Musical Improv Reps
A Guide to Getting Reps in the Bay Area
Reps are an important part of developing as a musical improviser. Reps can mean anything that gets you experience playing and putting musical improv principles into practice, whether at a jam or as a part of a team.
Musical improv jams are a great way to get reps. There are regular musical improv jams at All Out Comedy in Oakland and South Bay Musical Improv in San Jose; as well as periodic musical jams at BATS Improv, Endgames and Leela Improv in San Francisco.
All Out Comedy Musical Improv Jam
All Out Comedy hosts a bi-monthly musical improv jam at its theater in Uptown Oakland on the first and third Sunday of every month at 4:30pm. All Out Comedy jams are posted here. Tickets for the jam cost $5-10.
Leela Musical Improv Jam
Leea hosts semi-regular free musical improv jams at its theater in downtown San Francisco. Jam dates are typically announced several weeks in advance. Leela jams are posted here. Tickets for the jam cost $10.
Endgames Musical Improv Jam
Endgames hosts a semi-regular free musical improv jam at its theater and training center in San Francisco's Mission District. Endgames jams are posted here. Admission to the jam is free.
BATS Musical Improv Jam
BATS holds periodic musical jams on Sundays from 5-7pm. Dates for these jams are posted in advance. Upcoming jams are posted here. Tickets for the jam are $20-30.
South Bay Musical Improv Toast and Jam
For improvisers in the South Bay, there are monthly jams hosted by South Bay Musical Improv, typically held every third Tuesday from 7:30–9:30pm. Upcoming Toast and Jams can be found here. Admission to the jam is free.
To find out dates for all upcoming jams, click on "Calendar" in the top navigation bar!
To make sure you never miss another jam, subscribe for e-mail updates here. Or get an invitation to our WhatsApp Group by sending us a message here.
Two bay area theaters offer musical improv training or house teams—ensembles that are provided a coach, Musical Director, rehearsal space and regular performance opportunities in return for fees or dues. Such teams hold semi-regular auditions, which you can learn about by subscribing to updates here.
Musical Improv House Teams (All Out Comedy)
All Out Comedy has two Musical Improv House Teams: RiOt: An Improvised Rock Opera and a new to-be-named House Team. These teams provides the opportunity to rehearse weekly and play regularly with a live Musical Director at All Out Comedy’s theater in Uptown Oakland. Auditions are held when needed.
Performing Improv Ensemble (Leela)
Leela’s Performing Improv Ensemble (P.I.E.) is a mainstay of the San Francisco improv community and includes a long-running musical improv P.I.E., which rehearses weekly and plays three performances each quarter. Auditions are held quarterly. Learn More.
The bay area is home to several independent musical improv teams that may seek out additional players when needed. These teams are not associated with any single theater and may rehearse and play in different spaces and theaters.
Current Indie Teams
The following is a list of currently active or semi-active indie teams in the Bay Area. While we attempt to update this list regularly, some information here may be out of date and we always recommend checking each team's social media for the latest updates.
Flashmob Musical
Flashmob Musical is San Francisco’s longest running musical improv group. Members of the Flashmob the Musical team have regular rehearsals and play once a month at Endgames Improv in San Francisco’s Mission District and semi-regularly at various shows around the Bay Area.
All That Jazz
All That Jazz creates fully improvised, Broadway-style musicals set in the swingin’ jazz era of the 1920's-1950's. They perform semi-regularly at various shows around the Bay Area.
Emotional Overtones
The Emotional Overtones are the south bay's premier musical improv group. They perform semi-regularly at various shows around the Bay Area, primarily in the south bay.
The Fledglings
The Fledglings is an indie team that pas created two different forms: The shortform improvised radio show DIAL IT IN and the longform revue THE MOVIE: THE MUSICAL. They perform semi-regularly at various shows around the Bay Area.
Sonic Boom
Sonic Boom is a longform musical improv team that performs semi-regularly at indie shows around the Bay Area.
La Spazzatura
La Spazzatura is San Francisco's resident improvised opera group, offering a show that is high-brow improv, low-brow opera. While this group is mostly on hiatus, they occasionally reunite for festival shows.
What's Your Protest Song?
What's Your Protest Song takes audience-members' stories and turns them into improvised musicals. They perform semi-regularly at various shows around the Bay Area.
Worlds Collide
Worlds Collide creates improvised musicals with conflicting points of view based on an audience suggestion. They perform semi-regularly at Made Up Theatre in Fremont.
How to Join an Indie Team
If you’re interested in joining an existing team, start by catching an upcoming show. If it seems like you might be a good fit, introduce yourself and find out if they’re having auditions or welcoming guest players. To find out about upcoming shows, click on the "Calendar" link in the top nav bar!
Form a New Indie Team
Forming a new independent team is challenging, but if you have a group of dedicated musical improvisers, it can be a great way to get reps. We've actually created a guide for folks interested in forming their own indie team, including step-by-step instructions for how to start one, advice from our leadership team and lists of local venues for rehearsals and shows. Explore our Indie Team Guide here.