ImprovOlympic

The ImprovOlympic (now known as "IO" or "IO Chicago") is a theater in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois dedicated to improvisational comedy. It was founded in the 1980s by Del Close and Charna Halpern. The ImprovOlympic approaches improvisation as an art form in and of itself; this differs from the Second City approach, where improv is used as a tool in creating sketch comedy. IO also concentrates on "long-form" improvisational structures, in contrast to the "short-form" or "improv game" format of Theatresports or the television show Whose Line Is It Anyway?. The IO signature piece is "the Harold".

Related Topics:
IO Chicago - Chicago, Illinois - Improvisational comedy - 1980s - Del Close - Charna Halpern - Second City - Theatresports - Whose Line Is It Anyway? - The Harold

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IO's two theater spaces, the Cabaret and the Del Close Theater, run nightly shows mostly made up of teams of current and former students of IO's training center. IO is also involved in the annual Chicago Improv Festival.

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A companion theater, IO West, opened in Los Angeles, California about five years ago. As well, the Upright Citizens Brigade, which is now based in New York and runs the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre there, was once an IO house team.

Related Topics:
Los Angeles, California - Upright Citizens Brigade - New York - Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre

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Annually, a clone of the IO is held for one night at the Nelson College for Boys in Nelson, New Zealand.

Related Topics:
Nelson - New Zealand

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Notable IO alumni include:

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• Matt Besser
• Andy Dick
• Rachel Dratch
• Chris Farley
• Jon Favreau
• Tina Fey
• Adam McKay
• Mike Myers
• Amy Poehler
• Andy Richter
 
ImprovOlympic: External links ►