The San Francisco Improv Co-Operative
Encyclopedia
The San Francisco Improv Co-Operative (SFIC) was an all-volunteer production company dedicated to improvisational theater
("improv").
Founded by Sam Shaw
and Shaun Landry, the co-operative's main event, The Monday Night Improv Jam, had been a staple of San Francisco improv since 2000. The SFIC produced master classes by some improv teachers including Charna Halpern
(IO
), Mick Napier
(Annoyance Theatre
), David Razowsky (Second City Los Angeles
), and Ian Roberts
and Matt Besser
(Upright Citizens Brigade
).
The SFIC favored low-cost drop-in workshops, including the Longform Lab, SkillShop, and 6 Harolds. Another improv jam, The Night of 1000 Games, which focused on shortform improvisation, was debuted in 2004.
The SF Improv Co-Op produced the 2004 & 2005 The San Francisco Improv Festival, which, at 12 weeks long, was the longest-running improv festival. The San Francisco Improv Festival now runs seven weeks under The San Francisco Improv Alliance.
In 2006 The SFIC produced Matt Besser's one man performance Woo Pig Sooie!
June 4th 2006 Sam Hurwitt SFgate:
Shaun Landry left the SFIC in June 2005 to form The San Francisco Improv Alliance
, giving all rights and entities of the name and business of The San Francisco Improv Co-Operative to Shaw.
Sam Shaw left the SFIC June 2006 to form the troupe Crisis Hopkins. (first performance February 2007) with the organization disbanding. The Monday Night Improv Jam continued in 2007 under the auspices of Combined Artform Entertainment until it disbanded Spring of 2007.
Improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...
("improv").
Founded by Sam Shaw
Sam Shaw
Samuel E. Shaw was an American professional baseball player who played parts of two seasons for the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association and the Chicago Colts of the National League. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland the date and place of his death is unknown.-External links:...
and Shaun Landry, the co-operative's main event, The Monday Night Improv Jam, had been a staple of San Francisco improv since 2000. The SFIC produced master classes by some improv teachers including Charna Halpern
Charna Halpern
Charna Halpern is a co-founder of the ImprovOlympic, now known as The iO. She was born and raised on the North Side of Chicago. In 1984, with partner Del Close, she began teaching The Harold to many students in the Chicago theatre community. She and Close co-authored the book Truth in Comedy: The...
(IO
IO
Io, IO, I/O, i/o, or i.o. may refer to:-An abbreviation:* I.O., a theater in Chicago, Illinois dedicated to improvisational comedy* i.o., "in illo ordine", Latin phrase meaning "respectively"...
), Mick Napier
Mick Napier
Mick Napier is an actor, director, teacher and author living in Chicago. He is the founder and artistic director of the Annoyance Theatre and an award-winning director at The Second City. He has worked with people such as Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, Horatio Sanz, Nia Vardalos, Andy...
(Annoyance Theatre
Annoyance Theatre
The Annoyance Theatre, or Annoyance Productions as it is sometimes called, is a theater and associated ensemble based in Chicago that deals mainly in absurd, pretentious and outrageous humor. Many people that have performed with the ensemble have gone on to become successful stage and screen actors...
), David Razowsky (Second City Los Angeles
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
), and Ian Roberts
Ian Roberts (actor)
Ian Michael Roberts is an American actor, comedian and writer best known as a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade sketch comedy troupe.-Life and career:...
and Matt Besser
Matt Besser
Matthew Gregory "Matt" Besser is an American actor and comedian best known as one of the founding members of the Upright Citizens Brigade sketch comedy troupe who also had their own show on Comedy Central from 1998-2000....
(Upright Citizens Brigade
Upright Citizens Brigade
The Upright Citizens Brigade is an improvisational comedy and sketch comedy group that emerged from Chicago's ImprovOlympic in 1990. The most recent incarnation consists of Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh...
).
The SFIC favored low-cost drop-in workshops, including the Longform Lab, SkillShop, and 6 Harolds. Another improv jam, The Night of 1000 Games, which focused on shortform improvisation, was debuted in 2004.
The SF Improv Co-Op produced the 2004 & 2005 The San Francisco Improv Festival, which, at 12 weeks long, was the longest-running improv festival. The San Francisco Improv Festival now runs seven weeks under The San Francisco Improv Alliance.
In 2006 The SFIC produced Matt Besser's one man performance Woo Pig Sooie!
June 4th 2006 Sam Hurwitt SFgate:
We definitely try not to be dogmatic or try to embrace any particular form or school," agrees SFIC co-founder Sam Shaw. "Sometimes it seems like we do lean toward one or the other, but we go back and forth."
Shaun Landry left the SFIC in June 2005 to form The San Francisco Improv Alliance
The San Francisco Improv Alliance
- History :Started in 2005 by Shaun Landry, artistic director of Oui Be Negroes, The San Francisco Improv Alliance is a group of actors dedicated to Improvisational Theater...
, giving all rights and entities of the name and business of The San Francisco Improv Co-Operative to Shaw.
Sam Shaw left the SFIC June 2006 to form the troupe Crisis Hopkins. (first performance February 2007) with the organization disbanding. The Monday Night Improv Jam continued in 2007 under the auspices of Combined Artform Entertainment until it disbanded Spring of 2007.