Unexpected Productions find temporary home at Intiman Theatre

For Unexpected Productions, planned renovations to the Market Theater has given the troupe a chance to relocate at Seattle Center’s Intiman Theater and revisit their roots.

The 28-year-old improvisational comedy company has been using the Intiman Theater since August when they were required to leave their longtime Pike Place Market space so it could undergo a series of seismic retrofits. The aging theater also is having electrical and plumbing work done. While the renovations will be great for this troupe once they are completed, it caused a bit of consternation as to where the company would set up shop while the work was being done.

But manager Jay Hitt knew about the troubles plaguing Intiman Theater, so he talked with them about renting the space until renovations are completed in March of this year. Ironically, it’s also a very familiar place for the comedy group.

“The cool thing is that 20 years ago, we used to be at the Intiman space,” Hitt said. “We were here in 1991 and a little bit before that. We’d sell out the Intiman Theater on a weekly basis, more than 450 seats. This move helps two entities, us and the Intiman Theater.”

Hitt says there is more competition now than when Unexpected Productions was last at the Intiman, with different comedy troupes in the University District and at other venues around town. However, he said he expected the Intiman space to be a great place for the company.

So far so good, with Unexpected Production’s classic Theatresports, Seattle’s longest running show, continuing to attract crowds. The program, which first came to Seattle in 1983 and is performed at 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, pits two teams of professional improvisers against each other. The two teams make up scenes based on audience suggestions.

But that is just the beginning for Unexpected Productions. The rotating troupe of about 30 performers also performs a show called “Blank Slate,” on Friday and Saturday evenings before Theatresports. In Blank Slate, the audience directs all the action performed by the comedy troupe. They also performed their twisted versions of classic plays on Thursday evenings. And they just finished their longstanding holiday show “A(n Improvised) Christmas Carol.” This again, allows the audience to participate in developing a humorous version of the Christmas Carol story.

“We basically take the Charles Dickens classic and mess it up,” joked Hitt.

Unexpected Productions also experimented with expanding outside of Intiman last year, performing at The Black Box Theatre at Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood. The troupe performed Improv Happy Hours, Theatresports and also something called “Womb Escape Competitive Improv Comedy” during the month of December. So far there are no Unexpected Productions shows listed for the Black Box Theatre in January.

For those interested in learning how to perform this particular brand of comedy, Unexpected Productions runs a series of classes that teach students the craft of improvisation. There are five levels of classes, ranging from beginners to advanced and ready to perform. The troupe also offers specialty classes in stand-up comedy and sketch comedy.

Hitt said the beginning level classes, which had about 40 students this past fall, are not intimidating. He advised anyone interested to come and give them a try.

“The first two levels are really about self improvement and a fun way to meet new people,” Hitt said. “The upper-level classes are where the students start to look forward to performing.”

And a few times a year, the company puts on a “student showcase” production, allowing the students to try their hand at improvisation.

As for the future, Unexpected Productions still plans to move back to Pike Place Market in March. Things will be different for the troupe, including the removal of the lobby bar to make room for an elevator. But Hitt promises the troupe will soldier on, somehow.

When the troupe does return, they are planning to offer programming seven nights a week. According to published reports, Unexpected Productions may partner with outside groups or subleasing the space to fill the extra programming.