The Empty Stage Comedy Theatre is a sketch comedy and improvisational theatre located in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. The Empty Stage was started and is currently owned by Stan Wells.
Its notable alumni include Lisa Kudrow, Kristen Wiig, Felicia Day, and Cynthia Stevenson.
Wells brought the Clap-In and transformation improv performance forms to the stage, and these are the signature forms of the theatre. These forms differ from other forms, such as The Harold, in many ways. Like The Harold, these forms are group longforms that endeavor to tell a story or series of stories with a succession of scenes with multiple players, as opposed to improv games which may be scenes, but in series do not typically tell a story. Both are characterized by quicker transitions between scenes, and by the idea that later scenes clarify previous scenes, allowing for justifications to happen more naturally.
Famous quotes containing the words empty, stage, comedy and/or theatre:
“Nor for my words shall ye forget your tears,
Or hope again for aught that I can say,
The idle singer of an empty day.”
—William Morris (1834–1896)
“If any proof were needed of the progress of the cause for which I have worked, it is here tonight. The presence on the stage of these college women, and in the audience of all those college girls who will some day be the nation’s greatest strength, will tell their own story to the world.”
—Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906)
“The actors today really need the whip hand. They’re so lazy. They haven’t got the sense of pride in their profession that the less socially elevated musical comedy and music hall people or acrobats have. The theater has never been any good since the actors became gentlemen.”
—W.H. (Wystan Hugh)
“As in a theatre the eyes of men,
After a well-graced actor leaves the stage,
Are idly bent on him that enters next,
Thinking his prattle to be tedious,
Even so, or with much more contempt, men’s eyes
Did scowl on gentle Richard.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)