IO West, Comedy theater in Hollywood, US
iO West was a comedy theater on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, housing three performance spaces of different sizes under one roof. The rooms were set up for different formats, from large ensemble shows to smaller performances in front of just a few dozen people.
The theater opened in 1997 as the Los Angeles branch of the Chicago-based ImprovOlympic and moved to its best-known address on Hollywood Boulevard in 2000. It stayed open for nearly twenty years before closing in 2018.
For many performers in Los Angeles, this theater was the place where they first stepped on stage, often after taking classes there. Audiences often sat beside working actors and writers who came to watch and learn from the shows.
The theater sat in the heart of Hollywood's entertainment district, within walking distance of many hotels and landmarks in the area. Since several shows ran each evening, it was worth checking in advance which performances were scheduled and at what time.
The theater was home to the Cagematch, a competitive format in which two improv groups faced off and the audience voted at the end to decide who had won. The event drew a loyal following that came back week after week to cheer on their favorite groups.
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