The Groundlings are an improvisational and sketch comedy troupe and school based in Los Angeles, California. The troupe was formed by Gary Austin in 1974 and uses an improv format influenced by Viola Spolin to produce sketches and improvised scenes. Its name is taken from Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act III, Scene II: "...to split the ears of the groundlings, who for the most part are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumbshows and noise."
The troupe moved into its current location on Melrose Avenue in 1979.
The Groundlings School holds new sessions every six weeks with over 300 students per session, with over 2,000 students per year going through the program. The competitive program consists of 4 levels (Basic, Intermediate, Writing Lab and Advanced). Participants must be successfully advanced from each level by the instructor. Students must pass an audition to get into Basic. Auditions are run by a Groundlings teacher and are mini versions of a first day of class. The audition is free, a group audition and is all improvisation. Auditions are held every week and can be scheduled by calling the school office. If one does pass the audition, their results are valid for one year. If a student does not pass the audition, they are allowed to audition again in six months. Students are allowed to audition a total of three times. It takes years to go through the entire program, with year and a half to two year wait-lists between levels being common. Students may be asked to repeat Basic and Intermediate, multiple times. Being asked to repeat Writing Lab and Advanced was previously a common aspect of the program as recently as the mid to late 2000s. But by the late 2000s, students were only allowed to take those classes once and if they didn't pass, they wouldn't be able to finish the program or be invited into the Sunday Company.
After completing the Advanced level, one may be voted into the pinnacle of the Groundlings' School, the Sunday Company, which performs every Sunday at 7:30pm. During this time, students write, rehearse and perform new material every week. After six months of performing in the Sunday Company, students are either voted to remain in the company for another six months, voted to be dismissed from the school, or voted into the Main Company (aka The Groundlings). No one can stay in the Sunday Company for longer than one year and six months and no shorter than six months. Members of the Main Company are all selected from members of the Sunday Company. All Main Company members can remain in the company for as long as they desire to. However, no one usually stays longer than a decade, with most Groundlings retiring even sooner. The Main Company (now capped at no more than 30 members at any time) collectively acts as the organization's artistic director, democratically making business and creative decisions as a group.
Many Groundlings performers have found success in movies and television, including several who have become cast members and writers on Saturday Night Live, MADtv, and Reno 911!.
Read more about The Groundlings: History, Shows, Pee-Wee Herman, In Popular Culture, David Blaine Street Magic, Current Main Company (The Groundlings), Notable Main Company Alumni, Notable School and Sunday Company Alumni