unexpected Company Professional Long-form Warwick, Rhode Island 2003 70
Unexpected Productions Professional Theatresports, Long-form Seattle, Washington 1983 71
Under the Gun Theater Professional Multiple Chicago, Illinois 2014 72
The Upfront Theatre Professional Multiple Bellingham, Washington 2004 7374
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 75
Whole World Theatre Professional Shortform Atlanta, Georgia 1994 76
Wing-It Productions Professional Multiple Seattle, Washington 1992 47
The Yale Ex!t Players Collegiate Short-form New Haven, Connecticut 1984 77

*This group is no longer performing.

Improvisational theatre companies in the United Kingdom

Name Group Level Improv Type Location Date Established Reference
TBC Improv UK Professional Multiple Edinburgh, Scotalnd 2009
Bristol Improv Theatre Professional Multiple Bristol, England 2012 78
The Comedy Store Players Professional Improvisational London, England 1985
Improverts Collegiate Theatresports Edinburgh, Scotland 1989
Hoopla Impro Professional Multiple London, England 2005 79
The Free Association Professional Long-form London 2014 80
The Oxford Imps Semi-Professional Improvisational Oxford, England 2003 81
Showstoppers Professional Musical Theatre London, England 2008 82
The Suggestibles Professional Improvisational Newcastle upon Tyne, England 2001 83
The Spontaneity Shop Professional Multiple London, England 1996
The Antics Collegiate Shortform Sheffield, England 2008 84
The Maydays Professional Longform Brighton, England 2003 85
Austentatious Professional Longform London, England 2011 86
Mischief Theatre Professional Multiple London, England 2008
Blanche Improv Professional Multiple London, England 2023 87
Shoot From The Hip Professional Multiple London, England 2011 888990

Improvisational theatre companies in Asia

Name Group Level Improv Type Location Date Established Language Reference
Pirates of Tokyo Bay Semi-Professional Shortform Tokyo, Japan 2010 English & Japanese 9192
Tokyo Comedy Store Professional Multiple Tokyo, Japan 1994 93
Seoul City Improv Professional Multiple Seoul, South Korea 2007 9495
TBC Improv HK Professional Multiple Hong Kong 2014 English 969798
The Improv Company Professional Multiple Singapore 2013 99
Beijing Improv Semi-Professional Multiple Beijing, China - English 100
Zmack Semi-Professional Multiple Shanghai, China 2009 English, Chinese 101102

*This group is no longer performing.

Improvisational theatre companies in other regions

Name Group Level Improv Type Location Date Established Reference
TBC Improv Spain Professional Multiple Barcelona, Spain 2023
L'Om Imprebis Professional Multiple Valencia, Spain
ImproMadrid Professional Multiple Madrid, Spain
Jamming Professional Multiple Madrid, Spain
Teatro Indigesto Professional Multiple Zaragoza, Spain
Impro Impar Professional Multiple Madrid, Spain
Corta el Cable Rojo Professional Shortform Madrid, Spain
Improv Bandits Professional Multiple Auckland, New Zealand 1997 103104
Improv Comedy Copenhagen Professional Multiple Copenhagen, Denmark 2014 105106107108
The Court Jesters Professional Multiple Christchurch, New Zealand 1989 109
Wellington Improvisation Troupe Professional Multiple Wellington, New Zealand 2004 110
Boom Chicago Professional Multiple Amsterdam, Netherlands 1993 111
IGLU Theatre Professional Multiple Ljubljana, Slovenia 2013 112
Narobov Professional Theatresports Ljubljana, Slovenia 2004
Jokebox Professional Multiple Athens, Greece 2024
theLenormans Semi-Professional Shortform Athens, Greece 2024
See also

See also

Notes

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.
External links
References

References

  1. Mel Gordon, Lazzi: The Comic Routines of the Commedia dell'Arte 2001, ISBN 978-0-933826-69-4
  2. Improvisation for the Theater ISBN 0-8101-4008-X (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. "Improv Embassy studio aims to be Ottawa's comedic hub". Metro Ottawa. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  7. Calgary Plus. "Loose Moose Theatre Company". Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved October 18, 2008.
  8. "8th Floor Improv". 8thfloorimprov.com.
  9. "8th Floor at OSU". osu.edu.
  10. "8th Floor Improv to Hold 20th Anniversary Alumni Show". thelantern.com.
  11. "ACME Comedy Theatre". Archived from the original on 9 February 2019.
  12. "Maryland improv comedy shows & classes". Baltimore Improv Group (BIG). Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  13. Chillag, Amy (5 July 2018). "How an improv class is relieving anxiety". CNN. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  14. Kaltenbach, Chris (24 May 2017). "Baltimore's comedy scene continues to grow, nurture aspiring talent". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  15. "Baltimore Improv Group tries unconventional method of growing business: offering its shows for free". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  16. "Nine Great Improv Scenes from around the Country". pastemagazine.com. 2019-02-03. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  17. Gerr, Sheilah Kast, Melissa. "XFest Celebrates Gender Minorities in Comedy". www.wypr.org. Retrieved 2020-03-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. "Coffee With: Baltimore Improv Group". Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  19. Torontoist (2011-05-20). "Fishing for Life's Answers with BASSPROV". Torontoist. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  20. "Welcome to Bent Theatre!". Archived from the original on 15 May 2019.
  21. Hewitt, Chris (July 28, 2016). "Blackout Improv strives to shed comedic light on what's not so funny". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  22. Combs, Marianne (September 20, 2017). "At Blackout Improv, comedy wrestles with tragedy". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  23. "Bovine Metropolis Theater Webpage". Archived from the original on 14 May 2020.
  24. "Welcome to the Brave New Workshop!". Archived from the original on 2 October 2019.
  25. Bruckner, D. J. R. (1995-08-18). "THEATER REVIEW; Challenges for a Troupe Of Fast-Thinking Actors". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  26. "OB's Chicago City Limits Celebrates Two Decades With New Lineup, Opening June 8". Playbill. 2000-06-08. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  27. Charlotte, Comedy Arts Theater of. "Be bold. Say yes. CATCh some improv". Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  28. Winn, S. (November 26, 1990). "These Games Are Strictly for Laughs". Sports Illustrated.
  29. Coleman, Janet (1991). The Compass: The Improvisational Theatre that Revolutionized American Comedy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 362 pages. ISBN 978-0-226-11345-6.
  30. BBW NewsDesk (November 18, 2015). Complete Theater Company's US Premiere of Shakespeare (IN SPACE) Begins Tonight".Broadway World.
  31. "Dad's Garage Theatre". Archived from the original on 13 February 2019.
  32. "WWU's Dead Parrots Society wins 2010-2011 national College Improv Tournament | Western Today | Western Washington University".
  33. "Dead Parrots Society advances to national improv tournament | Western Today | Western Washington University". 22 January 2014.
  34. "Dead Parrots Society seeks second national title | Western Today | Western Washington University".
  35. "Overview: who were (are) the Diggers?". The Digger Archives. [1]. Retrieved June 17, 2007.
  36. Woodhouse, Kellie (September 19, 2008). "Do Terrapins have a funny bone?" Archived 2008-09-21 at the Wayback Machine. The Diamondback. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  37. "Dad's Garage Theatre". Archived from the original on 17 February 2025.
  38. "Highwire Improv - Spreading Joy Through Improv In Baltimore & Beyond". Highwire Improv.
  39. "Highwire Improv". Archived from the original on 3 December 2024.
  40. "Huge Improv Theater - About us". Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.
  41. "The Harvard Crimson :: News :: Weekend Filled with Laughs at Ex".
  42. "IO Chicago Theater". Archived from the original on 2009-03-31. Retrieved 2009-03-28..
  43. "The Best NYC Improv Classes | Improvisation Classes New York City". Time Out New York. 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  44. "Improv Asylum". Archived from the original on 2 March 2025.
  45. "ImprovBoston Closed". Archived from the original on 20 March 2025.
  46. Gallagher, Brian Thomas. "Prank You Kindly". New York. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  47. "Jet City Improv - Our Mission". Archived from the original on 16 February 2025.
  48. "Just Add Water - Wetter is better". Archived from the original on 2011-03-20. Retrieved 2011-01-21..
  49. "Laughing Matters". Archived from the original on 16 February 2025.
  50. "The Lobby (improv)". Archived from the original on 30 December 2008.
  51. "Madcap Theater". Archived from the original on 6 December 2008.
  52. "Magnet Theater - Original Improv and Sketch Comedy Shows and Classes Since 2005". Archived from the original on 18 March 2025.
  53. "A Monk's Education". The Austin Chronicle. May 23, 1997. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  54. Walsh, Bruce (July 25, 2007). "The N Crowd: They're Making Philly Funny" (PDF). Philadelphia Metro. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
  55. "National Comedy Theatre - San Diego improv comedy, corporate entertainment, San Diego Comedy, San Diego Comedy Shows and Improv Workshops". Archived from the original on 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2009-01-06..
  56. "Improv Comedy Groups Play for Laughs". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  57. "Peoples Improv Theater". Archived from the original on 19 March 2025.
  58. McCormack, Max (April 7, 2008). "Philly Improv an Out of Control 'Comedy Vortex'". The Temple News. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
  59. "P.I.G. Providence Improv Guild". Improvpig.com. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
  60. "PSEUDORANDOMNOISE IMPROV THEATER". PSEUDORANDOMNOISE MERCH HAUS. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  61. "The Purple Crayon of Yale". Archived from the original on 2009-06-11. Retrieved 2009-06-12..
  62. "SAK Comedy Lab". Archived from the original on 28 December 2024.
  63. 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.
  64. Robertson, Campbell (June 4, 2008). "Paul Sills, a Guru of Improv Theater, Dies at 80". The New York Times. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  65. "Improv: Making It Up for Laughs". The Providence Journal.
  66. "Welcome to Steve Ray's Improv Company". Archived from the original on 25 January 2025.
  67. "Home". theatrestrikeforce.org.
  68. "Chicago improv scene grows with new theaters in South Loop, Lake View". Chicago Sun-Times. 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  69. "National Comedy Theatre | Phoenix's Home for Improv Comedy". National Comedy Theatre.
  70. "Best Comedy Troupe". Rhode Island Monthly. August 2004. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  71. Burton, Lynsi (June 12, 2008). "Unexpected Productions Celebrates 25 Years". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  72. Wachtler, Mark (September 29, 2014). "Under The Gun Theater Opening in Wrigleyville". Illinois Herald. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  73. "Our Story | the Upfront Theatre | Improv Comedy Club". Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  74. "Bellingham's Upfront Theatre in Four Acts".
  75. "Washington Improv Theater". Archived from the original on 22 March 2025.
  76. "Washington Improv Theater". Archived from the original on 23 February 2025.
  77. "The Exit Players". Archived from the original on 8 January 2025.
  78. Wright, Steve (2019-02-08). "Inside the Bristol Improv Theatre". Bristol 24/7. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  79. "Hoopla Impro". Archived from the original on 20 March 2025.
  80. " "[untitled]". thefreeassociation.co.uk. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  81. "The Oxford Imps". BBC. June 2005. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  82. "The Showstoppers – The award-winning creators of improvised musicals, comedy and drama". Showstopperthemusical.com. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
  83. "The Suggestibles Improv Comedy Show". Archived from the original on 12 November 2024.
  84. "The Antics Improv Comedy Troupe". Archived from the original on 7 September 2015.
  85. "Maydays". Archived from the original on 21 March 2025.
  86. "Austentatious". Austentatious.
  87. "Blanche Improv". Blanche Improv. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  88. "Shoot From The Hip". london.thecomedystore.co.uk. 2025-12-20. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  89. "Shoot From The Hip - Improv Comedy". Shootimpro.com. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  90. Holly (2020-01-10). "Meet The Short Form Heroes – INTERVIEW – Shoot From The Hip". Welcome to The Phoenix Remix. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  91. Nishida, Midori (2015-11-22). "Improv pioneers Pirates of Tokyo Bay plan big bilingual birthday bash". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  92. "Prepare to laugh your booty off with the Pirates". The Japan Times. 2011-10-14.
  93. "Tokyo Comedy Store". Archived from the original on 1 January 2016.
  94. "Seoul City Improv". Archived from the original on 17 March 2025.
  95. Kerry, Paul (May 29, 2018). "SCI offers improv course to help you think on your feet" The Korea Herald. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  96. "Talking improv with TBC". Time Out Hong Kong. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  97. "The People Behind TBC Improv HK Just Want To Play". VENDORS. Archived from the original on 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  98. "TBC Improv Comedy: (We're No) Spring Chickens". Sassy Hong Kong. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  99. "The Improv Company". Time Out Singapore. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  100. BeijingImprovEnglish (2019-12-02). "Beijing Improv: Improvised Comedy". www.thebeijinger.com. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  101. "Lilian Shen on 12 Years of Zmack Improv Comedy Laughs". That's Online. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  102. "Zmack Improv Shanghai | SmartShanghai". www.smartshanghai.com. Archived from the original on 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  103. Christian, Dionne (2016-11-23). "Review: Improv Bandits back again". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  104. "Improv Bandits". Improv Bandits.
  105. "ICC Theatre Award winning English Comedy Shows and Improv Classes". www.improvcomedy.eu.
  106. "NYT teater byder på impro-comedy i København". 3 July 2017.
  107. Jacquelin-Andersen, Pamela (31 October 2018). "Two years and 450 performances later, how improv is here to stay". Archived from the original on 28 November 2018.
  108. "Murmur » Copenhagen says 'yes' to improv comedy". Archived from the original on 2021-02-14. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
  109. "The Court Jesters". Archived from the original on 18 February 2025.
  110. "The Wellington Improvisation Troupe". The Wellington Improvisation Troupe.
  111. van Gelder, Henk (May 6, 2008). "NRC Review: Best Boom Show in 15 Years". NRC Next.
  112. IGLU: Čar improvizacije sta spontanost in iskrenost Archived 2014-05-05 at the Wayback Machine, Planet Siol.net, November 19, 2013.

1

  1. Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).