Improv Institute

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The Improv Institute was an influential bastion of Chicago improvisational comedy from 1984 until 1994. Every mainstage show was completely improvised from audience suggestions. The troupe had two storefront-theater incarnations, both on West Belmont Avenue on Chicago's North side, first at 2939 W. Belmont (1984-1990), and later at 2319 W. Belmont (1991-1994).

Many theatrical productions had their debuts at the Improv Institute, perhaps most notably Flanagan's Wake on March 19th, 1994.

The Second City producer Kelly Leonard has stated that the Improv Institute was "my favorite place to see improv, other than The Second City." -Chicago Tribune, January 15, 2004

[edit] History

The Improv Institute was founded in late 1983 by John Michael Michalski, who would go on to direct at The Second City in Chicago. The original cast included Michalski, Rick Hall (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Arrested Development), Kate Kirkpatrick, Patricia Musker (aka Roxy Bellows, also co-writer of Flanagan's Wake), Michael Raysses (The Drew Carey Show), Andrew J. Sten, and Jill Talley (Mr. Show, SpongeBob SquarePants). They were later joined by Ron West (3rd Rock from the Sun). Later incarnations of the mainstage cast would include Jack Bronis (Early Edition, Dirty Work, co-writer of Flanagan's Wake), Mark Czoske (co-writer of Flanagan's Wake), Evan Gore (Futurama writer), Ross Gottstein (Babylon 5, Frasier), Laura Hall (Whose Line Is It Anyway?), Tom Hanigan, Amy Hartl, Phil Lusardi (co-writer of Flanagan's Wake), Patricia Musker (aka Roxy Bellows, also co-writer of Flanagan's Wake), Bonnie Shadrake (co-writer of Flanagan's Wake), and Brad Sherman.

Several Improv Institute performers went on to create The Noble Fool Theater Company.

Other notable performers who made appearances at the Improv Institute have included Rose Abdoo (Gilmore Girls, Curb Your Enthusiasm), Mark Belden (thirtysomething), Mark Belzman (According to Jim), Kevin L. Burrows (Naked States), Cindy Caponera (Drunkboat, Curb Your Enthusiasm), Will Clinger (Wild Chicago, ER, Early Edition), Kevin Crowley (CSI, Without a Trace), Paul Dinello (Strangers with Candy), Jon Favreau (Swingers, director of Elf, host of Dinner for Five), Chris Hogan (MADtv, 3rd Rock from the Sun), Bonnie Hunt (Cheaper by the Dozen, Life With Bonnie), Carlos Jacott (CSI, Big Love, Firefly), Jenna Jolovitz (MADtv writer), Jeff Kahn (The 40-Year-Old Virgin), John Lehr (Ten Items or Less), Joe Liss (Less than Perfect, Curb Your Enthusiasm), Michael McCarthy (screenwriter), Adam McKay (Saturday Night Live), Susan Messing, Theresa Mulligan (Mr. Show), Joel Murray (Dharma & Greg), Aliza Murietta, Peter Murietta, Dave Pasquesi (Strangers With Candy, Curb Your Enthusiasm), Paula Poundstone, John Rubano (According to Jim), Ruth Rudnick (NCIS), Lynda Shadrake, Horatio Sanz (Saturday Night Live), Casey Siemaszko (Young Guns, NYPD Blue, Biloxi Blues), Faith Soloway, Barb Wallace (screenwriter), George Wendt (Cheers), and Jim Zulevic (Seinfeld).

See also The Art of Chicago Improv (Shortcuts to Long-Form Improvisation) authored by Rob Kozlowski (Heinemann Press, 2002).
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