The Revival
The Revival is a Chicago-based improv theater and performing-arts company founded in 2015 that delivers customized corporate workshops, a five-level adult improv curriculum, K-12 school residencies, and live performances to organizations, schools, and adult learners nationwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Revival does
The Revival is a Chicago-based performing-arts company that operates an improv theater and a portfolio of live educational programs. Founded in 2015 by John Stoops at the site in Hyde Park where Chicago improv originated, the company relocated to Chicago's South Loop in 2024 after nine years at the original location. Its core technology is the Viola Spolin 'theater games' methodology — listening, ensemble-building, and the 'Yes and...' philosophy — taught through a structured five-level adult curriculum (Improv 101 through 501, each eight weeks) and adapted into customized corporate workshops and K-12 residencies.
The business serves three distinct customer segments. Organizations (corporate and institutional buyers) purchase customized workshops for groups of 6 to 600 people, keynote addresses on collaboration and inclusion, and live shows including 'Blank! The Musical' and 'Chicago Style' — clients span JPMorgan Chase, Harris Associates, Booth and Kellogg, Ogletree Deakins, and UChicago. Schools and educational institutions buy residencies, workshops, performances, and field trips, with the company designated as one of only 40 Chicago Public Schools Highly Qualified Arts Partners. Adults purchase self-serve registration through the Thundertix platform for the multi-level improv program. A 'Laugh Tracks' walking tour, co-developed with the University of Chicago, is positioned as a future tourism offering.
Revenue is generated through five streams — corporate workshops (professional services), adult classes (registration-based), school programs (professional services), live performances (transactional), and the forthcoming walking tours — with pricing for corporate work customized per engagement and adult-class registration non-refundable. Distribution is direct (on-site at client locations or the company's Chicago venue), with marketing driven by press coverage, university and CPS partnerships, and word-of-mouth corporate referrals.
The Revival firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Revival
- Legal name
- The Revival Improv Theater
- Website
- https://the-revival.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Revival is a Chicago-based improv theater and performing-arts company founded in 2015 that delivers customized corporate workshops, a five-level adult improv curriculum, K-12 school residencies, and live performances to organizations, schools, and adult learners nationwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Revival industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts Education and Live Entertainment
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Performing Arts Companies (7111)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Improv Comedy Performances (MPAGACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE)
Keywords
Where The Revival is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Revival business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Corporate Workshops & Professional Programs: Customized improv workshops for businesses and organizations. Workshops are designed from scratch to meet client parameters including budget. They accommodate groups from 6 to 600 people and can be conducted on-site or at their Chicago venue.
- Adult Improv Classes: Five-level 8-week improv classes for adults (18+). Classes include Improv 101 through Improv 501, culminating in a performance on The Revival stage. Registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
- School Programs: Programs for K-12 and higher education institutions including residencies, workshops, performances, and field trips. Designated as a Chicago Public Schools Highly Qualified Arts Partner.
- Walking Tours: Laugh Tracks: A Chicago Theater & Comedy Tour - a 12-stop, approximately 90-minute walking tour developed in partnership with University of Chicago, showcasing Chicago's theatrical history.
- Live Performances: Live improv shows including 'Blank! The Musical' (fully improvised 75-minute production) and 'Chicago Style' (immersive comedy revue). Available for corporate events and public performances.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Customized Corporate Workshops |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Adult Improv Classes (5 levels) |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Revival product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Revival is a Chicago-based performing arts firm offering live improv theater performances, customized corporate improv workshops, a five-level adult improv education program, K-12 and higher-education school arts residencies, and guided comedy walking tours. Its programming is rooted in Chicago's improv tradition (Viola Spolin's theater games) and serves organizations, schools, and adult learners through tailored experiences delivered at its venue or on-site at client locations.
Product overview
The Revival is a multi-purpose performing arts company offering a portfolio of live improv performances and educational programs. The core offerings include two named show products—'Blank! The Musical' (a fully improvised 75-minute production) and 'Chicago Style' (an immersive in-the-round comedy revue)—alongside customized corporate workshop programs featuring keynote addresses, ice breakers, and team building exercises. Educational services are structured as a five-level Adult Improv Program (Improv 101 through 501, each eight weeks) and School Programs including residencies, workshops, performances, and field trips. The company also offers 'Laugh Tracks,' a partnership with the University of Chicago for guided walking tours of Chicago's theater district. All offerings are rooted in Chicago's improv theater tradition as the birthplace of the art form.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Blank! The Musical A fully improvised 75-minute musical production driven by audience input, showcasing the company's improv tradition for public audiences and corporate events.
- Chicago Style
- Corporate Improv Workshops
- Keynote Addresses
- Improv 101-Foundations
- Improv 201-Scenes
- Improv 301-Characters
- Improv 401-Forms
- Improv 501-Performance
- School Improv Residencies
- School Improv Workshops
- School Improv Performances
- School Field Trips
- Laugh Tracks: A Chicago Theater & Comedy Tour
Quantifiable outcome
- Helped thousands of people develop confidence in their voice, work better in teams, and have fun
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Revival
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Revival technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Revival partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- University of ChicagocoreDeveloped the 'Laugh Tracks: A Chicago Theater & Comedy Tour' walking tour in partnership with UChicago. The 12-stop, 90-minute tour takes visitors through Chicago's theatrical history guided by Revival comedy ensemble members.
- Chicago Public SchoolscoreThe Revival is designated as one of only 40 Chicago Public Schools Highly Qualified Arts Partners, selected through a 2020 RFQ process. Provides residencies, workshops, performances, and field trips to CPS students.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Revival competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Second City: The Second City is the largest and most iconic improv comedy theater and training center in Chicago, founded in 1959. It directly competes with The Revival on adult improv classes, corporate workshops, and live performances, and shares the same Chicago improv heritage.
- iO Theater (ImprovOlympic): iO Theater is a historic Chicago improv institution co-founded by Del Close and Charna Halpern, offering adult classes, corporate workshops, and nightly performances. It is a direct peer — The Revival's founder John Stoops previously performed at ImprovOlympic.
- The Annoyance Theatre: The Annoyance Theatre is a Chicago-based comedy venue that originated long-form improv and produces original shows and classes. It directly competes with The Revival for both adult improv students and live performance audiences in the Chicago market.
- Comedy Sportz: ComedySportz operates competitive improv matches and corporate team-building workshops in multiple cities including Chicago. It directly overlaps with The Revival's corporate workshop offering and provides a comparable subscription-style audience engagement model.
- The Groundlings: The Groundlings is a Los Angeles-based improv and sketch comedy theater with a renowned multi-level training program. It directly parallels The Revival's adult improv curriculum, progressing students from beginner to performance-ready.
- Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB): UCB is a major improv comedy training center and theater (NYC/LA) with a structured multi-level curriculum and corporate workshop offerings. It is directly comparable to The Revival's adult class progression and corporate training program.
- Improv Asylum: Improv Asylum is a Chicago-and-Boston based improv theater offering corporate team-building workshops and adult classes. It is directly comparable to The Revival on the corporate workshop segment and operates in the same Chicago market.
- Magnet Theater: Magnet Theater is a New York City-based improv comedy training center offering multi-level adult classes and performances. It parallels The Revival's structured improv curriculum and theater-based training approach.
Regional players
- Boom Chicago: Boom Chicago is an Amsterdam-based American-style improv comedy theater founded by performers with Second City backgrounds. The Revival's founder John Stoops was a cast member of the Boom! ensemble, giving them a programmatic connection.
- Mercury Theater Chicago: Mercury Theater Chicago is a live performance venue that offers theatrical programming, corporate events, and theater-based experiences in the same Chicago market. It overlaps with The Revival on corporate entertainment and private events.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Revival social profiles
Digital presenceThe Revival financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Revival leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Revival funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Revival M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Revival
What does The Revival do?
The Revival is a Chicago-based performing arts firm offering live improv theater performances, customized corporate improv workshops, a five-level adult improv education program, K-12 and higher-education school arts residencies, and guided comedy walking tours. Its programming is rooted in Chicago's improv tradition (Viola Spolin's theater games) and serves organizations, schools, and adult learners through tailored experiences delivered at its venue or on-site at client locations.
Is The Revival a public or private company?
The Revival is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Revival founded?
The Revival was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Revival based?
The Revival is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Revival make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Corporate Workshops & Professional Programs are the primary driver. The others are adult Improv Classes, school Programs, walking Tours and live Performances.
Who are The Revival's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Second City, iO Theater (ImprovOlympic), The Annoyance Theatre, Comedy Sportz, The Groundlings, Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB), Improv Asylum and Magnet Theater. Regional players are Boom Chicago and Mercury Theater Chicago.
Does The Revival have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Revival.
What industry is The Revival in?
The Revival's product category is Performing Arts Education and Live Entertainment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGACAB, Improv Comedy Performances, with a secondary code of EDAMAAAG, Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater). Its NAICS code is 711110 and its SIC code is 7990.