13 Improv Groups You Can Hire in the Twin Cities
Danger Boat cast members listening in on conversations at a conference.
13 Improv Groups You Can Hire in the Twin Cities
If you’re planning an event, conference, fundraiser, staff retreat, or team-building session, hiring an improv group can be a great way to bring energy, humor and connection into the room. My first recommendation is ourselves, obviously. But there are a lot of other talented organizations in Minnesota that are worth considering.
Having been in the business for over a decade, we know what to look for when hiring good entertainers who would work well in a professional space.
The Twin Cities has a deep improv scene, ranging from comedy theaters and touring performers to workshop facilitators and specialized training companies. Some groups focus primarily on entertainment. Others use improv as a tool for leadership, communication, storytelling, inclusion, or professional development.
Here are a few improv groups and organizations in the Twin Cities region to consider, in no particular order.
1. Brave New Workshop
Offerings: Shows, corporate entertainment, workshops, and training
Focus: Comedy, professional development, and large-scale events
Brave New Workshop is one of the best-known comedy institutions in Minnesota, with a long history of sketch comedy and improv performance. They offer public shows as well as corporate entertainment and training programs, making them a strong option for organizations looking for a polished, established comedy brand.
2. Very Good Improv
Offerings: Classes and workshops
Focus: Improv training for performance
Very Good Improv is a Twin Cities improv school and performance community offering classes, workshops, and shows. They are a strong resource for individuals looking to learn improv, but organizations seeking improv-based instruction or local performers for their event may also find a good fit in Very Good Improv.
3. Strike Theater
Offerings: Workshops
Focus: Storytelling, sketch comedy, improv, and team-building
Strike Theater in Northeast Minneapolis focuses on storytelling, sketch comedy, and improv. They offer public shows and educational programming, and their workshops can also work for organizations interested in creativity, storytelling, and team connection.
4. Blackout Improv
Offerings: Shows and workshops
Focus: Comedy, culture, storytelling, and community
Blackout Improv is an all-black improv troupe based in the Twin Cities. Their work blends comedy, social commentary, and lived experience in a way that is funny, thoughtful and distinctive. They are a strong fit for organizations looking for entertainment or workshops that bring people together with humor and meaningful perspective.
5. Stevie Ray’s Comedy Cabaret
Offerings: Shows, corporate entertainment, keynotes, and training
Focus: Clean, audience-interactive improv comedy
Stevie Ray’s Comedy Cabaret is a long-running Minnesota improv company known for fast-paced, audience-suggested comedy. Their private entertainment options are designed for conferences, company parties, and group gatherings, with clean comedy that can work well for a broad audience.
6. ComedySportz TC
Offerings: Shows, private events, and workshops
Focus: Interactive comedy and audience participation
ComedySportz Twin Cities offers fast-paced, competitive improv comedy that is especially accessible for a wide range of audiences looking to be part of the show. Their format is playful, high-energy, and easy for audiences to follow, which can make them a good fit for company parties, school events, and family-friendly gatherings.
7. Jesters Comedy
Offerings: Shows and private events
Focus: Fun, interactive improv comedy
Jesters Comedy offers shows that are designed to be lively, approachable, and audience-friendly. They may be a good fit for groups looking for straightforward shortform improv for a social event or casual gathering.
8. Stage Your Change
Offerings: Workshops
Focus: Teambuilding and leadership trainings
Stage Your Change uses improv-based methods to support leadership, communication, and team development. Their work is a fit for organizations that are less interested in a traditional comedy show and more focused on using improv as a practical tool for building skills in the workplace.
9. MNProv
Offerings: Workshops
Focus: Neurodiversity, communication and inclusion
MNprov uses improv-based tools with a particular focus on neurodiversity and inclusive communication. This can make them a strong fit for organizations, educators, or groups interested in using improv to support social connection, accessibility, flexibility, and understanding across different communication styles.
10. Renegade Comedy (Duluth)
Offerings: Show, workshops, and local events
Focus: Duluth-based comedy and community-based performance
If your event is in northern Minnesota, hiring a Duluth-based group may help reduce travel costs while still bringing live improv comedy to your audience. Renegade is a local option that offers fast-paced, interactive shows that would be a good fit for casual gatherings focused on fun.
11. Andria Theatre (Alexandria)
Offerings: Theater, classes, and performance opportunities
Focus: Community theater and arts education
Located in Alexandria, Andria Theatre offers a range of theater programming, including performance and educational opportunities. While not exclusively an improv company, they may be a useful regional resource for organizations looking for family-friendly entertainment at their event.
12. The Radical Agreement Project
Offerings: Workshops, shows, and hosting
Focus: Teambuilding and professional development
Radical Agreement Project is based in California but lists Minneapolis and St. Paul within its service region. Their work includes improv-based workshops, hosting, and professional development. If you’re willing to foot the travel bill, they may be worth exploring if you are looking for a training provider with a broader national footprint.
13. They Improv
Offerings: Workshops and shows
Some national improv organizations may hire local performers or facilitators when they book an event in a specific market.
That model can work, but it is worth asking a few extra questions before hiring: Who will actually lead the workshop? Are they local? What is their experience? Can you see testimonials, video, or examples of past client work?
With any national provider, the main question is consistency. A robust website does not always tell you what kind of experience your specific group will receive in the room.
Other Local Improv Groups
There are many smaller improv troupes and independent performers throughout the Twin Cities. Some may not have a large web presence, but they can still be excellent performers and facilitators.
If you’ve seen a troupe you enjoyed, or if someone you trust recommends a performer, reach out and ask what they offer. For lower-stakes events, hiring a smaller local group can be a fun and affordable way to support the improv community.
For higher-stakes events—such as conferences, executive retreats, fundraisers, or public-facing programs—it is worth asking about their experience with professional clients, event flow, audience interaction, and customization.
How to Choose the Right Improv Group for Your Event
The best improv group depends on what you need.
If your main goal is entertainment, look for a group with strong performers and a format that fits your audience. If your goal is team-building, communication, leadership, or professional development, look for facilitators who can connect improv exercises to real workplace outcomes. If your event deals with complex or sensitive topics, make sure the group has experience balancing humor with care.
A good improv group should be able to explain what they do, adapt to your audience, and help you understand what the experience will feel like before you hire them.
Looking for Improv Comedy, Event Entertainment, or Workshops?
There’s one major organization we didn’t include on this list: us!
Danger Boat Productions helps organizations use improv to make events more engaging, conversations more memorable, and complex ideas easier to understand.
We offer live shows, conference entertainment, keynote presentations, facilitation, and improv-based workshops for teams and organizations. With over 1,000 productions under our belt, we’ve learned how to blend humor and insight in a way that sticks with your audience.
If you’re planning an event in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, or beyond, we’d be happy to help you figure out what kind of improv experience would best fit your goals.
Take a look at our full product guide, including pricing and details on our offerings.
