Arcade is now casting for our 2025 Improv House Teams — Hot Spot and Spotlight!

Whether you’re sharpening your stage chops or ready to dive into bold, artistic ensemble work, this is your opportunity to grow within a vibrant, supportive community of improvisers.

HOT SPOT TEAMS
Hot Spot teams perform 25-minute sets weekly, focusing on strengthening core skills in a fast-paced, consistent performance environment. Performers will work closely with a coach to apply and refine their technique each week.

SPOTLIGHT TEAMS
Spotlight teams perform 45-minute sets bi-weekly, exploring the artistic application of technique while focusing on show structure, ensemble identity, and bold comedic points of view. Spotlight teams collaborate with their coach to develop unique formats and personalities for their shows.

After a season on a Hot Spot team, groups may audition to move up to Spotlight or choose to become an independent team.

Auditions will be ensemble-based and evaluate performers on the following criteria:

Stage Presence – Commanding the space through vocal clarity, projection, and stage picture.
Character Work – Bringing physicality and vocal variety to create memorable, distinct personas.
Initiation & Information – Making strong, clear offers that establish the who, what, where, when, and why.
Listening – Staying present and engaged with your scene partners and the full show.
Agreement & Justification – Saying “yes” to ideas and justifying choices with purpose.
Heightening & Exploration – Building on ideas to drive scenes forward and find the fun.
Environment & Object Work – Using pantomime and space to create a rich, theatrical world.
Game & Pattern – Identifying and supporting the comedic engine of a scene.

Whether you’re aiming to grow as a performer or ready to help shape the next great team at Arcade, we can’t wait to see what you bring to the stage! 

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. Our teams consist of performers who have undergone rigorous training and have proven their ability to deliver top-notch comedy on a regular basis. By providing them with a regular slot—the House Team Hot Spot—we ensure they have the opportunity to experiment, grow, and shine in front of a live audience.

Join us every Friday night at 7 pm to witness the brilliance of our house teams. Whether you’re a long-time fan of improv or new to the scene, the House Team Hot Spot promises an evening of unpredictable, high-energy comedy that will leave you laughing long after the show ends. Come be a part of the Arcade family and see the future of comedy unfold before your eyes!