BATS Improv Theatre

BATS is the Bay Area's biggest improv theater, which makes it kind of a hybrid between a comedy club and regular theater where you'd see a play. Their schedule includes a lot of different types of shows. If you're looking for straight up funny, I recommend their Theatresports show where two teams compete in different challenges. (It's a little like "Whose Line is it Anyway?" and the scenes move pretty quick.) These shows are a particularly good date night since there's lots of funny stuff happening, you get a chance to shout out suggestions, and there will probably be something to talk about after the show. (Plus, some of the stuff they do on stage can be a little dirty and you'll learn what sort of sense of humor your date has by the way he/she responds!) If you're looking for more of a theater experience, try one of their "long-form" shows. This is like a regular play, but it's all made up completely on the spot based on the audience suggestion. It's pretty incredible really. These shows vary in tone and style--everything from improvised Shakespeare, to Star Trek, to family drama, to musicals. Check their schedule to find something you might like. And, with tickets in the $12 to $15 range, its a pretty good deal for a night out. I recommend BATS Improv! more

After reading the previous review, I thought I should offer up my own two cents. Yes, it's true that sometimes the shows aren't funny and that if you're looking for slapstick, "skits" and one-liners all night long, you too might be disappointed with the shows put on by BATS Improv. Because BATS does theatre, not standup. I've been to a bunch of their shows, and you can pretty much tell from the show description whether the content will be comic, dramatic, or some of each. But it's ALWAYS compelling and entertaining. I do agree (with the previous reviewer) that the cast is extremely creative and talented, and that's why I like their shows, whether or not the content makes me laugh. Because they tell great STORIES. I've laughed LOTS at their shows (mostly during the musicals and during the Theatresports matches), but some of the shows are indeed more serious, and that's when I'm even more impressed, because it's easy to go for the cheap laugh -- it's much more difficult to tell a great story, and this is where the BATS actors really prove their decades of experience vs. the other improv troupes around the Bay Area. I think they're fantastic, but I would definitely recommend that visitors read the show descriptions before purchasing tickets so you know what to expect going in. more

I ordered tickets online, which saved me four bucks for two tickets. We saw the first half of the "improv movie" thing they do. Realizing the show sucked miserably, I tried to ask for free passes from the ticket chick for a future show. She informed me that she was the manager or some such crap, and that the only way I could get a free pass to a different show was if I were to have gone on stage. They wish. I have seen funnier car accidents. Here are the only possible scenarios in which you might enjoy this show: 1. You bring a really hot date who you just met. You end up making out with your date instead of watching the show. 2. You get in free, and everyone on stage is a relative or close friend (which seems to have been the case). 3. Audible gas. 4. You are under the influence of barbiturates. 5. Nitrous. 6. Winning the lottery just previous to attending. 7. If you are someway masochistically pleased by boredom. 8. You bring an IPod and listen to Richard Pryor. 9. Jump up on stage yourself. (Note: according to the "manager," this might score you a free pass for future attendance). 10. The show is keeping your mind off of a recently deceased relative or close friend. If you thought that Driving Miss Daisy was funnier than any movie that any cast member (current or past) of Saturday Night Live has released, then there is a chance that you might find this show funny. On the plus side, the actors weren't bad. They were creative, and able to jump into several different characters in an instant. But it wasn't funny. Go to an improv olympic show, or standup, or just read emails that have been forwarded to you. more

If you've never seen improv, it's definitely worth a try. And if you're a long time fan, BATS will certainly help your fix. An improv show is a great alternative for a night out. The theater itself is a decent size, but still intimate. Not a bad seat in the house. Another cool thing about BATS is that they put on lots of workshops if you want to try your hand at improv. more