Whole World Theatre
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The Whole World Theatre is an improvisational comedy theater located in Atlanta, Georgia.
Whole World Theatre (WWT) is a non-profit theatre company that began in Atlanta, Georgia in late 1993, when a dedicated and talented core of actors, led by Founding Artistic Director David Webster, united to form the the hottest improv company in town.
The founding members of Whole World Theatre performed their first show in front of 25 people in September of 1994. Specializing in experiential improv and unconventional scripted works, and using a unique approach to improv, which put more emphasis on acting, character and atmosphere than on cheap laughs, the cast created original ground breaking pieces such as, Blood Bath Bingo and Pimps, Queens, and Dope Fiends. Scripted works included, Balm in Gillead, Bitches, Women Behind Bars, Four Dogs and a Bone and The House of Yes, among many others.
In June of 1996, Whole World Theatre opened their current location at 1214 Spring Street in mid-town Atlanta. As their popularity grew, the cast of Whole World Theatre were given the opportunity to produce their live improv comedy show for television. "Last Hour Live" - Whole World's premier TV show - helped to launch the southern based Turner South Network.
Lance Krall, one of Whole World Theatre's founding members, went on to produce his own television show for Spike TV, The Lance Krall Show, which costarred several fellow Whole World Theatre alumni.
In 2003, founding company member and Managing Director, Emily Reily Russell, created a youth summer camp program and an improvisational acting program for teens and young adults at Whole World Theatre that still exists to this day. Many of the graduates of this program have entered the "Performance Ready Group" that hosts a more family oriented show the first sunday of every month October through May. The Performance Ready Group is directed and mentored by Assistant Artistic Director, Eric Goins. Russell, in conjunction with Callanwolde Fine Arts Center and The Starlight Starbright Foundation has also created "Improv in Dialysis." Providing monthly improvisational acting workshops to patients and their families at Egleston Children's Hospital in Atlanta.
In 2004,Chip Powell became Artistic Director of Whole World Theatre. The Company continues to perform improv shows and remains one of Atlanta's most successful theater companies. Under Powell's leadership the company has produced Improv in the Park: an annual free improv show in Atlanta's Piedmont Park. Improv in the Park was voted "Best Outdoor Event" by Creative Loafing. Powell also went on to launch Whole World's 3rd Space Theatre by Producing and Directing scripted works such as Sordid Lives and Southern Baptist Sissies by Del Shores.
In 2005, the theatre started a television show for a network called MAV TV and is currently broadcast in over 200,000 homes across the U.S. The show features Whole World's Improv Comedy and is geared towards a more mature audience.
