What Improv Asylum does

Improv Asylum is a privately held comedy and entertainment company founded in 1997 and based in Boston. It produces live improvisational and sketch comedy shows through Boston venues and related sub-brands, including the Main Stage Show, Raunch, House Teams, Hen House, Fruit Basket, Boston’s Theater of Magic, Asylum Magic, and touring productions. It serves consumer ticket buyers, tourists, student and school groups, adult learners, special-occasion groups, colleges, and corporate clients seeking entertainment, team-building, or private event content.

The core production asset is a live performance methodology rather than software: professional actor ensembles create improvised scenes from audience suggestions, with formats that combine improv, sketch, musical elements, magic, and audience participation. The company also operates a six-level training center and electives in writing, stand-up, content creation, musical improv, couples improv, and magic; Asylum Team Building applies improv principles to workplace training; and Asylum Productions provides audio-video services, customized content, studio rental, and live event production.

Revenue appears diversified across one-off show tickets, paid classes, corporate team-building and private-event services, touring performances for colleges and corporate buyers, video and event production, and gift cards. Go-to-market is primarily venue-, community-, and event-driven: owned or affiliated Boston venues, online ticketing, direct corporate events outreach, local restaurant and attraction partnerships, content and social channels, podcasts, and touring. Public revenue figures and exact pricing are not disclosed; ticket pricing varies by day and show type.

Name

Improv Asylum

Legal name

Improv Asylum

Website

https://improvasylum.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Improv Asylum is a Boston-based private comedy company offering live improv shows, classes, corporate team building, private events, touring productions, and event/video production for consumers, students, tourists, and organizations through venues and direct booking.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Comedy Entertainment and Comedy Training

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Improvisational Theatre (MPAGABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Improv Comedy Performances (MPAGACAB)

Keywords

• Live comedy theater
• Improv training classes
• Corporate team building
• Comedy event production
• Touring comedy shows

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Live Show Tickets: Ticket sales for Main Stage shows, Raunch late-night shows, and specialty productions. General admission with guaranteed group seating options for parties of 7+. Tickets purchased online or at box office.
2. Improv and Comedy Classes: Multi-level improv training program (Levels 1-6) plus specialized classes in writing, stand-up, content creation, musical improv, and corporate applications. Classes held at Asylum CoLab and multiple locations.
3. Corporate Team Building and Private Events: Customized comedy shows and team building programs using improv principles for organizations. Includes holiday parties, client entertainment, and leadership retreats.
4. Video and Event Production: Asylum Productions provides audio-video services, customized content development, and live event production for corporate clients and events.
5. Touring Productions: Customized and pre-packaged comedy shows touring to college campuses, corporate events, and venues nationwide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Improv Asylum is a live improvisational comedy theater that produces and performs original improv, sketch, and musical comedy shows at multiple owned Boston venues, operates a six-level improv training center, and delivers customized corporate team-building and touring comedy productions. The company also runs Asylum Productions, an in-house audio/video and live event production studio serving corporate clients. Additional offerings include specialty shows, comedy trolley tours, bachelorette and birthday packages, and school-group programs.

Product overview

Improv Asylum is New England's premier comedy and entertainment company operating as a multi-venue live performance business. The core offering consists of live improv comedy shows (Main Stage Show, Raunch, House Teams) performed at their North End venue, with sister venues Laugh Boston (Seaport) and Lil Chuck (Theatre District). The company offers a six-level Improv Training Center for comedy education, corporate team building programs through Asylum Team Building, and touring productions nationwide. Additional offerings include Asylum Productions (video/event production), Asylum Podcasts (Beyond the Norm, New Besties, I'll Cry If I Want To), writing classes, and specialty programs like Asylum Magic School. The company also operates The No Rest for the Wicked Funny Foundation charity and produces shows like Hen House, Fruit Basket, and Galentine's Day. The July 2025 merger with John Tobin Presents expanded their footprint to include Off Cabot and MGM Springfield venues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beyond the Norm: Podcast by comedy entrepreneur Norm Laviolette covering the business of comedy, entertainment, and entrepreneurship with interviews and keynote excerpts.
• New Besties
• I'll Cry If I Want To
• Hen House
• Fruit Basket
• Massholes Live!
• Undeclared
• Asylum Magic
• No Rest For The Wicked Funny Foundation

Products and services

• Main Stage Show Improv Asylum's flagship live improv comedy show performed Wednesdays through Saturdays by an ensemble of six actors, featuring audience-suggestion-driven scenes that ensure no two shows are the same. Targeted at general audiences including tourists, date nights, and groups.
• Raunch Late-night adults-only (18+) uncensored improv show performed by the Main Stage cast on Saturday nights at 11:30 PM at Improv Asylum.
• Hen House All-female improv and sketch comedy show featuring audience-inspired scenes and games celebrating womanhood, available as a Boston performance and touring production.
• Fruit Basket All-queer improv and sketch comedy show featuring an ensemble of queer improvisers creating scenes inspired by audience input.
• Boston's Theater of Magic Magic and illusion show presented by Improv Asylum at The Liberty Hotel in Boston, featuring celebrity magician Christopher Wayne.
• Asylum Magic Interactive touring magic show featuring celebrity magician Christopher Wayne, available for booking at colleges, corporate events, and venues nationwide.
• Touring Comedy Productions Nationwide touring comedy productions including Undeclared (college-focused), Massholes Live!, Hen House, Fruit Basket, and Asylum Magic, bookable for colleges, corporate events, and venues across the U.S.
• Improv Classes (Training Center) Multi-level improv training program (Levels 1-6) covering improvisational comedy skills from beginner through advanced performance (Grad Show), with focus on confidence building, public speaking, communication, and comedic skills. Held at Asylum CoLab and multiple locations including Somerville and Hingham.
• Asylum Magic School Seven-week professional magic course taught by celebrity magician Christopher Wayne covering sleight-of-hand, card tricks, mind-reading effects, and stagecraft skills at Improv Asylum's North End location.
• Asylum Team Building Corporate team-building and training programs using improv comedy principles to help organizations of all sizes improve communication, collaboration, leadership, and team dynamics. Includes signature programs, keynote programs, and custom solutions.
• Corporate Holiday Parties Customized comedy shows and full event planning for company holiday celebrations, available at multiple Boston venues (Improv Asylum North End, Laugh Boston Seaport, Lil Chuck Theatre District).
• Custom Shows Privately booked customized improv performances tailored for specific groups, celebrations, or corporate functions.
• Bachelorette Packages Special event packages for bachelorette parties, including show tickets, private experiences, and group accommodations.
• Comedy Trolley Tours of Boston Guided comedy trolley tours of Boston that combine sightseeing with improv comedy entertainment.
• Boston's Funniest Field Trip Interactive comedy shows designed for student groups visiting Boston, with customizable content ratings (PG, PG-13) and flexible scheduling for school trips.
• Asylum Productions In-house creative agency offering audio-video services, customized content development, and live event production for corporate clients and events, plus rental studio space for shooting and rehearsals with full production staff.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• John Tobin Presents (JTP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 July 2025Laugh Boston and John Tobin Presents merged, consolidating comedy production efforts in the New England region. JTP operations integrated into the Asylum organization, enhancing capacity to produce comedy shows and develop talent across multiple venues including Laugh Boston, Off Cabot, and MGM Springfield.
• Christopher WaynecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian celebrity magician Christopher Wayne partnered with Improv Asylum for Asylum Magic touring shows and Asylum Magic School. Christopher has performed in over 300 cities worldwide including West End, Las Vegas, and off-Broadway, and now exclusively works with the Asylum.
• Aqua PazzaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Aqua Pazza Italian restaurant offering dinner packages for Improv Asylum show attendees. Located 5-minute walk from theater, provides exclusive three-course dinner menu for Improv Asylum guests.
• Westin Waterfront HotelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLaugh Boston venue is located inside the Westin Waterfront Hotel, connected to Menino Convention and Exhibition Center, providing built-in customer access and hotel partnership for out-of-town visitors.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Second City: Second City is the largest improvisational comedy theater chain (Chicago, Toronto, Hollywood), offering sketch and improv shows, training centers, and corporate programming. It is the most direct competitive analog to Improv Asylum across live shows, classes, and corporate team building.
• iO Theater (ImprovOlympic): iO Theater pioneered long-form improv and runs multi-city theaters with show programming and a deep training center. Highly comparable to Improv Asylum in format, educational pipeline, and touring/community model.
• The Groundlings: Los Angeles-based improv and sketch comedy theater with a renowned training center that has produced many famous alumni. Same core business as Improv Asylum: live shows plus a student-to-performer pipeline, though concentrated in one city.
• Magnet Theater: NYC-based independent improv theater and training school running house teams, classes, and nightly shows. Closely mirrors Improv Asylum's model of advanced classes feeding into house teams and ticketed performances.
• Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB): UCB operates improv and sketch comedy theaters with training centers in NYC and LA and a strong alumni network. Direct comp to Improv Asylum on improv shows, classes, and corporate programming.
• ComedySportz: ComedySportz is a franchised competitive improv theater concept performing in multiple U.S. cities, with corporate team-building as a flagship offering. Comparable to Improv Asylum's touring and corporate event business.
• Hideout Theatre: Austin-based improv theater and training center operating long-form shows, classes, and festival programming. Comparable in scale and structure (single city + training center) to Improv Asylum's Boston operation.

Regional players

• Comedy Connection: Boston-area stand-up comedy club presenting touring comedians. Adjacent competitor for discretionary entertainment spend in the same Boston geography as Improv Asylum.
• Good Night Comedy Tour: Boston/New England-based live comedy tour/show producer similar to Improv Asylum's touring production arm, comparable in geography and event programming.
• Mystery Train (Boston): Boston-area improvisational comedy troupe producing shows and corporate team-building events in the New England market. Direct comp on team-building programming targeting Boston corporate clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ImprovAsylum
• Instagraminstagram.com/improvasylum
• Xx.com/improvasylum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Improv Asylum