 The PIT's formerFlatiron location, housing the Striker and Underground stages. | |
 | |
| Formation | 2002 |
|---|---|
| Type | Theatre group |
| Purpose | Improvisational comedy,sketch comedy,stand-up comedy,theater,variety shows |
| Location |
|
Artistic director | Ali Farahnakian |
Notable members | |
| Website | thepit-nyc.com |
ThePeoples Improv Theater (PIT), also known asthe PIT, is a comedy theater and training center inNew York City, founded by comedianAli Farahnakian in 2002.[1] Shows combineimprovisational comedy,sketch comedy,stand-up,theater, andvariety. Each show is hosted by a combination of "house teams" of comedians hired by PIT and by outside comedians.[2]
After closing several of their theaters due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The PIT now only resides in its PIT Loft location in theChelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.[3]
Notable alumni of the PIT includeThe Office actressEllie Kemper,[NB 1][4][5] comedian and voice actressKristen Schaal,[NB 1][6][7] and comedian and actorHannibal Buress.[8]
The Peoples Improv Theater's Loft location was founded byAli Farahnakian and Armando Diaz in 2002. The PIT moved its headquarters to 123 East 24th Street, New York on December 31, 2010. From September 1, 2015, the original location of the PIT became known as The Pit Loft and officially became the third venue of the PIT.
Wednesdays were designated as "Super Free Wednesday" in the Striker location, with free shows offered to the public.Musical improv troupeVern performed weekly since 2014. Legendary house team Sid Viscous performed weekly for two years in 2007 and 2008, stretching the boundaries of improv with their unique forms including "On Ice" where the group performed on roller skates and their Halloween themed show "Funny Bones" which was performed completely in black lights.[9][10]
In 2018, Farahnakian opened The PIT Chapel Hill, also known as The PITCH, in his home state, at 462 West Franklin Street,Chapel Hill, North Carolina.[1]
In February 2021, the PIT announced the closure of its Flatiron location, leaving only the Loft open in Manhattan.[11] In June 2021, the PIT Loft reopened, hosting classes, jams, and open mics.
The PIT also published comedy sketches to a collective YouTube channel namedPITtv.
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