Groundlings



The Groundlings building on Melrose Avenue

The Groundlings is an improvisational comedy troupe based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The troupe was formed by Gary Austin in 1974 and uses an improv format influenced by Viola Spolin to produce sketches and improvised scenes. The troupe moved into their current location on Melrose Avenue in 1979. The current Executive Director of The Groundlings is Dan Fishbach who has led the company since December, 2006.

The Groundlings School sees over 1,000 students per year go through their program. The competitive program consists of 4 levels (Basic, Intermediate, Writing Lab and Advanced). Participants must be successfully advanced from each level by the instructor. After completing the Advanced level, one may be voted into the Sunday Company, which performs on Sunday. Members of the Main Company are selected from members of the Sunday Company.

Many Groundlings performers have found success in movies and television, including several who have become cast members and writers on Saturday Night Live, MADtv, and Reno 911!.

David Blaine Street Magic

In 2006 The Groundlings recorded a skit in the alleyway behind the theater called David Blaine Street Magic. It was later uploaded to YouTube where it's become one of the most popular videos on the website.¹ As of October 2008, the video has had over twenty million views and forty five thousand comments since 12 October 2006.² The skit stars Mitch Silpa parodying David Blaine in both the nature of Blaine's performance and his mannerisms.

Notable alumni

References

External links

• The Groundlings website
• The Groundlings at the Internet Movie Database