Theater
About
iO West (formerly known as the “Improv Olympic West”), the Los Angeles arm of the world-famous iO in Chicago, presents the best improvisation west of the Windy City. In addition to shows every night, iO West offers the finest improv training in Los Angeles.
The theater is located at 6366 Hollywood Blvd., in Hollywood, California.
Valet Parking is available.
Brief History
In 1997 Paul Vaillancourt opened , iO WEST, in Los Angeles, as a companion theater to the original iO in Chicago. Today it is managed by James Grace.
In addition to presenting improv and sketch comedy shows every night, the iO West has improv training classes and is the home for the Los Angeles Improv Comedy Festival. iO West, celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2007 and has been performing in it’s Hollywood location since October 2001.
The iO, or iO Chicago, (formerly known as “ImprovOlympic”) is a theater located at 3541 N. Clark St., in Chicago, Illinois. The theater both has performances of, and teaches improvisational comedy. It was founded in the 1980s by Del Close and Charna Halpern. iO concentrates on “long-form” improvisational structures, in contrast to the “short-form” or “improv game” format of Theatresports or the television show Whose Line Is It Anyway?. The iO’s signature piece is the “Harold”.
Truth in Comedy
To learn more about the method behind the madness t iO, read “Truth in Comedy” :
Who would have ever thought that learning the finer points of improvisation could be such fun? The "Harold," an innovative improvisational tool, helped Saturday Night Live’s Mike Myers and Chris Farley, George Wendt (Norm on "Cheers") and many other actors on the road to TV and film stardom. Now it is described fully in this new book for the benefit of other would-be actors and comics. The "Harold" is a form of competitive improv involving six or seven players. They take a theme suggestion from the audience and free-associate on the theme, creating a series of rapid-fire one-liners that build into totally unpredictable skits with hilarious results. The teams compete with scoring based on applause. The "Harold" is a fun way to "loosen up" and learn to think quickly, build continuity, develop characterizations and sharpen humor.
Midwest Book Review
The "Harold" is a form of competitive improv involving six or seven players. They take a theme suggestion from the audience and "free associate" on the theme into a series of rapid-fire one-liners that build into totally unpredictable skits with hilarious results. The Now it is described fully in Truth In Comedy for the benefit of other aspiring actors and comics. The Harold is a fun way to "loosen up" and learn to think quickly, build continuity, develop…
From Booklist , April 15, 1994
The brain wave of three improv gurus, this book is a complete guide to improvisation for both novice and professional actors and comics. An outgrowth of the successful curriculum initiated by two of the authors at the ImprovOlympic, it describes improvisational tools and techniques, from the "Pattern Game" and "The Hot Spot" to the innovative and sophisticated "Harold." Far from an ordinary how-to handbook, this clearly composed authority on comedic improvisation stresses intuitive thinking…
Available for purchase here from Amazon.com.