The rush of seeing serious comedic improvisers do their thing can be as exciting as watching a pro athlete in action. But instead of cheers, their payoff comes in the form of laughter. Some say Atlanta reigns as a hotbed of improv activity, so we put together a starting lineup of local all-stars.
Dad’s Garage Theatre Company
Since 1995, this group has traded in off-the-cuff wackiness and twisted scripted shows, while snagging a solid reputation for splitting sides. Its weekly improv events drop with regularity, taking place Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays except on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The annual BaconFest fundraiser, complete with carnival games, bacon, beer and bands, remains the stuff of local legend, even prompting a visit from actor Kevin Bacon in 2012.
Since its inception, Dad’s remained a go-to destination in Inman Park. That lasted until this past summer, when its Elizabeth Street building was sold by the owner. Without missing a comedic beat, it found a temporary home just down the street in Little Five Points at 7 Stages Theatre.
Its three-night improv schedule is still intact, and Dad’s delivers at 10:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. On Thursdays through Nov. 21, you’ll find “Extreme Elimination Challenge” with actors battling it out in improv games. Audience members vote on those they deem funniest and eliminate the rest. “Murder She Improvised,” a long-form improv murder mystery, runs Fridays through Nov. 29. The popular “TheatreSports” holds the Saturday slot. Audiences challenge two teams to whip up stories and jokes on the spot.
Although Dad’s continues pursuing options on a permanent space, it makes the most of its flexibility by visiting other theaters in the metro area. This includes dropping in at Aurora Theatre in Lawrence. OTP improv fans can see “Dad’s Does the Burbs” 7:15 and 9:15 p.m. Nov. 8 and 9. Keep an eye out for its upcoming holiday show, “Invasion: Christmas Carol,” in December at Fabrefaction Theatre in West Midtown, with two special performances at the Alliance Theatre. The cast learns “A Christmas Carol,” and each night a guest pop culture character, from Oscar the Grouch to Walter White, crashes the party with improvisation.
Dad’s also offers improv classes, and the next course begins in January.
10:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays. $5-$23. 7 Stages Theatre, 1105 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-523-3141, www.dadsgarage.com.
Whole World Improv Theatre
Whole World’s status as one of the not-to-miss improv spots in town has basically stayed constant since it first tossed jabs and jokes in 1994. The Midtown-based band of funny folks even scored its own TV show for a bit when “Whole World Comedy” aired on the Turner South Network. Although that channel is now gone with the wind, Whole World continues bringing the funny.
Its latest event, “Wheel of Improv,” plops improvisation in a game show environment at 10:30 p.m. Saturdays. Improvisers perform at the mercy of a giant wheel. Whichever spot it lands on directs the action. Performers may find themselves concocting an impromptu narrative scene, grabbing props on the fly and other potentially hilarious situations. Audience members have a chance to take home prizes, including tickets and T-shirts.
The main stage cast performs its classic improv show 9 p.m. Fridays and 8 p.m. Saturdays. The Unusual Suspects, a subgroup of the main stagers, perform out-of-the-blue comedy at 8 p.m. Thursdays, which also happens to be Ladies Night. Females who arrive before 7:30 p.m. score free admission, and guys and everyone after 7:30 p.m. pay $10 per ticket. An even deeper discount can be had 8 p.m. most Tuesdays for Whole World Laboratory. Visiting performers and Whole World cast members dish out experimental improv. Remember its regular schedule can change due to rentals and special events, so check the website’s calendar. The next round of improv classes begins in January, and shows for some of its current classes take place Nov. 14, 19 and 20.
According to its organizers, expect big things from Whole World as it slides into its 20th year in 2014. But that’s not before its annual New Year’s Eve show, which always lures a crowd.
8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 9 p.m. Fridays; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Saturdays. $5-$25. 1216 Spring St. N.W., Atlanta. 404-817-7529, www.wholeworldtheatre.com.
Village Theatre
A rising star among Atlanta’s improvisational landscape, Village Theatre began in ’08. Since 2012, it’s been operating out of its street-level spot in the Pencil Factory lofts in Cabbagetown near Georgia State University. Village Theatre culls its troupe of comics from various walks of life, from doctors to IT geeks and all points in between. Yet, they all have the ability to riff at the drop of the hat.
This cast helms its 8:30 p.m Friday and Saturday shows. On Fridays, its “Armando” show features a special guest whose personal story provides improv inspiration. Saturday nights get a bit rowdy with “Improv A-Hole!,” which they describe as part college drinking game, part improv competition. A special 10:30 p.m. Friday night production, the fast-paced “Revolver,” lands Nov. 8 and 22. Its recent show “Captain’s Log,” an improv spin on the world of “Star Trek,” proved so popular, they’re bringing it back at 11 p.m. Nov. 14 and again in December. Up-and-coming improvisers test their boundaries at 8:30 p.m. Thursdays with “Danger! The Show.” And on the last Sunday of each month, they offer “Chalk Outline,” a special 5 p.m. show. Sketch comedy comes to life here, too. Its holiday show, loaded with various sketches penned by cast members, takes place Dec. 5 -7 and 12-14.
Fans of stand-up comedy have the opportunity to hit the jackpot each Saturday night. The Saturday night free “1 a.m. Secret Show” features some of the best local stand-up comics testing new material. National comedians in town for shows, including Bobcat Goldthwait and Jared Logan, have been known to pop in and perform, too. Its March Madness competition, coming in March 2014 and open to the public, will offer up to 64 three-person teams a chance to compete in an improv tournament with a $500 prize.
8:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays. Additional shows take place periodically. Check website calendar. $5-$10. 349 Decatur St. S.E., Atlanta. 404-688-8858, www.villagecomedy.com.
Laughing Matters
Call them the unsung heroes of Atlanta improv comedy. When some of today’s area improvisers were still in diapers, Laughing Matters was launching the local improv scene in 1985. Today Tommy Futch, one of its founders and also a Dad’s Garage ensemble member, captains the ship.
Although it’s not in the spotlight as much as other groups, Laughing Matters stays busy focusing on the corporate world. It teaches team-building workshops and schools lawyers with role-playing exercises. Your kids may have even seen Laughing Matters in action at one of its elementary school shows.
That’s not saying the public can’t experience Laughing Matters live. The group brings its “BattleActs” show to the Hapeville Performing Arts Center 8 p.m. Nov. 16. Expect a battle royale of the improv kind. Its monthly shows take place at Manuel’s Tavern in Poncey-Highland, the next one arriving Dec. 14 ($12).
404-225-5000, www.laughingmatters.com.
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