List of improvisational theatre companies

{{Short description|none}} {{Primary sources | date = May 2024}} thumb|350px| An improvisational comedy group performing onstage.

'''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,<ref>Mel Gordon, ''Lazzi: The Comic Routines of the Commedia dell'Arte'' 2001, {{ISBN|978-0-933826-69-4}}</ref> modern improv began with the teachings of Viola Spolin in Chicago, Illinois, USA and Keith Johnstone during the 1940-50s in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.<ref>Improvisation for the Theater {{ISBN|0-8101-4008-X}} (1963)</ref><ref>Reddick, Grant. "Keith Johnstone," Theatre 100. Calgary: Alberta Playwrights Network, 2006</ref> 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.<ref>Bernstein, David (September 3, 2005). [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/03/arts/03impr.html "In Chicago, Honoring Athletes of Improv"]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved January 5, 2009.</ref> 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'''<ref group="nb" name="noteworthy"/> from around the world.

==Improvisational theatre companies in Canada==

{|class="wikitable sortable" |- !Name!!Group Level!!Improv Type!!Location!!Date Established!!class="sortable"|Reference |- |The Bad Dog Theatre Company||Professional||Multiple||Toronto, Ontario||2003|| |- |Die-Nasty||Professional||Television||Edmonton, Alberta||1991||<ref>Irvine, Lindesay (December 22, 2005). "Say yes to improv", Guardian Unlimited, Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved January 6, 2008.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metronews.ca/news/ottawa/2016/09/07/new-improv-embassy-aims-to-be-ottawas-comedic-hub.html?cq_ck=1473284277156|title=Improv Embassy studio aims to be Ottawa's comedic hub|website=Metro Ottawa|access-date=August 4, 2016|archive-date=September 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917023809/http://www.metronews.ca/news/ottawa/2016/09/07/new-improv-embassy-aims-to-be-ottawas-comedic-hub.html?cq_ck=1473284277156|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |Ligue nationale d'improvisation||Professional||Improvisational||Quebec||1977|| |- |Loose Moose Theatre||Professional||Theatresports||Calgary, Alberta||1977||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calgaryplus.ca/arts_entertainment/loose_moose_theatre_company/77444|title=Loose Moose Theatre Company|author=Calgary Plus|accessdate=October 18, 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061005005337/http://www.calgaryplus.ca/arts_entertainment/loose_moose_theatre_company/77444|archivedate=October 5, 2006}}</ref> |- |Rapid Fire Theatre||Professional||Theatresports||Edmonton, Alberta||1982|| |}

==Improvisational theatre companies in the United States==

{|class="wikitable sortable" |- !Name!!Group Level!!Improv Type!!Location!!Date Established!!class="sortable"|Reference |- |8th Floor Improv Comedy||Collegiate||Multiple||Columbus, Ohio||2004||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.8thfloorimprov.com/home-page/|title=8th Floor Improv|website=8thfloorimprov.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://activities.osu.edu/involvement/student_organizations/find_a_student_org/?i=88b8c561-2f87-40a2-bae5-9220ac980e03&l=1&c=all&page=0/|title=8th Floor at OSU|website=osu.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelantern.com/2024/03/8th-floor-improv-to-hold-20th-anniversary-alumni-show/|title=8th Floor Improv to Hold 20th Anniversary Alumni Show|website=thelantern.com}}</ref> |- |ACME Comedy Theatre||Professional||Theatresports||Los Angeles, California||1989||<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.acmecomedy.com/|title=ACME Comedy Theatre|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209171544/http://www.acmecomedy.com/|archive-date=9 February 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |Baltimore Improv Group||Professional||Multiple||Baltimore, Maryland||2004|| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bigimprov.org/|title=Maryland improv comedy shows & classes|website=Baltimore Improv Group (BIG)|language=en|access-date=2020-03-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/05/health/improv-for-anxiety-staying-well/index.html|title=How an improv class is relieving anxiety|first=Amy |last=Chillag|website=CNN|date=5 July 2018|access-date=2020-03-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/arts/bs-fe-comedy-20170522-story.html|title=Baltimore's comedy scene continues to grow, nurture aspiring talent|last=Kaltenbach|first=Chris|website=baltimoresun.com|date=24 May 2017 |access-date=2020-03-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2018/08/07/baltimore-improv-group-tries-unconventional-method.html|title=Baltimore Improv Group tries unconventional method of growing business: offering its shows for free|website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=2020-03-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/comedy/improv/improv-theaters-from-around-the-country/|title=Nine Great Improv Scenes from around the Country|date=2019-02-03|website=pastemagazine.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wypr.org/post/xfest-celebrates-gender-minorities-comedy|title=XFest Celebrates Gender Minorities in Comedy|last=Gerr|first=Sheilah Kast, Melissa|website=www.wypr.org|language=en|access-date=2020-03-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/video/4013391-coffee-with-baltimore-improv-group/|title=Coffee With: Baltimore Improv Group|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-10}}</ref> |- |The Annoyance Theatre||Professional||Improvisational||Chicago, Illinois||1987|| |- |Bassprov |Professional |Long-form |Chicago |2000 |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Torontoist |date=2011-05-20 |title=Fishing for Life's Answers with BASSPROV |url=https://torontoist.com/2011/05/fishing_for_lifes_answers_with_bassprov/ |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=Torontoist}}</ref> |- |BATS Improv||Major Professional||Theatresports, Long-form, Musicals||San Francisco, California||1986|| |- |The Bent Theatre||Professional||Multiple||Charlottesville, Virginia||2004||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.benttheatre.com|title=Welcome to Bent Theatre!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515212955/http://benttheatre.weebly.com/|archive-date=15 May 2019|url-status=usurped}}</ref> |- |Blackout Improv||Professional||-||Minneapolis, Minnesota||2015||<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.twincities.com/2016/07/28/blackout-improv-comedy-troupe-obama-out/ | title = Blackout Improv strives to shed comedic light on what's not so funny | work= St. Paul Pioneer Press | date = July 28, 2016 | accessdate = September 26, 2017 | last = Hewitt | first = Chris }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/09/20/blackout-improv-celebrates-anniversary | agency = Minnesota Public Radio | title = At Blackout Improv, comedy wrestles with tragedy | date = September 20, 2017 | last = Combs | first = Marianne| accessdate = September 26, 2017}}</ref> |- |Bovine Metropolis Theater||Professional||Multiple||Denver, Colorado||1998||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bovinemetropolis.com/|title=Bovine Metropolis Theater Webpage|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514020258/http://www.bovinemetropolis.com/|archive-date=14 May 2020|url-status=usurped}}</ref> |- |The Brave New Workshop Comedy Theatre||Professional||Multiple||Minneapolis, Minnesota||1958||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bravenewworkshop.com/|title=Welcome to the Brave New Workshop!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002180230/http://www.bravenewworkshop.com/|archive-date=2 October 2019|url-status=usurped}}</ref> |- |Chicago City Limits |Major Professional |Shortform |New York City, New York |1977 |<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/18/theater/theater-review-challenges-for-a-troupe-of-fast-thinking-actors.html|title=THEATER REVIEW; Challenges for a Troupe Of Fast-Thinking Actors|last=Bruckner|first=D. J. R.|date=1995-08-18|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-02-13|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/obs-chicago-city-limits-celebrates-two-decades-with-new-lineup-opening-june-8-com-89809|title=OB's Chicago City Limits Celebrates Two Decades With New Lineup, Opening June 8|date= 2000-06-08|website=Playbill|accessdate=2019-02-13}}</ref> |- |Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte |Professional |Longform |Charlotte, NC |2016 |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Charlotte |first=Comedy Arts Theater of |title=Be bold. Say yes. CATCh some improv. |url=https://catch.theater/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte |language=en}}</ref> |- |ComedySportz||Major Professional||Shortform||Milwaukee, Wisconsin||1984||<ref>Winn, S. (November 26, 1990). "These Games Are Strictly for Laughs". ''Sports Illustrated''.</ref> |- |Compass Players||Professional||Cabaret||Chicago, Illinois||1955*||<ref>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}}.</ref> |- |Complete Theater Company||Professional||Improvisational||Manhattan, New York||2009||<ref>BBW NewsDesk (November 18, 2015). Complete Theater Company's US Premiere of Shakespeare (IN SPACE) Begins Tonight".''Broadway World''.</ref> |- |Dad's Garage Theatre Company||Professional||Multiple||Atlanta, Georgia||1995||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dadsgarage.com|title=Dad's Garage Theatre|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213150120/https://dadsgarage.com/|archive-date=13 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |Dead Parrot's Society||Collegiate||Multiple||Bellingham, Washington||1998||<ref>{{cite web | url=https://westerntoday.wwu.edu/videos/wwus-dead-parrots-society-wins-2010-2011-national-college-improv-tournament | title=WWU's Dead Parrots Society wins 2010-2011 national College Improv Tournament | Western Today | Western Washington University }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://westerntoday.wwu.edu/news/dead-parrots-society-advances-to-national-improv-tournament | title=Dead Parrots Society advances to national improv tournament | Western Today | Western Washington University | date=22 January 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://westerntoday.wwu.edu/inthemedia/dead-parrots-society-seeks-second-national-title | title=Dead Parrots Society seeks second national title | Western Today | Western Washington University }}</ref> |- |The Diggers||Professional||Guerrilla||San Francisco, California||1966*||<ref>"Overview: who were (are) the Diggers?". The Digger Archives. [http://www.diggers.org/overview.htm]. Retrieved June 17, 2007.</ref> |- |Erasable Inc.||Collegiate||Improvisational||College Park, Maryland||1986||<ref>Woodhouse, Kellie (September 19, 2008). [http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2008/09/19/News/Do.Terrapins.Have.A.Funny.Bone-3441193.shtml "Do Terrapins have a funny bone?"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921144929/http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2008/09/19/News/Do.Terrapins.Have.A.Funny.Bone-3441193.shtml |date=2008-09-21 }}. The Diamondback. Retrieved January 5, 2009.</ref> |- |Face Off Unlimited||Professional||Multiple||New York City, New York||2003||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.faceoffunlimited.com/|title=Dad's Garage Theatre|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250217203220/http://www.faceoffunlimited.com/|archive-date=17 February 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |[https://www.flipsidetheatre.com/ 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 |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://highwireimprov.com/|title=Highwire Improv - Spreading Joy Through Improv In Baltimore & Beyond|website=Highwire Improv}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visitmaryland.org/listing/performing-arts/highwire-improv|title=Highwire Improv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203221531/https://www.visitmaryland.org/listing/performing-arts/highwire-improv|archive-date=3 December 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |HUGE Theater||Professional||Long-form||Minneapolis, Minnesota||2005||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hugetheater.com/about-us/|title=Huge Improv Theater - About us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201111238/http://www.hugetheater.com/about-us|archive-date=1 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |The Immediate Gratification Players||Collegiate||Long-form||Cambridge, Massachusetts||1986||<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=506019 | title=The Harvard Crimson :: News :: Weekend Filled with Laughs at Ex }}</ref> |- |ImprovOlympic||Major Professional||the Harold||Chicago, Illinois||1980||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicago.ioimprov.com/ |title=IO Chicago Theater |accessdate=2009-03-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331224622/http://chicago.ioimprov.com/ |archivedate=2009-03-31 }}.</ref> |- |Improvolution |Professional | |New York City, New York |2002 |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-26 |title=The Best NYC Improv Classes {{!}} Improvisation Classes New York City |url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/best-improv-classes-nyc |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=Time Out New York |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |Improv Asylum||Major Professional||Semi-improvisational||Boston, Massachusetts||1998||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.improvasylum.com/|title=Improv Asylum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250302022814/https://improvasylum.com/|archive-date=2 March 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |ImprovBoston||Major Professional||Multiple||Cambridge, Massachusetts||1982||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.improvboston.com/|title=ImprovBoston Closed|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250320224423/https://www.improvboston.com/|archive-date=20 March 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |Improv Everywhere||Professional||Guerrilla||New York City, New York||2001||<ref>Gallagher, Brian Thomas. [http://nymag.com/arts/theater/features/47820/ "Prank You Kindly"]. ''New York''. Retrieved January 5, 2009.</ref> |- |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||<ref name="jetcityimprov.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.jetcityimprov.org|title=Jet City Improv - Our Mission|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216115225/https://www.jetcityimprov.org/|archive-date=16 February 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |Just Add Water||Collegiate||Improvisational||New Haven, Connecticut||1986||<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yale.edu/justaddwater/ |title=Just Add Water - Wetter is better |accessdate=2011-01-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320095529/http://www.yale.edu/justaddwater/ |archivedate=2011-03-20 }}.</ref> |- |Laughing Matters||Professional||Shortform||Atlanta, Georgia||1985||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laughingmatters.com/|title=Laughing Matters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216171017/https://laughingmatters.com/|archive-date=16 February 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |The Lobby||Professional||Shortform||Fullerton, California||2005||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thelobbyimprov.com/|title=The Lobby (improv)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230005426/http://thelobbyimprov.com/|archive-date=30 December 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |Madcap Theater||Professional||Shortform||Westminster, Colorado||2006||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.madcapimprov.com/newsupdates/1-latest-news/61-articlequickwittedfamily.html|title=Madcap Theater|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206042501/http://www.madcapimprov.com/newsupdates/1-latest-news/61-articlequickwittedfamily.html|archive-date=6 December 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |Magnet Theater||Major Professional||Long-Form||New York City, New York||2005||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.magnettheater.com/|title=Magnet Theater - Original Improv and Sketch Comedy Shows and Classes Since 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318012942/https://magnettheater.com/|archive-date=18 March 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |Monks' Night Out || Professional || Multiple || Austin, Texas || 1994* || <ref>{{cite web |title=A Monk's Education |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/arts/1997-05-23/528239/ |work=The Austin Chronicle |date=May 23, 1997 |access-date=April 30, 2026}}</ref> |- |The N Crowd||Professional||Shortform||Philadelphia, Pennsylvania||2005||<ref>Walsh, Bruce (July 25, 2007). "The N Crowd: They're Making Philly Funny" (PDF). ''Philadelphia Metro''. Retrieved July 31, 2007.</ref> |- |The National Comedy Theatre||Major Professional||Shortform||San Diego, California|| ||<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalcomedy.com/index.html |title=National Comedy Theatre - San Diego improv comedy, corporate entertainment, San Diego Comedy, San Diego Comedy Shows and Improv Workshops |accessdate=2009-01-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220111300/http://nationalcomedy.com/index.html |archivedate=2009-02-20 }}.</ref> |- |On Thin Ice||Collegiate||Shortform||Cambridge, Massachusetts||1984||<ref>[http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=89621. "Improv Comedy Groups Play for Laughs"]. ''The Harvard Crimson''. Retrieved January 5, 2008.</ref> |- |Peoples Improv Theater||Major Professional||Multiple||New York City, New York||2002||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepit-nyc.com/|title=Peoples Improv Theater|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250319210048/https://thepit-nyc.com/|archive-date=19 March 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |Philly Improv Theater (PHIT)||Major Professional||Multiple||Philadelphia, Pennsylvania||2005*||<ref>McCormack, Max (April 7, 2008). "Philly Improv an Out of Control 'Comedy Vortex'". ''The Temple News''. Retrieved December 26, 2008.</ref> |- |The Playground||Professional||Long-form||Chicago, Illinois||1997|| |- |Providence Improv Guild||Professional||Multiple||Providence, Rhode Island||2013||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://improvpig.com/ |title=P.I.G. Providence Improv Guild |publisher=Improvpig.com |date= |accessdate=2017-01-10}}</ref> |- |PseudoRandomNoise Improv Theater |Professional |Multiple and show-based |Temecula, California |2010 |<ref>{{Cite web |title=PSEUDORANDOMNOISE IMPROV THEATER |url=https://pseudorandomnoise.com/ |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=PSEUDORANDOMNOISE MERCH HAUS |language=en}}</ref> |- |The Purple Crayon of Yale||Collegiate||Long-form||New Haven, Connecticut||1985||<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yale.edu/crayon |title=The Purple Crayon of Yale |accessdate=2009-06-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611190518/http://www.yale.edu/crayon/ |archivedate=2009-06-11 }}.</ref> |- |SAK Comedy Lab||Major Professional||Multiple||Orlando, Florida||1991||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sak.com/|title=SAK Comedy Lab|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228110756/https://www.sakcomedylab.com/|archive-date=28 December 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |The San Francisco Improv Alliance||Professional||Multiple||San Francisco, California||2005|| |- |The Second City||Major Professional||Semi-improvisational||Chicago, Illinois||1959||<ref>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.</ref><ref>Robertson, Campbell (June 4, 2008). [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/theater/04sills.html "Paul Sills, a Guru of Improv Theater, Dies at 80"]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved January 5, 2008.</ref> |- |Second Nature Improv||Collegiate||Long-form||Los Angeles, California||2002|| |- |Starla and Sons||Collegiate||Longform||Providence, Rhode Island||2006||<ref>[http://www.projo.com/lifebeat/content/wk-comedyfest_10-16-08_UTBRMUI_v11.261d9a5.html "Improv: Making It Up for Laughs"]. ''The Providence Journal''.</ref> |- |Stevie Rays Comedy||Professional||Multiple||Chanhassen, Minnesota||1988||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stevierays.org/|title=Welcome to Steve Ray's Improv Company|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125095327/https://www.stevierays.org/|archive-date=25 January 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |Theatre Strike Force||Collegiate||Multiple||Gainesville, Florida||1989||<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theatrestrikeforce.org/ |title=Home |website=theatrestrikeforce.org}}</ref> |- |The Home Comedy Theater |Professional |The Harold |Chicago, Illinois |2024 |<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2024-05-03 |title=Chicago improv scene grows with new theaters in South Loop, Lake View |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/theater/2024/05/03/chicago-improv-scene-grows-with-new-theaters-in-south-loop-lake-view |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref> |- |The National Comedy Theatre||Professional||Multiple||Phoenix, Arizona||2007||<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nctphoenix.com/|title=National Comedy Theatre | Phoenix's Home for Improv Comedy|website=National Comedy Theatre}}</ref> |- |Unexpected Company||Professional||Long-form||Warwick, Rhode Island||2003||<ref>"Best Comedy Troupe". ''Rhode Island Monthly''. August 2004. Retrieved January 5, 2008.</ref> |- |Unexpected Productions||Professional||Theatresports, Long-form||Seattle, Washington||1983||<ref>Burton, Lynsi (June 12, 2008). [http://www.seattlepi.com/theater/366789_unexpected13.html "Unexpected Productions Celebrates 25 Years"]. ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer''. Retrieved January 5, 2008.</ref> |- |Under the Gun Theater||Professional||Multiple||Chicago, Illinois||2014|| <ref>Wachtler, Mark (September 29, 2014). {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20141011234923/http://www.illinoisherald.com/articles/2014/q3/under-gun-theater-opening-wrigleyville-oct-9/ "Under The Gun Theater Opening in Wrigleyville"]}}. ''Illinois Herald''. Retrieved January 14, 2015.</ref> |- |The Upfront Theatre||Professional||Multiple||Bellingham, Washington||2004||<ref>{{cite web | url=https://theupfront.com/our-story/ | title=Our Story | the Upfront Theatre | Improv Comedy Club | access-date=2021-08-19 | archive-date=2020-11-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112023442/https://theupfront.com/our-story/ | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://www.whatcomtalk.com/2017/06/20/bellinghams-the-upfront-theatre/ "Bellingham's Upfront Theatre in Four Acts"].</ref> |- |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||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://witdc.org|title=Washington Improv Theater|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250322105404/https://witdc.org/|archive-date=22 March 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |Whole World Theatre||Professional||Shortform||Atlanta, Georgia||1994||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wholeworldtheatre.com|title=Washington Improv Theater|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250223052233/https://www.wholeworldtheatre.com/|archive-date=23 February 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |Wing-It Productions||Professional||Multiple||Seattle, Washington||1992||<ref name="jetcityimprov.org" /> |- |The Yale Ex!t Players||Collegiate||Short-form||New Haven, Connecticut||1984||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.exitplayers.com|title=The Exit Players|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108190826/https://www.exitplayers.com/|archive-date=8 January 2025|url-status=dead}}</ref> |} <code>*</code>This group is no longer performing.

==Improvisational theatre companies in the United Kingdom==

{|class="wikitable sortable" |- !Name!!Group Level!!Improv Type!!Location!!Date Established!!class="unsortable"|Reference |- |[http://www.tbcimprov.co.uk/ TBC Improv UK] |Professional |Multiple |Edinburgh, Scotalnd |2009 | |- |Bristol Improv Theatre |Professional |Multiple |Bristol, England |2012 |<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wright |first=Steve |date=2019-02-08 |title=Inside the Bristol Improv Theatre |url=https://www.bristol247.com/culture/theatre/inside-the-bristol-improv-theatre/ |access-date=16 October 2025 |work=Bristol 24/7}}</ref> |- |The Comedy Store Players||Professional||Improvisational||London, England||1985|| |- |Improverts||Collegiate||Theatresports||Edinburgh, Scotland||1989|| |- |Hoopla Impro||Professional||Multiple||London, England||2005||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hooplaimpro.com/|title=Hoopla Impro|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250320092332/https://www.hooplaimpro.com/|archive-date=20 March 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |The Free Association||Professional||Long-form||London||2014||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thefreeassociation.co.uk/" |title=[untitled] |website=thefreeassociation.co.uk |access-date=July 5, 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> |- |The Oxford Imps||Semi-Professional||Improvisational||Oxford, England||2003||<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121103191403/http://www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/stage/2005/06/oxford_imps.shtml "The Oxford Imps"]. BBC. June 2005. Retrieved January 5, 2009.</ref> |- |Showstoppers||Professional||Musical Theatre||London, England||2008||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.showstopperthemusical.com/ |title=The Showstoppers – The award-winning creators of improvised musicals, comedy and drama |publisher=Showstopperthemusical.com |date= |accessdate=2017-01-10}}</ref> |- |The Suggestibles||Professional||Improvisational||Newcastle upon Tyne, England||2001||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thesuggestibles.co.uk/|title=The Suggestibles Improv Comedy Show|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112214713/https://www.thesuggestibles.co.uk/|archive-date=12 November 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |The Spontaneity Shop||Professional||Multiple||London, England||1996|| |- |The Antics||Collegiate||Shortform||Sheffield, England||2008||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anticsimprov.com/|title=The Antics Improv Comedy Troupe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907182736/http://www.anticsimprov.com/|archive-date=7 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |The Maydays||Professional||Longform||Brighton, England||2003||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themaydays.co.uk/|title=Maydays|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321030827/https://www.themaydays.co.uk/|archive-date=21 March 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |Austentatious |Professional |Longform |London, England |2011 |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.austentatiousimpro.com/|title=Austentatious|website=Austentatious}}</ref> |- |Mischief Theatre |Professional |Multiple |London, England |2008 | |- |Blanche Improv |Professional |Multiple |London, England |2023 |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blanche Improv |url=https://www.blancheimprov.com/ |access-date=2025-11-20 |website=Blanche Improv |language=en-GB}}</ref> |- |Shoot From The Hip |Professional |Multiple |London, England |2011 |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-20 |title=Shoot From The Hip |url=https://london.thecomedystore.co.uk/comedians/shoot-from-the-hip |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=london.thecomedystore.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Shoot From The Hip - Improv Comedy |url=https://www.shootimpro.com/ |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=Shootimpro.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Holly |date=2020-01-10 |title=Meet The Short Form Heroes – INTERVIEW – Shoot From The Hip |url=https://thephoenixremix.com/2020/01/10/meet-the-short-form-heroes-interview-shoot-from-the-hip/ |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=Welcome to The Phoenix Remix |language=en}}</ref> |}

==Improvisational theatre companies in Asia== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Name!!Group Level!!Improv Type!!Location!!Date Established !Language!! class="sortable" |Reference |- |- |Pirates of Tokyo Bay||Semi-Professional||Shortform||Tokyo, Japan||2010||English & Japanese ||<ref>{{cite news |last=Nishida |first=Midori |title=Improv pioneers Pirates of Tokyo Bay plan big bilingual birthday bash |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2015/11/22/how-tos/improv-pioneers-pirates-tokyo-bay-plan-big-bilingual-birthday-bash/ |newspaper=The Japan Times |date=2015-11-22 |access-date=2026-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Prepare to laugh your booty off with the Pirates |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2011/10/14/events/events-outside-tokyo/prepare-to-laugh-your-booty-off-with-the-pirates/ |newspaper=The Japan Times |date=2011-10-14}}</ref> |- |- |Tokyo Comedy Store||Professional||Multiple||Tokyo, Japan||1994 | ||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tokyocomedy.com/|title=Tokyo Comedy Store|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101033818/http://www.tokyocomedy.com/|archive-date=1 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |Seoul City Improv||Professional||Multiple||Seoul, South Korea||2007 | ||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://seoulcityimprov.com/|title=Seoul City Improv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250317180030/https://www.seoulcityimprov.com/|archive-date=17 March 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Kerry, Paul (May 29, 2018). [http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180529000851 "SCI offers improv course to help you think on your feet"] ''The Korea Herald''. Retrieved March 11, 2019.</ref> |- |[https://www.tbcimprov.hk/ TBC Improv HK] |Professional |Multiple |Hong Kong |2014 |English |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Talking improv with TBC |url=https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/comedy/talking-improv-comedy |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Time Out Hong Kong |date=20 March 2020 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The People Behind TBC Improv HK Just Want To Play |url=http://www.basehall.hk/editorial/tbc-improv-hk-just-want-to-play |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=VENDORS |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027054854/http://www.basehall.hk/editorial/tbc-improv-hk-just-want-to-play |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=TBC Improv Comedy: (We're No) Spring Chickens |url=https://www.sassyhongkong.com/events/tbc-improv-comedy-no-spring-chickens/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Sassy Hong Kong |language=en-GB}}</ref> |- |The Improv Company |Professional |Multiple |Singapore |2013 | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Improv Company |url=https://www.timeout.com/singapore/theatre/the-improv-company |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Time Out Singapore |date=25 January 2019 |language=en-GB}}</ref> |- |Beijing Improv |Semi-Professional |Multiple |Beijing, China | - |English |<ref>{{Cite web |last=BeijingImprovEnglish |date=2019-12-02 |title=Beijing Improv: Improvised Comedy |url=https://www.thebeijinger.com/events/2019/dec/beijing-improv-improvised-comedy |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=www.thebeijinger.com |language=EN}}</ref> |- |Zmack |Semi-Professional |Multiple |Shanghai, China |2009 |English, Chinese |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lilian Shen on 12 Years of Zmack Improv Comedy Laughs |url=https://www.thatsmags.com/shanghai/post/32546/lilian-shen-on-12-years-of-zmack-improv-comedy-laughs |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=That's Online |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Zmack Improv Shanghai {{!}} SmartShanghai |url=https://www.smartshanghai.com/community/listings/58/zmack-improv-shanghai |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=www.smartshanghai.com |archive-date=2022-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027061400/https://www.smartshanghai.com/community/listings/58/zmack-improv-shanghai |url-status=dead }}</ref> |} <code>*</code>This group is no longer performing.

==Improvisational theatre companies in other regions== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Name!!Group Level!!Improv Type!!Location!!Date Established!! class="sortable" |Reference |- |[https://www.instagram.com/tbcimprov/ 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||<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11752681|title=Review: Improv Bandits back again|last=Christian|first=Dionne|date=2016-11-23|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=2019-08-31|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://improvbandits.co.nz/|title=Improv Bandits|website=Improv Bandits}}</ref> |- |Improv Comedy Copenhagen||Professional||Multiple||Copenhagen, Denmark||2014||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.improvcomedy.eu/|title=ICC Theatre Award winning English Comedy Shows and Improv Classes|website=www.improvcomedy.eu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.berlingske.dk/kultur/nyt-teater-byder-paa-impro-comedy-i-koebenhavn|title=NYT teater byder på impro-comedy i København|date=3 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cphpost.dk/news/two-years-and-450-performances-later-how-improv-is-here-to-stay.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128005747/http://cphpost.dk/news/two-years-and-450-performances-later-how-improv-is-here-to-stay.html|title=Two years and 450 performances later, how improv is here to stay|last=Jacquelin-Andersen|first=Pamela|date= 31 October 2018|archive-date=28 November 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://murmur.dk/copenhagen-says-yes-to-improv-comedy/|title=Murmur » Copenhagen says 'yes' to improv comedy|access-date=2021-02-09|archive-date=2021-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214135241/http://murmur.dk/copenhagen-says-yes-to-improv-comedy/|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |The Court Jesters||Professional||Multiple||Christchurch, New Zealand||1989||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.courtjesters.co.nz/|title=The Court Jesters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218172527/https://courtjesters.co.nz/|archive-date=18 February 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |Wellington Improvisation Troupe||Professional||Multiple||Wellington, New Zealand||2004||<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wit.org.nz/|title=The Wellington Improvisation Troupe|website=The Wellington Improvisation Troupe}}</ref> |- |Boom Chicago||Professional||Multiple||Amsterdam, Netherlands||1993||<ref>van Gelder, Henk (May 6, 2008). "NRC Review: Best Boom Show in 15 Years". NRC Next.</ref> |- |IGLU Theatre||Professional||Multiple||Ljubljana, Slovenia||2013||<ref>[http://www.siol.net/kultura/oder/2013/11/trije_domaci_improvizatorji_predstavljajo_iglu.aspx IGLU: Čar improvizacije sta spontanost in iskrenost] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505193251/http://www.siol.net/kultura/oder/2013/11/trije_domaci_improvizatorji_predstavljajo_iglu.aspx |date=2014-05-05 }}, Planet Siol.net, November 19, 2013.</ref> |- |Narobov||Professional||Theatresports||Ljubljana, Slovenia||2004|| |- |- |Jokebox||Professional||Multiple||Athens, Greece||2024|| |- |- |theLenormans||Semi-Professional||Shortform||Athens, Greece||2024|| |- |}

==See also== {{portal|Comedy|Lists|Theatre}} * Commedia dell'arte * List of comedians * List of improvisational theater festivals {{clear}}

==Notes== <references group="nb"> <ref name="noteworthy">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.</ref> </references>

==External links== *[https://improwiki.com/en/list_of_improv_groups_worldwide improv groups worldwide]

==References== {{Reflist}}<ref name=":0" />

* Theatre Improvisational