Improvisation
Seattle
Blood Squad Presents
c/o Odd Duck Studio
1214 10th Ave
Seattle, WA 98122
Tel: (206) 947-8390
Contact: Michael White, Co-Founder. Founded in 2006, BSP performs hilarious improvised horror films. Resident partner of Eclectic Theater Company.
Playback Theater Northwest
PO Box 70166
Seattle, WA 98107
Tel: (206) 726-1415
playbacktnw@juno.com
Contact: Harold Costa Jr., Artistic Director. Founded in 1991, PTN Uses an original form of improvisational theater known as Playback Theater, we create a space where personal stories and experiences can be shared.
Quiet Monkey Fight
c/o Odd Duck Studio
1214 10th Ave
Seattle, WA 98122
Tel: (425) 821-6873
qmf@lists.quietmonkeyfight.com
Contact: Jed Rose, Company Member. Founded in 2007, QMF offers an ever-changing blend of long and short form comedy to delight and entertain. They are constantly honing their skills in formats including games, fairy tales, roasts, musicals and other genres and styles, from Altman to Shakespeare, Noir to Sci-Fi. Resident partner of Eclectic Theater Company.
Seattle Festival of Improvisational Theater
c/o Historic University Theater
5510 University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
seattleimprov@seattleimprov.com
Contact:
Andrew McMasters, Executive Producer. Founded in 2002, SFIT
has grown to become America's best showcase festival of unscripted, interactive theater. With a focus on innovative, professional performers and groups, SFIT has earned a national reputation as a fun and exciting stop on the national improv festival circuit.
Wing-It Productions
5510 University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
Tel: (206) 781-3879
Fax: (206) 352-9182
info@jetcityimprov.com
Contact: Andrew McMasters, Artistic Director. Founded in 1996, Wing-It Productions produces several acclaimed improvisational shows and entertainment events throughout the Northwest. On average we perform six to eight shows every weekend at our theater, The Historic Univeristy Theater. Announces auditions on TPS.
Unexpected Productions
The Market Theater
1428 Post Alley
Seattle, WA 98101-2034
Admin Tel: (206) 587-2414
Box Office Tel: (206) 587-2414
Fax: (206) 587-2413
info@unexpectedproductions.org
Contact: Randy Dixon, Artistic Director. Founded in 1983, Unexpected Productions currently runs Open Mic Improv Wednesdays, Duo Comedy Improv Showcase Thursdays, Unexpected Theatre and Theatresports Fridays and Saturdays, and Gumwall Rally Fri through Sun. Auditions are announced through TPS and Unexpeced Production's Newsletter and website.
Washington
The Blue Door Theatre
PO Box 9286
Spokane, WA 99209
Tel: (509)747-7045
info@bluedoortheatre.com
www.bluedoortheatre.com
Contact: Frank Tano, Artistic Director. Founded in 1996,
The Blue Door Theatre is a Black Box Improv Theatre. The Black Box Theatre is a relatively recent innovation, consisting of a simple, somewhat unadorned performance space, usually a large square room with black walls and a flat floor (we've got all that!). Such spaces are some-what easy to build and maintain, and are usually home to plays or other performances with very basic technical arrangements-- limited sets, simple lighting effects, and an intimate focus on the story. The Blue Door Theatre performances focus on the art of improvised story telling.
Most people know short form improv, like the show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?." Short form improv tends to have a “gimmick” associated with a brief, structured, improvised game. We can and do perform short-form improv, but we specialize in long-form improvisation. Long form improvisation usually involves getting a single suggestion from the audience. The improvisers explore that suggestion through a series of connecting scenes, games, songs, and monologues. At no point do the improvisers stop to plan or discuss what is happening or what has happened. The outcome is typically a piece that has realism and comedy. It takes the audience on a roller coaster ride of emotions and laughter until they find themselves cleverly back at the beginning.
We create and perform theme-based shows that interweave long-form and short-form improvisation, and, on occasion, some scripted pieces together.
The Edge
c/o Bainbridge Performing Arts
200 Madison Avenue North
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
206.842.8578
edgeexp@comcast.net
Contact: Ken Ballenger, Founder. Founded in 1993. Those who have never been to an Improv show before will realize right away that nothing The EDGE does is scripted and that the members are literally making it up as they go along. With no pre-conceived notions for dialogue, plot, situation, characters, etc., the troupe works solely with material from audience members. For more than fifteen years, the troupe has appeared monthly at Bainbridge Performing Arts, inspiring laughter, cheering, and rave reviews.
UMO Ensemble
PO Box 347
Vashon Island, WA 98070-0347
Tel: (206) 408-8059
Fax: (206) 463-2355
info@umo.org
Contact: Esther Edelman, Founding Member. UMO began their creative collaboration in 1987. The company is committed to an Ensemble of performers who create and compose their own productions. The Ensemble's creative process is rooted in physical theatre. Improvisations in movement, character, vocalizing, and writing are the basis for the creation and development of new works. For each piece there is a member of the Ensemble who serves as artistic director, holding the larger picture in mind. Since their arrival on Vashon Island in 1989, UMO Ensemble has created over twenty original works for the theatre.
The Upfront Theatre
1208 Bay St
Bellingham, WA
Tel: (360) 733-8855
Contact: Kimberly Anderson, Administrative Director. Established by Ryan Stiles, The Upfront Theatre opened its doors August 13, 2004. The 85 seat cabaret style venue offers live improv comedy every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Performers from all over the northwest as well as local talent present many styles of improv comedy ranging from short form games to one act improvised plays, musicals, and competitive improv.
Valley Center Stage
PO Box 1123
North Bend, WA 98045
Tel: (425) 831-5667
gary@valleycenterstage.org
www.valleycenterstage.org
Contact: Gary Schwartz, Artistic Director. Founded in 2003, VCT
presents Improv & Variety shows, plays and special events.
Portland
Brainwaves Improv Comedy
3721 SE 13th, #7
Portland, OR 97202
Tel: (503) 796-9550
info@brainwaves.com
This nationally touring company is a crisp ensemble of high energy, intelligent wit, and random stupidity. Brainwaves has been invited to create customized improv performances for organizations such as Starbucks, Nike, Toro and countless others. They are veterans of The Chicago Improv Festival, Austin’s Big Stinkin Improv Festival, and many others.
The Brody Theater
P.O. Box 3835
Portland, OR 97208
Tel: (503) 224.0688
info@brodytheater.com
Contact: Tom Johnson, Artistic Director. Founded in 1996, The Brody Theater offers the best in Improvised Theater, Comedy and Classes in Portland. Auditions announced on website.
ComedySportz Portland
3308 East Burnside St
Portland, OR 97214-1956
Tel: (503) 236-8888
Fax: (503) 235-6291
portland@comedysportz.com
Contact: Patrick Short, General Manager. ComedySportz Portland was founded in early 1993 by Ruth Jenkins and Patrick Short, who serve as Club President and General Manager. Ruth and Patrick performed with and managed ComedySportz San Jose for five years prior to moving to Oregon.
Canada
Vancouver TheatreSports League
104-1177 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6H 1G3, Canada
Tel: (604) 738-7013
Fax: (604) 738-8013
info@vtsl.com
Contact: Jay Ono, Executive Director. Vancouver TheatreSports® League began in 1980 and is now a local institution and a worldwide phenomenon, producing and staging some of the most daring and innovative improv in the world.