Our Organization
The History of Improv Utopia
Improv Utopia started as an idea around 2006 when Nick Armstrong, John Abbott, and Jessica Young were on a JTS Brown team called NiteTerrors coached by Craig Cackowski. Improv Utopia didn’t come to fruition until 2011, when Nick approached John, Jessica, Brian James O'Connell, and Patricia Forman to start what would be a Scout-like experience where Camp meets Improv.
In 2011, Camp Improv Utopia launched to a sold-out group featuring theaters from all over the country. Camp West was held at Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria, CA, and continues there.
In 2014, Camp Improv Utopia East was launched. This changed the camp in Cambria to Camp Improv Utopia West starting in 2015. Camp East was held at Camp Netimus in Milford, PA, in the Poconos in 2014 and 2015 and added a new Assistant Camp Director and board member Chris Moody from Detroit. Camp East’s first year was also sold out and featured campers from all over the world. In 2016, CIU East moved to the beautiful Camp Trout Lake in Stroudsburg, PA, in the Pocono Mountains and continues there.
In 2016, Camp Improv Utopia Yosemite launched its first camp which also sold out. CIU Yosemite is a whole new curriculum where campers get one instructor for the entire weekend and study a form they’ve mastered. Camp Yosemite is held at Calvin Crest in Oakhurst, CA.
In 2018, we launched our first international improv retreat in Ireland and immediately sold out. IU Ireland took place in Newgrange, Co. Meath, in Ireland.
In 2023 we are continuing our International series of retreats, this time in La Zenia, Spain. This was much different than our US retreats in that it was in an urban area and near the majestic Mediterranean Sea. The Spain retreat is also a more intimate setting with a small group of improvisers.
Mission Statement
At Improv Utopia, our mission is to cultivate a thriving, inclusive community where improvisers of all levels can grow, connect, and thrive. We are dedicated to providing a supportive and dynamic environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, camaraderie and personal growth through the art of improvisation. By offering high-quality training, inspiring retreats, leadership, and business education we empower individuals, theaters, festivals, non-profits, and major corporations to explore their potential, build lasting relationships. Together, we create a utopia where imagination knows no bounds and every voice is celebrated.
Our Organization
Since 2011, Improv Utopia has been a premier improvisational organization dedicated to fostering creativity, community, inclusion and personal growth through the art of improvisation. As a non-profit entity, Improv Utopia provides a variety of immersive experiences, including improv camps, virtual workshops, and retreats designed to cater to improvisers and theater administrators of all skill levels. Our programs are crafted to promote collaboration, spontaneity, and emotional intelligence, creating a supportive environment where participants can explore their creativity and develop their improvisational or theater business skills. With a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion, Improv Utopia ensures that their community is welcoming and accessible to everyone, making it a vibrant and enriching space for artistic expression and personal connection. Community, Camaraderie, in Nature.
Diversity and Inclusion
Improv Utopia strives to create a welcoming and supportive environment where people from all backgrounds can come together to explore and develop their improvisational skills. We recognize that diversity enriches the creative process and strengthens the community. By fostering a culture of openness and respect, Improv Utopia ensures that everyone feels valued and included.
Meet Our Team!
Looking to see who is behind the scenes of Improv Utopia? Click on the button to meet our amazing staff and learn more about how they got started.
Mission of Diversity and Inclusion at Improv Utopia
Creating a Welcoming Environment
Improv Utopia strives to create a welcoming and supportive environment where people from all backgrounds can come together to explore and develop their improvisational skills. We recognize that diversity enriches the creative process and strengthens the community. By fostering a culture of openness and respect, Improv Utopia ensures that everyone feels valued and included.
Representation in Leadership and Programming
Improv Utopia is committed to ensuring diverse representation in its leadership, faculty, and programming. This commitment is reflected in their efforts to involve instructors and performers from various cultural, ethnic, and gender backgrounds. By doing so, we provide a broad spectrum of perspectives and experiences, enriching the learning experience for all participants.
Scholarships and Financial Accessibility
Understanding that financial barriers can prevent individuals from participating, Improv Utopia offers scholarships and financial aid to ensure that their programs are accessible to everyone. These initiatives aim to remove economic obstacles and make improv education available to a diverse range of attendees.
Community Outreach and Partnerships
Improv Utopia actively engages in community outreach to bring the benefits of improvisation to underserved and marginalized groups. We partner with organizations that share our commitment to diversity and inclusion, extending their reach and impact. Through these partnerships, Improv Utopia can offer programs and workshops to a broader audience, promoting the values of diversity and inclusion beyond our immediate community.
Continuous Improvement and Feedback
Improv Utopia understands that the journey toward true diversity and inclusion is ongoing. We regularly seek feedback from their community to identify areas for improvement and to ensure that our efforts are effective and meaningful. This commitment to continuous improvement helps us adapt and evolve our practices to better serve a diverse and inclusive community.
Conclusion
Improv Utopia's mission of diversity and inclusion is integral to their identity as an organization. By fostering an environment where everyone can feel welcome, safe, and valued, providing access to improv education for all, and continuously striving to improve, Improv Utopia sets a powerful example for the improv community and beyond. Their dedication to these principles not only enriches the artistic experiences of their participants but also helps build a more inclusive and equitable world through the transformative power of improvisation.
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
Improv Utopia is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that strives to bring you the best improv and team building training experience in a comfortable and relaxed setting. We bring you top instructors, a friendly staff and an exciting program that culminates each year at our annual camps. We combine improv, community, camaraderie & nature. If you have a lot of experience or none at all you’ll, find something here at our Camps. The best part is that our profits go right back into the larger improv world through improv scholarships, festival subsidies, theater support and improv related endeavors around the globe.
Since opening in 2011, we've sold out our annual West, East and Yosemite camps every year, filling our camp with people from all over the world. Camp is an experience you’ll never forget.