ComedySportz is an improvisational comedy organization started in 1984 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by Dick Chudnow.
The traditional format of a ComedySportz (CSz) show features two teams of improvisational performers (Actletes), competing in various improv games and performing scenes with audience members judging the results and awarding points. In every show, a CSz referee monitors the action, awarding points and administering fouls as necessary. The flavor is very much like the television show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, though the ComedySportz organization precedes that show by 4 years. The CSz format is derived from Theatresports but is not affiliated with that organisation.
ComedySportz penalties (put in place for the audience's benefit) include:
- The "Brown Bag Foul", called when an Actlete uses explicit language or refers to something crass or off-color. The Brown Bag Foul is infamously punished by making the offender wear a brown paper bag over their head for the remainder of the scene, even if the offender is an audience member. (In some ComedySportz venues, this has been replaced with the "Potty Mouth" foul, and the brown paper bag has been replaced with a toilet seat.) This foul is the "bagged" mentioned in the ComedySportz theme song.
- The "Groaner Foul," whereby an Actlete who speaks a pun bad enough to make the audience groan loses at least one point for their team, unless their apology to the audience is heartfelt enough.
Although the image of competition is maintained, the teams are often dynamic, with rosters depending on which Actletes (many of whom have "day jobs" or are attending school) are available for a match at any given time.
High School League
The High School League® is the largest and most successful improv comedy training program for high school students in the United States. It is a program of ComedySportz® with chapters nationwide, including Milwaukee, Houston, San Jose, Minneapolis, Richmond, Virginia and more. The largest is in Los Angeles, in which more than seventy schools participate under the artistic direction of James Thomas Bailey.
The High School League® empowers students to create their own theatre and nourishes their communication skills through improvsational theatre workshops and performances. It encourages their individuality and provides the forum to succeed or fail in a safe environment that combines showmanship and sportsmanship. ComedySportz® provides an extracurricular activity that goes beyond stage work into life skills. Emphasis is placed on teamwork, trust, diversity, good sportsmanship and non-negative humor.
The High School League ® is based on the national comedy phenomenon, ComedySportz®, created by Dick Chudnow, in which two teams of improv comedians are pitted against one another in mock competition. The students play home and away games, and can earn varsity letters. For some time, Harper's Index (featured in Harper's magazine) listed the number of varsity letters earned in the High School League ®.