The Groundlings is an improvisational comedy troupe based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The troupe was formed by Gary Austin in 1974 and uses an improv format influenced by Viola Spolin to produce sketches and improvised scenes.^[1] The troupe moved into their current location on Melrose Avenue in 1979.

The Groundlings School holds new sessions every two months with up to 300 students per session, with over 1,000 students per year going through the program. The competitive program consists of 4 levels (Basic, Intermediate, Writing Lab and Advanced). Participants must be successfully advanced from each level by the instructor. After completing the Advanced level, one may be voted into the Sunday Company, which performs on Sunday. Members of the Main Company are selected from members of the Sunday Company.^[2]

In September 2008, The Groundlings began producing short form sketch episodes for Crackle.^[3]

Many Groundlings performers have found success in movies and television, including several who have become cast members and writers on Saturday Night Live, MADtv, and Reno 911!.^[4]

Contents 1 David Blaine Street Magic 2 Notable alumni 3 References 4 External links

[edit] David Blaine Street Magic

In 2006 The Groundlings recorded a skit in the alleyway behind the theater called David Blaine Street Magic. It was later uploaded to YouTube where it's become one of the most popular videos on the website.^[5] As of October 2008, the video has had over twenty million views and forty five thousand comments since 12 October 2006.^[6] The skit stars Mitch Silpa parodying David Blaine in both the nature of Blaine's performance and his mannerisms. The skit is written by Michael Naughton and Mikey Day, who play the two innocent bystanders on whom Blaine performs his tricks.

[edit] Notable alumni

Cecily Adams[7][8] Joey Arias[9] Tim Bagley[10] Patrick Bristow[11] Adam Carolla[12] John Cervenka[13][14] Jennifer Coolidge[15] Eliza Coupe[16] Stephanie Courtney[17] Mikey Day[18] Christian Duguay[19] Abby Elliot[20]

Jimmy Fallon[21] Will Ferrell[11] Will Forte[22] Bob Flanagan[23] Daniele Gaither[19] Ana Gasteyer[11] Kathy Griffin[11] Rachael Harris[24] Phil Hartman[11] Cheryl Hines[25] Michael Hitchcock[10] Jan Hooks[26] Alex Kapp Horner[27]

Chris Jericho[28] Damon Jones[19] Jennifer Joyce[10] Chris Kattan[11] Lisa Kudrow[11] Phil LaMarr[10] Steve Little[19] Jon Lovitz[11] Tress MacNeille[29] CC Swiney[30] Edie McClurg[31] Michael McDonald[11]

Wendi McLendon-Covey[32] Pat Morita[33] Mike Myers[11] Laraine Newman[11] Oscar Nuñez[34] Conan O'Brien[35] Kaitlin Olson[36] Cheri Oteri[11] John Paragon[37] Chris Parnell[11] Cassandra Peterson[38] Paul Reubens[11]

Jeremy Rowley[18] Maya Rudolph[39] Kevin Ruf[40] Mary Scheer[10] Dax Shepard[41] Mindy Sterling[11] Julia Sweeney[11] Michelle Thomas[42] Michaela Watkins[43] Kristen Wiig[44] Jim Wise[10]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The Groundlings website
• The Groundlings at the Internet Movie Database