The Philly Improv Theater (PHIT) is the only longform improvisation theater in the Metro Philadelphia area. Founded in 2005, PHIT is a nonprofit theater company that embraces the art of improvisation as an end rather than a means - creating and producing improv, sketch, and alternate comedy shows in the tradition of theaters like Chicago's Second City and New York's Upright Citizens Brigade. To further this philosophy, PHIT offers it's own take take on the theories and concepts behind good improvisation in a full curriculum of classes for performers of all skill levels taught by local talent and through master classes with distinguished performers and teachers from all over the world (including Impro author Keith Johnstone, Joe Bill and Mark Sutton of The Second City, and former SNL writer Ali Farahnakian). In addition to performing as part of PHIT's weeklong residency at The Shubin Theatre each month, local improv troupes produced and presented by PHIT have toured extensively on the East Coast and performed in festivals throughout North America.

The first classes and workshops at PHIT were offered in January 2006. We have continously offered small classes with the top improv teachers in the city since that time. In addition to our core-courses, taught in the emerging "Philly-style" of improv, PHIT began offering workshops with locally and nationally recognized teachers in 2006 as well with visits from instructors at New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. Finally, members of the Philly Improv Theater participated in The Great Improv Event - an outreach event to middle- and high-school students in the metro-Philadelphia area.

Throughout 2007 the theater had a full-week run of shows at the Shubin Theatre every month. That year also saw the first visit to PHIT by Keith Johnstone (author of Impro and one of the leading improv teachers in the world) as well as performances by I Eat Pandas, BASSPROV, and many other out-of-town performers representing the best improv around the country.

2008 is shaping up to be another banner year for PHIT. The usual stuff will continue: classes starting on a regular basis (now we'll have Level 1 classes EVERY month!), workshops with great out-of-town and local instructors, out-reach to schools in the metro-Philadelphia area through The Great Improv Event, and a week of shows every month at The Shubin Theater. In addition, we will create our first PHIT-trained and supported ensembles, program three weeks of non-stop improv at the Adrienne Mainstage for the Philly Fringe Festival, produce our first improv-to-script stage production (a musical no less!), and launch our new logo, branding, and website.

A portion of all the proceeds from our classes and performances is put into a capital fund for the purchase/building of the theater. If you would not like to take a class or come to a show (which makes us sad), but would like to help with the theater effort you can donate funds by clicking the button below:

Thanks in advance for helping the cause!

The official registration and financial information of Philly Improv Theater, Inc. may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.