Arcade is excited to announce more House Team opportunities, which will be holding auditions in the coming weeks. 

First, continuing Arcade’s offering of House Teams with a shorter run, we are holding auditions for a long-form team using the “Tempest” structure, a narrative form first developed by the 2025 Arcade Academy IMPROV 310 class. This team will start with 6 weeks of practice, followed by 6 Friday night shows – a 12 week commitment in total. 

Then, in September, there will be auditions for two Harold teams. These will have approximately a 6-month duration.

Find more details and sign-ups below.

 

12-week House Team: Tempest

Audition Dates: Saturday 8/29, 12:30-4:30 pm & Monday 8/31, 7-10 pm

Requirements: Minimum level 301 improv class or equivalent training 

Team Duration: September through November

Practice Schedule: Weekly for 12 weeks on Saturdays in late afternoon in Shadyside. Tech rehearsals at Arcade on Monday October 5th and 12th. 

Performance Schedule: 6 shows on Fridays at 6:30 pm, October 16th through November 20th.

Brief description: Tempest is a long-form improv set in 3 acts with a big shift or tempest midway that pulls the characters and themes in new and surprising directions. Named after the play, performers in the Tempest form will use modern-day language while exploring Shakespearean tropes, such as star-crossed lovers, character disguises, poisons and potions, long-lost twins, magical transformations, and more.

Coach: Connor McCanlus
Producer: Will Snavely

6-month Harold Teams

Audition Dates: Saturday 9/12, 10am – 4pm & Sunday 9/13, 10am – 3pm

Requirements: Minimum level 300 improv class with Harold instruction or equivalent training 

Team Duration: October through April

Practice Schedule: Every week at first, then every other week. For one Harold team, practices will be Thursday evenings at Arcade. The practice schedule for the second Harold team will be announced in time for auditions.

Performance Schedule: The majority of the shows will be scheduled for Friday nights. Other performance dates will also be scheduled.

Brief description: The Harold is a well-known, long-form structure that is often used as the foundational form at improv academies and theaters. It involves three beats with different story threads, characters, and game established in each, with “group games” between each beat. The ending allows the three storylines to interact and weave together.

Coaches: Raina Deerwater & Olivia Hartle

Improv comedy has a rich and vibrant history, tracing its roots back to the legendary stages of places like Second City in Chicago and the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York. These pioneering theaters revolutionized comedy by embracing the art of improvisation—creating comedy on the fly, without a script, relying on the performers’ wit and audience’s imagination. House teams at these iconic venues have nurtured countless comedic talents, offering a playground for comedians to hone their craft, take creative risks, and grow as performers.

The purpose of house teams is to create a consistent platform where a group of dedicated performers can develop a unique comedic voice and chemistry, performing regularly to build their skills and connect with audiences. At Arcade Comedy Theater, our house teams are the backbone of our improv programming. They embody the spirit of spontaneity, creativity, and collaboration that makes improv such a magical experience.

Arcade Comedy Theater’s House Team Program is designed to foster the next generation of improv talent in Pittsburgh. Some teams have a concentrated duration of 12 weeks and are coached based on a show concept. Other teams have a longer duration and practice a specific form for several months. House team shows are on Friday nights, usually at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. The teams also get performance opportunities in other shows on Arcade’s stages, such as Co-Workers, Under the Radar, and form-specific Thursday night shows like Speedrun and Musical Improv Night.