Brave New Workshop, Comedy theatre company in downtown Minneapolis, United States
Brave New Workshop is a theatre company in downtown Minneapolis that produces original sketch comedy and improvised performances. The programme changes regularly, with new material written and staged throughout the year.
The company was founded in 1958 by Dudley Riggs, a former circus performer who brought improvised comedy to Minneapolis. Over the decades it moved several times before settling on Hennepin Avenue, where it remained until Hennepin Theatre Trust took over in 2021.
The theatre serves as a training ground where emerging comedians develop their craft through live performances in front of real audiences. Many performers who started here went on to build careers in television and national comedy, making it a stepping stone for talent.
Arriving early is a good idea, as the space is not large and popular shows can sell out quickly. Performances run throughout the year, including seasonal productions that tend to draw bigger crowds.
Brave New Workshop is considered the longest-running sketch and improvisation comedy venue in the country, operating without interruption since 1958. Many performers who trained here went on to careers in television and national comedy circuits.
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