Since its opening in 2005, Philly Improv Theater has been the heart of Philadelphia’s nationally recognized comedy scene - serving as the hub for comedic performance across a wide variety of disciplines including improv, sketch comedy, stand-up, and alternative/devised work. PHIT helps produce and/or present over 1,000 comedy performances annually - with performances every night of the year spread across three stages. The theater has been the most prolific producer of new works in the Philly Fringe Festival - having mounted over 50 shows in more than a decade of involvement. In addition to offering the Philadelphia community a place to laugh every night and giving stage time and payment to aspiring local comedians, PHIT’s Training Center teaches hundreds of students ranging in age from 4-84 years old each year.
As a community that is dedicated to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts the theater gives thousands of tickets to audience members who would not otherwise be able to afford to attend live theatre for a reduced price or free of charge each year. PHIT also offers $50,000 in scholarships for study in our classes to historically marginalized individuals in an effort to bring new and under-represented voices to the community - so that the experiences of people of color, people who are differently abled, performers who are female, gender non-conforming, or outside the gender binary, people over 40, and people in the LGBTQIA community are showcased on our stage.
Our place in Philadelphia’s thriving theatre community is confirmed by the track record of our alumni and performers - who have been seen at PHIT before going to work, write, or perform on Saturday Night Live, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Two and Half Men, Raising Hope, The State, Orange is the New Black, Marvelous Miss Maisel, Crashing, With Bob and David. Funny or Die, The Onion, College Humor, Clickhole, McSweeney’s, and Reductress.
Learn More: https://phillyimprovtheater.com