ABOUT THE BRAVE NEW WORKSHOP

The Brave New Workshop has been writing, performing and producing sketch comedy and improvisation since 1958-- longer than any other theatre in the United States.

Founded by former circus performer Dudley Riggs and currently owned by husband and wife John Sweeney and Jenni Lilledahl, the little theatre on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis has become a legendary comedy institution, where audiences enjoy improv and sketch comedy nearly every night of the week. The company’s talented performers create satirical, irreverent, and intelligent original works.

Alums of the Workshop stage include Louie Anderson, Pat Proft, Al Franken, Tom Davis, Mo Collins ("Mad TV"), Peter MacNichol ("Ally McBeal", “24”), Melissa Peterman ("Reba"), and Cedric Yarborough ("Reno 911", “The Boondocks”).

Recent hit shows have included Happiness For Dummies: An Idiots Guide To The Soul, Prozac: It's What's For Dinner! or Let The Side Effects Begin, Martha Stewart: Prison Vixen; or It’s a Good Thing!, Shut Your American Pie-Hole; or Discount Family Values; and Christmas- The Other White Holiday. The Brave New Workshop provided comedy entertainment for Disney Cruise Lines for several years, and formerly served as the resident comedy-writing team for NPR's "All Things Considered."

The Brave New Workshop’s corporate services division applies the principles of improvisation to corporate innovation challenges, training and entertaining companies like Microsoft, Yahoo!, Visa, and Target. Additionally, the Brave New Institute (the Workshop’s school of improvisation) boasts the most comprehensive improv and sketch comedy training curriculum in the country.

BRAVE NEW WORKSHOP
under the lights

The Brave New Workshop (BNW) Theatre has been writing, performing and producing original sketch comedy, music and comedy improvisation longer than any other theatre in the United States. As a 'creative gymnasium' (now in its 48th year of operation), the BNW is a truly unique place to laugh, learn, think, and play.

50 Years of Comedy - The BNW was founded by ex-Ringling Brothers circus performer Dudley Riggs in 1958. Dudley brought the theatre to its current location on Hennepin Avenue in the 60's and promptly installed the first espresso machines west of the Mississippi. Since then, more than 3 million people have been exposed to the theatre's unapologetic, and unwavering, brand of comedy and improvisation.

A Twin Cities Landmark - As the third oldest theatre of any kind in the Twin Cities, the BNW has become an anchor in the Twin Cities arts community.

Original Social & Political Satire - More than 250 original productions have been mounted on Brave New Workshop stages since 1958! Employing a creative process fundamental to the theatre, the actor-writers spend eight weeks creating, writing, rehearsing, and mounting the productions, and then another 8-12 weeks performing the show.

Graduate School of Comedy - The Brave New Institute (BNI) is the theatre's school for improvisation, acting and writing classes. Currently teaching more than 280 students each week, the BNI is instrumental in the theatre's community outreach programs and continues to grow at a rapid pace.

Music for the Masses - Driven by the expertise of musical director Pete Guertin - with more than forty shows at the BNW to his credit - the company released its first CD in 2002. Entitled the Best of the Brave New Workshop, Volume 1, the CD is a crowning achievement to the musical talent that drives BNW shows.

Corporate Training & Entertainment - The Brave New Workshop also brings its writing, acting, musical, and teaching talents to more than 150 companies and organizations each year. As the fastest growing component of the BNW, the corporate services division writes and performs original productions for events and meetings, provides business training based on the patented improvisation process that the BNW employs, and offers a variety of customized services, ranging from keynote speaking to scriptwriting to video production.

Hollywood Impact - Dozens of Brave New Workshop alumni have become successful and influential members of the entertainment industry, including Al Franken (writer, commentator, actor), Pat Proft (Naked Gun, Hot Shots, Police Academy), Mo Collins (MAD TV), Peter Tolan (Murphy Brown, Gary Shandling Show, Analyze This), Peter MacNichol (Ally McBeel) Louie Anderson, (comedian), Linda Wallem (writer, That 70s Show), Jeff Cesario (host and comedian, Comedy Central) Cedric Yarborough (Reno 911) and Melissa Peterman (Fargo, Reba).