ImprovBoston is a nonprofit improvisational theater, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It offers shows five nights per week at its theater in Central Square and training programs in improvisation, stand-up comedy and sketchwriting.HistoryFounding and the Early Years (1982–1993)In 1982, Ellen Holbrook, a former student at Second City in Chicago and a producer of the Chicago Improv Olympic, moved to Boston with the idea to found an improvisational comedy troupe similar to Second City. Holbrook had the encouragement of former members of The Proposition, an earlier improv-comedy troupe, and Director David Shepherd, the founder of the Compass Players and the Improv Olympic. In the beginning, she assembled and trained several loosely knit bands of improvisers into teams that competed in the Boston "Improv Olympic" at Reilly’s Beef and Pub near Government Center. Holbrook also arranged for David Shepherd and Second City's Michael Gellman to come to Boston to teach improv workshops to local performers. In 1983, Holbrook founded ImprovBoston, along with Katy Bolger and Nicholas Emanuel, as they wanted to transition to a more professional organization.The group moved to Satch's near Copley Square, owned by former Boston Celtic Satch Sanders. In 1984, ImprovBoston officially became a not-for-profit corporation and moved to Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge at Inman Square, where they remained for several years. Show formats varied but often included several improv games based on audience suggestions, set sketches based on improvs from past shows, musical improvs and song parodies. ImprovBoston troupe members often took turns directing shows, but other ImprovBoston directors during this time included David Thibodeaux, Jack O'Connor, Leslie Curtin and Brad Jones.
The home for unique comedic voices in Boston. Every week features a new and exciting take on sketch comedy, whether it be through experiments in format, innovative performances or wholly original writing, SketchHaus will always keep you on your toes. SketchHaus: the most original, cutting-edge sketch comedy New England has to offer.
Grandma's Basement Comedy was founded behind Fenway Park at the old Fenway Howard Johnson. The first open Mic consisted of three people including Bartender, Comedian, and Godfather Benny Boshnack. Grandma's Basement soon grew into the underground destination for Boston's top local comedians to showcase new jokes and fine tune their acts. The Thursday Open Mic which started from 3 people had grew to 40-60 Comedians waiting their turn for laughter or silence on the Comic built stage. Grandma's Basement Showcases feature lineups of Boston's Funniest Comedians with appearances from National talent. The following list of Comedians have all contributed to the Grandma's Basement's Community: Benny Boshnak ("Godfather of Grandmas"); Tom Dunlap ("Grandma's Backbone"); Gary Peterson (Opened for Louis CK, 2013 Best Comedian Boston Phoenix; John Paul Rivera ("The Open Mic King of Comedy" - Best host in Comedy); Larry Lee Lewis (Former Chops Lounge Comedy at the HOJO) Dan Boulger (Seen on Late Late Show with Craig Fergueson); Al Park (2015 Boston Comedy Festival Winner); Alingon Mitra (2014 Boston Comedy Festival Winner and Finalist on NBC's Last Comic Standing); Jenny Zigrino (Finalist on TBS Funniest Wins); Joe List ("Seen on David Letterman"); LaMont Price (Comedy Central Comics Coming to Watch) Ryan Donahue (Strange Behavior); Pete Holmes (Pete Holmes Show on TBS); Shawn Carter (UnScene Comedy); Ryan Doon (seen on TBS "Funniest Wins", "Vine"); Guitler Gussolini (The Boston Comedy Teddy Bear); Will Noonan (High Pathetically Podcast "King of Vine", Commercials, Wrestling Shows), Josh Gondelman (Last Week Tonight with Jon Oliver); Chris Pennie (Finalist in the Mohegan Sun “Funniest Amateur Comic in New England.); Chris Coxen ("The Character King"); Samaria Sam Johnson; Shaun Donovan; Peter Martin ("The Man"); Bethany Van Delft (Artisanal Comedy); Phoebe Angle (UnScene Comedy Contributor); Matt Kona ("Everywhere"); Stephen Mc Connon ("The Story Teller"); Kofi Thomas (San Fransisco Comedy Festival); Shaun Bedgood (2013 New England’s Funniest Comic semifinalist, 2013 Boston Comedy Festival Finalist); Rick Canavan; Will Smalley; Christa Weiss (Broad Appeal); Rob Crean (Anderson Comedy); Langston Kerman; Jimmy Anicet; Jiayong Li (January 2014 Comic in Residence at The Comedy Studio, MIT's Funniest Person Ever); Tim McIntire (NPR, NIckelodeon); Tommy Sunshine (The Vet); Tom Dustin; Jon Baglio (Mendoza Line); Tom Crowley (Mendoza Line); Rich Karski (UnScene Comedy Contributor); Aimie Rose Ranger (The Ranger Show); Dan Sulman; Matt Chaves (Host of Kings Open Mic); Jere Pilapil (Best Dressed Comic); PJ Brown (Comedy's Best Laugh); Nick Ortalani (Kindergarden Comedian); Tyrone Jones (The Hurricane); Katie McCarthy; Shea Spillane; Dan Crohn; Tawanda Gona; Wes Hazard (Mix-Tape Show); Andew Durso (Forever 13); Cam McNeil (The Red Headed Step Child); Pat Barrett (M.C. Young H.F.); Mike Milloy; Ethan Marsh; Ryan Shea; Kevin Harrington (Geek Comedy); PJ Westin; James Nixon; Taylor Connelly; Mikhail Han; James Creelman; Zenobia Del Mar; Shawn Armistead; Luke Shepard; Jeff Young; Tom McDonald; Michael Kerrigan; Niki Luparelli; Anthony Scibelli; Scott Oddo; Sam Ike; Raj Sivaraman; Steve Macone; Janet McNamara; Michael Abramson; Nate Johnson; India Pearl; David Lee Bass III; Ken Reid (Riot LA Festival, the Charleston Comedy Festival, The AltCom Festival, Comedy Studio) Dan St. Germain (Comedy Central, Jimmy Fallon, Conan, Best Week Ever); John Staley; And More... Grandmas Basement YouTube Videos Steve Katsos Show (Benny Boshnack, Tom Dunlap, Scott Oddo, Jimmy Anicet) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtAUsRuSYFE John Paul Rivera - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJObNXadjfg Gene Meyer (Host Ryan Donahue) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyQj1OaHIFw Mike Kerrigan (Host Shawn Donavan) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NrkIMv-h8I Samaria Johnson (Host. Langston Kerman) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzft81s611Y Samaria Johnson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jayc-Jb0ktc Will Noonan (Featuring Tyron Jones) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBh5rTiPMMw Kylie Alexander (Host Geek Comedy Night) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJvpMAATTao Matt Kona - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5xZBf2JMsA Gary Peterson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zAU3jNtnVY Gary Peterson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9y3i5E1soY Rich Dupont (Host John Paul Rivera) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWlHh1BNfKc Luke Sheppard (Host John Paul Rivera) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRELf6zbynk Luke Sheppard (Sully Sullivan) (Host. Matt Kona) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYKzmLGHYw Luke Sheppard (Host Gary Peterson) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy5b0-aVnMo Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukLKdGAzYbw Josh Kanter (Host Benny Boshnack) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0x5C--D_ho Fageet (Host Tom Dunlap) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCnFnrBXNo4 Ilya (Host Tom Dunlap) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0N79ufGHkI
Seven teams. Two unique shows. One night that will never be performed again. Harold Night is now at 7:30pm AND 9:30pm. Come to the 7:30pm Top Shelf show & get into the 9:30pm Fresh Blend show for FREE.
Wednesday nights at 8:00pm see three high-quality shows that push the boundaries of comedy.
Here's how OPENHAUS works! --Signing up for OpenHaus grants you standby access to SketchHaus (9pm) --The only way to GUARANTEE your seat in the OpenHaus audience is by going to SketchHaus! Check out the show if you want a for-sure spot in the room. --You can sign up to either: Perform a sketch with your group, have other performers perform a sketch you have written, perform in other people's sketches. There will be sign up sheets in the Lobby until 10:10! --The first FOUR acts on the list will definitely go up, the remaining (however many) will be chosen in a lottery style. We're gonna try to get everyone up but we gotta have a hard close time of 11:05 -- No more than five minutes per act! If you have a properly formatted script, that should mean less than five pages!
Scullers Jazz Club has hosted some of the very best musical artists in the business including; Harry Connick Jr., Chris Botti, Jamie Cullam, Lisa Fischer, Will Downing, David Sanborn, Michael Bublé, Arturo Sandoval, Tony Bennett, Wynton Marsalis and Dave Koz to name a few. Led by Jazz impresario Fred Taylor, the 200-seat Scullers Jazz Club has become a true Boston landmark. Offering spectacular views of the Boston skyline and the Charles River, Scullers serves as the perfect backdrop for World-Class Entertainment you won't see anywhere else in Boston.
Afterhours is Northeastern University's private performance venue located on the ground floor of Curry Student Center in Boston, MA. We offer free entertainment for Northeastern students every night of the week. Afterhours features state-of-the-art audio and visual technology and a full-service Starbucks. Afterhours offers programming almost every night of the week and supports programming for over 200 student organizations! Come by for music, movies, games, coffee and so much more!