History
The Improv Institute was founded in late 1983 by John Michael Michalski, who would go on to direct at The Second City in Chicago. The original cast included Michalski, Rick Hall (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Arrested Development, Factory), Kate Kirkpatrick, Patricia Musker (aka Roxy Bellows, also a co-writer of Flanagan's Wake), Michael Raysses (The Drew Carey Show), Andrew J. Sten, and Jill Talley (Mr. Show, SpongeBob SquarePants). They were later joined by Ron West (3rd Rock from the Sun). Later incarnations of the mainstage cast would include Jack Bronis (Early Edition, Chicago Overcoat, director/co-writer of Flanagan's Wake), Mark Czoske (co-writer of Flanagan's Wake), Evan Gore (Futurama writer), Ross Gottstein (Babylon 5, Frasier), Laura Hall (Whose Line Is It Anyway?), Tom Hanigan (Slice of Pie), Amy Hartl, Phil Lusardi (co-writer of Flanagan's Wake), Patricia Musker (aka Roxy Bellows, also co-writer of Flanagan's Wake), Bonnie Shadrake (co-writer of Flanagan's Wake), and Brad Sherman.
Several Improv Institute performers went on to create The Noble Fool Theater Company.
Other notable performers who made appearances at the Improv Institute have included Rose Abdoo (Gilmore Girls, Curb Your Enthusiasm), Sean Abley (Socket), Mark Belden (thirtysomething), Mark Belzman (According to Jim), Kevin L. Burrows (Naked States), Cindy Caponera (Drunkboat, Curb Your Enthusiasm), Will Clinger (Wild Chicago, ER, Early Edition), Kevin Crowley (CSI, Without a Trace), Paul Dinello (Strangers with Candy), Jon Favreau (Swingers, director of Elf and Iron Man, host of Dinner for Five), Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Chris Hogan (MADtv, 3rd Rock from the Sun), Bonnie Hunt (Cheaper by the Dozen, The Bonnie Hunt Show), Carlos Jacott (CSI, Big Love, Firefly), Jenna Jolovitz (MADtv writer), Jeff Kahn (The 40-Year-Old Virgin), John Lehr (10 Items or Less), Joe Liss (Less than Perfect, Curb Your Enthusiasm), Michael McCarthy (screenwriter), Adam McKay (Saturday Night Live), Susan Messing, Theresa Mulligan (Mr. Show), Joel Murray (Dharma & Greg, Mad Men), Aliza Murietta, Peter Murietta, Dave Pasquesi (Strangers with Candy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Factory), Paula Poundstone, John Rubano (According to Jim), Ruth Rudnick (NCIS), Horatio Sanz (Saturday Night Live), Lynda Shadrake, Casey Siemaszko (Young Guns, NYPD Blue, Biloxi Blues), Faith Soloway, Matt Tiegler (Gods and Heroes), Barb Wallace (screenwriter), Dan Johnson-Weinberger, George Wendt (Cheers), and Jim Zulevic (Seinfeld).
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