The Shelton Theater (San Francisco, CA)
Featured on KRON-TV and KCBS radio, the award-winning Big City Improv performs improv comedy in the style of TV's Whose Line Is It Anyway?. They were voted "Best of the Bay" by the San Francisco Bay Guardian.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
* Additional fees apply.
The comics were very talented. I laughed so much my stomach was hurting. It was hilarious!!
Totally crazy. Great improv troupe. Pay attention to Cortney - she is a raising star.
Big City Improv puts on a great show that is a lot of fun. The more the audience participates, the better the show is.
I finally could take my kids (16 and 17) to one of our most fun evenings - Big City Improv. As the kids age, I think it is important to continue to connect with them and take them places they enjoy. This was a no brainer as my husband and I both love improv - as do our kids.
We had a WONDERFUL evening and will certainly be back. I think my kids will be inviting their friends to join as well.
Great talent. Funny. Funny.
Very worthwhile! Quick and creative funny people (except for that one guy-- just kidding!) kept us constantly entertained for 90 minutes. The show is built around shout-outs from the audience and a quick schedule of "scene" formulas that prevents annoying delays in the funny. Outstanding value! When they announced the end the whole audience groaned. Intimate setting and so reasonably priced I felt guilty.
Very funny and personable. I'd go again.
1st time I went in Jan 2008, it was hilarious, the actors were very very good & creative. This time, not as much, only two were actually decent & I think that's because they were veterans. One lady & dude seemed really nervous & not the slightest amusing, painful even. Maybe we just went on the wrong night. Go if you can get the free tickets here.
Save your money, and your time, and don't go. I hate to have to say this because I'm sure the performers are all very nice people, but this show was not funny at all. For the most part their ideas were very generic, and they would regularly struggle to think of something to say, or fail to play off of each other, making a lot of unfunny skits that just didn't flow. I was expecting a lot more from a show that charges so much for regular price tickets- but, as a volunteer during the show I got offered free tickets to go back- and I don't even want to waste my time.
This show was ok. The hostess had a ton of energy which made it worthwhile. But not all the comedians were very funny. In fact, I found myself feeling sorry for this one lady, she was pathetic. They had great ideas, but didn't execute them very well. And a lot of the ideas the audience threw out to them seemed planned. There were way too many comedians on stage at the same time to make it effective as well. As my high school English teachers used to say - it's about quality, not quantity. I would definately suggest that people support local comedy, but I wouldn't say it was a great show.
Great show once again (our second time). I think SFO folks are far more conservative than they like everyone to think. C'mon guys. Shout out ideas when they ask and volunteer to come on stage. It's actually fun (albeit a bit out of my box). I volunteered as no one else did and it just makes the show more fun for everyone if you support the actors with participation and laughter. We seem so used to sitting in front of a TV screen - we forget when we are seeing a live performance.
We all had an absolute blast. What a creative and fun group. Couldn't believe how quick witted and funny they were. We also loved the audience interaction. HIGHLY RECOMMEND BIG CITY IMPROV and will definitely go again!!
This was great fun. The audience was even very funny with jokes coming form all corners... All the performers were good, stayed in character & brought a lot of honesty to their performances. I am a tough critic but thoroughly enjoyed these guys and want to go back soon!!
Very funny, creative and talented team of improv folks! Don't miss it. We will go again for the fun and laughter.
Definitely a low key, affordable, enjoyable night out. Got there a bit late, but it didn't matter since you don't really miss anything in improv, but the rest of the show went by too quickly. Definitely an audience-driven event (though the actors were awesome as well), so go, let loose and enjoy.
This was AWESOME!!! I went with my son who's 15 and some older family members...we all had a fabulous time! They were all hysterically funny. My son even got to go on stage and participate in a skit! They ask for a lot of input, so you really are a part of the show. I HIGHLY recommend Big City Improv to anyone looking for something fun to do on a Friday night!!!
Smart, fast-paced improv. The best integration of audience and performers I've ever seen. At worst, I was mildly disinterested for a minute or two - pretty good for a ~2 hour show!
Great talent in a small room. Defiantly going back with some friends!
Do participate when attending the show!
They were great!
This was my second time going to the show and I loved both. We went for a bachelorette party and they incorporated her into the show! Everyone enjoyed it and we all came out sore from laughing so much!
Great show. Very fun. Laughed out loud lots! Creative cast, not just recycled material. Definitely worth going to see.
This was improvisational comedy done poorly.
This was a delightful performance. There were plenty of skits, great music, and of course amazing creativity. This is a group of terrific performers not to be missed!!!!!
Funny, interactive, and creative. It's a kind of show that I will keep going back.
Great Time! Can't wait to go again. I'm telling everyone I know to go. Very talented performers! Laughing is great therapy for life these days and I laughed during the entire show. This show rocks~!
Always different and always fun. Big City hits another one out of the park! I had so much fun getting up on stage and being a part of the show too. If you want to laugh so hard, your face will be sore after the show, I highly recommend Big City Improv. They're like Tony the Tiger!
This show is funny every time! After I signed up for Goldstar events, I saw Big City Improv listed here every Friday. I loved the show so much, I signed up for improv classes with them. Great classes and a great show!
This was a great way to spend a Friday night. The cast are talented and great to watch. The host (I believe her name was Rebecca) really stood out - she was fabulous!
This show was like watching my friends play Scattegories. People in the audience were laughing, but my date and I were not sure at what... I would not recomend this to any of my friends.
Overall I liked Big City Improv. Some of it did seem a bit rehearsed. However the actors were quick on their feet and that made the show enjoyable.
It was a great time and fun had by all!!
Great, cheap fun!!
This was very affordable, incredibly funny and a great way to spend an hour and a half.
I will definitely be going back.
Wish I could give 3.5 stars. It was mostly brilliant, only a couple of misses, mostly just pure fun and genius. I will go again!
Very small venue which makes the show very intimate. You really feel like you are a part of it! The cast is energetic and keeps the show rolling. Some cast members are better than others at thinking on their feet but all-in-all we had a great time and laughed throughout.
Small but unintimidating venue in the basement of the building on Sutter Street. It was most excellent, I laughed at every skit! Best to go ready to shout out ideas for the performers, I wasn't - and still had fun, but it could have been that much more excellent.
The show was fantastic. Comedians are extremely talented and I was laughing the entire time. Make sure to show up on time, because it's hard to get inside if they lock the doors and no one is leaving or in the lobby to let you in. We got lucky that someone was taking a smoke break and we made it inside.
We really enjoyed our night with this troupe. They were quick, witty and seemed to enjoy the audience as much as the audience enjoyed them. The seating was fantastic, plenty of choices, and being a small theater, lent itself to an intimate feeling of being connected to the actors. The price was right, as was the level of talent. I highly recommend this event. It would make a perfect end to a wonderful evening out and about in San Francisco.
It was a fun event to go to. I thought the comics were talented and seemed to have a lot of fun which made it even better. It was like watching the gears turn on their creativity that made it different than seeing stand up. It was funny, enjoyable and I would go again.
Some of the sketches were pretty funny, but others were sort of bland. All in all pretty impressive though since it's all original stuff (so they say). I can't argue with the cost, and it's a fun thing to do on a date.
Very funny and experienced Improv cast. A great way to spend a Friday night out! Small theatre so, all seats are good.
this is a funny show done by funny people. the shelton theater is a small but cozy place which makes the experience really feel like "one of a kind". if you're looking for something to do on a friday night with your friends or your honey, go to big city improv cuz you'll be smiling on the way out :D
wow. the worst.
I really enjoyed the intimate and very informal setup. Knowing that improv can be a hit or a miss depending on a number of factors, I thought for the most part, Big City Improv was worth the time and money. Great way to spend late Friday night!!
Excellent! Hilarious, fast-paced, and clever. A thoroughly enjoyable evening.
This event was a lot of fun! It was a really small venue which made it GREAT! The performers were funny and there was a lot of audience involvement!
they are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
good laughs!
The performance was entertaining, but a little more energy would've made it even better.
Off the wall comedy, hilarious, the actors worked well together. A unique and fun performance
it was a fun, 90 minutes improv. it is pretty classic improv and it is basically a set of improv skits and games with some involvement from the public. very enjoyable evening.
It was fantastic! It actually exceeded my expectations. Would go again!
I was invited to this thinking it would be OK, but left feeling like I would love to see it again. Really well done!
Big City Improv wasn't the best improv group I've ever seen, but I did enjoy myself. Since improv by its nature is different every night and is highly influenced by the crowd, it's hard to maintain consistency so I'm sure some nights are better than others. For the low price Goldstar provides it's definitely worth the gamble.
Very funny--amazing how they can think on their toes so quickly! They were all great but a few really stood out...unfortunately I forget their names!
it was fun and interactive, we really enjoyed it.
Didn't think it was very funny.
I always enjoy this show... everytime I've gone it's been just as funny. I try to always book a show when friends come in from out of town.
We had a great time at Big City Improv. While not as funny as some other improv groups I've seen, we definitely laughed a lot and had a very enjoyable evening.
great intimate setting - very friendly - audience participation to the max. great fun for the whole group that went (ages 22 to 75).
Couldn't have had a better time! There were moments of pure side-splitting laughter from ALL in the audience. Great cast!
My girlfriend and I both being well travelled in improv/comedy shows, agreed that this was the best show we have ever been to. Might have been the two of us getting up on stage, or maybe waking up with sore abs from laughing so hard. Regardless, fantastic show and a true SF jewel that I'd recommend without any hesitation.
very fun light eve with friends...
crowd participates in a relaxed setting. runs about 1.5 hrs and is a great value.
Definitely hit or miss. Some segments were far better than others, as were some of the players. Not a bad evening, but not side-splittingly funny either.
It's a fun way to top of your night and have a good laugh.... Be ready to shout out ideas for the actors to run with... Every show is different!
Truly entertaining! Better than seeing a movie. The quick-witted cast was quite impressive! I'd go and bring more friends!
Great times. Crowd was really involved. It was a small setting and participation was very welcome. Great date spot.
Low key and very funny. I really enjoyed the audience participation - with comedy on TV I do not get to put in my own 2 cents worth. Late evening start (10 PM) means that you can enjoy a fine dinner out before the show. I will definately go again!
It's a great show.. Small audience, intimate.. Great for a 2nd or 3rd date.
The creative team for this event were soo great. In fact I am taking a couple of friends back this weekend.
Great show! I haven't laughed so hard in a really long time. Very nice, intimate setting, and the show is even better if you have a glass of wine beforehand (for sale in the lobby, as well as stella artois). Will definitely be going back again!
We really enjoyed this event! Improv is hallarious....there's nothing like a group of individuals who are willing to get silly in front of others. This is a great way to spend an evening in SF if you are looking to laugh!!!!!!!
Extremely entertaining - I keep thinking about some of the skits and laughing again!! I will definitely go back to see these very talented comedians.
It was quite simplistic, but also quite fun. The actors were surprisingly good, even with such limited options for skits.
Great time. Lots of fun and lots of energy!!!!!
This is so funny, and the great thing is, the show is never the same!
It was very enjoyable.. A clean, hilarious comedy show!
It helps to have fun, creative audiences!
i think improv is usually hit or miss. friday's show was similiar. . . some of the games they played turned out really funny/great, while others weren't as impressive. overall, it was fun but i probably won't go again.
Absolutely hilarious. The audience group I was in was very responsive too which of course makes the show even better.
this was a pretty good show, definitely one of the better improv troupes that I've seen. Like the other people said, it really depends on your audience and if people are into it/volunteering, the night I went everybody was feeling a wee bit shy i think!
The performers were very witty!
Very funny! The cast was talented and original in their approach to improv. Check out the show -- it's well worth your time.
Great show! Always different. Just depends on audience suggestions for the ideas. The ideas this week weren't too appropriate, so it didn't make for a great-great show. But the cast is wonderful.
We LOVED this show! We'll be going back again soon with any out-of-town guests :) Although the improv is only as good as the audience suggestions, the emcee did a great job of making us feel comfortable & guiding our suggestions if needed. Well worth the ticket price of $15...and even better that it was only $7.50 through Goldstar!
This was totally different, very enjoyable. It was very funny and entertaining.
Great date night!
Fun - different. Energy was very high and they kept things moving.
Tips are provided by Goldstar members and Big City Improv. Goldstar is not responsible for their content or accuracy.
Located in the heart of the city in the Union Square district, the Shelton Theater has an intimate setting similar to the Off-Broadway theaters in New York.
Website: http://www.bigcityimprov.com/
Featured on KRON-TV, KCBS radio and voted "Best Improv Troupe in the Bay Area," Big City Improv has been entertaining crowds from around the world for the past four years.
Every scene of every show is based on your suggestions. If you yell it out, they'll act it out!
Big City Improv has been making things up for more than seven years. With a cast of 10, the troupe performs to audiences all over the Bay Area, including Comedy On The Square in San Francisco. Big City Improv shows are unscripted, unedited and created on the spot, using audience suggestions, participation and their dark and sordid lies. In 2002, Big City Improv was voted "Best of The Bay" for improv comedy by The SF Guardian.
The Shelton Theater
on November 27, 28th, and 6 more dates
on November 28th and 4 more dates