After leaving Mass Ave, ComedySportz theater has a new Indianapolis southside home
A long-running Indianapolis improv troupe is celebrating its 30th birthday with a big gift to itself: a new theater building.
The Wit Theater, on the south side at 3808 Shelby St., made its grand opening debut Feb. 24 as the new home of CSz Indianapolis, a branch of CSz Worldwide that produces the popular ComedySportz. The live show pits teams of improv actors against one another for matches with sports-like rules. In addition, the Wit offers late-night shows and improv comedy workshops.
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"Our goal is to someday kind of be the center of improv and comedy here in Indianapolis and (allow) other outside groups to come in and utilize the space," said Todd Kenworthy, co-owner and co-artistic director.
Along with Kenworthy, the owners comprise Ed Trout, Jessica Kenworthy, and Rick Randjelovic. The Wit's location was previously the home of Books & Brews.
The new venue comes after two and half years of survival mode, Kenworthy said. In 2020, pandemic uncertainty forced CSz Indianapolis to leave its home of 21 years at 721 Massachusetts Ave., where cocktail bar and performance spot Almost Famous is now. To keep the troupe — which numbers about 64 — together, the company went virtual. In June 2021, the troupe began performing at Avon's Red Curb Comedy club for 14 months, Kenworthy said.
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The Indianapolis branch of CSz Worldwide began in 1993, first performing at Theatre on the Square when it was in Fountain Square and then moving to a storefront at 30th Street and West Kessler Boulevard before heading to Mass Ave.
The Wit Theater and Half Wit on the way
The new theater offers more space than the group's previous home. The main theater seats about 80 people. On either side of the stage and its checkered backdrop are TVs — what Kenworthy calls the troupe's "jumbotrons."
A lobby outside offers a gathering place for people in between shows and workshops. A kitchen that Kenworthy said is triple the size of the old one will produce the stadium-style fare patrons have come to expect — burgers, nachos, pretzels and cookies.
A second theater — a smaller black box space fittingly named the Half Wit — is under construction. Kenworthy estimates that this theater, which will have flexible seating, will open in two to three months.
Having both theaters will allow for performance growth and more educational opportunities to teach the basic rules of improv, scene and character work, and the ComedySportz format, Kenworthy said.
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Friday and Saturday are devoted to ComedySportz and late night shows, with workshops scheduled for Sundays, Mondays and some Tuesdays. In the long-term, the Wit could add a performance night on Thursdays, and Kenworthy said the theater would be available for outside groups to rent space.
"The improv community in Indianapolis ... is very supportive of each other. We all want to see each other succeed," he said.
Tickets for Friday and Saturday shows are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. On First Fridays, those prices will be reduced by $5. Buy tickets and find more information at cszindianapolis.com.
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Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter: @domenicareports.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Comedy shows in Indianapolis: ComedySportz has new southside home
