Name: Buffalo SComedySportz
Performing Since: 1993.
Bio: Similar to, ‘Whose Line Is It?’, but set up like a sporting event,  Singing of  the National Anthem starts off every match. A ComedySportz match features two teams of improvisational ‘actletes’ competing for laughs and points based on audience suggestions. A referee keeps things moving along and calls penalties and fouls. An average of seven to ten Improv games are played during each match. For example, in the game "Fairytale Replay” a team will perform a scene from a familiar fairytale and then based on audience suggestions, change it up a little. Imagine if you will, Cinderella in the Terminator or Jack and the Beanstalk done in the song style of Reggae. In “DVD” the referee, using an imaginary remote, controls a made up movie and the ‘actletes’ forward, rewind, pause… you get the idea. Every show is different with different players, different games, and different audiences supplying new suggestions. The fans judge the scenes and games and ultimately decide the winners and losers. ComedySportz also asks willing volunteers to join in on the onstage fun for a game or two each match.  The volunteers have fun and the audience loves it.
Members: Click here for player's bios. 
Links: Buffalocsz.com, Facebook page
Contact: buffalony@comedysportz.com or 4476 Main St. Amherst NY 14226 or 716-39-FUNNY / 716 (393-8669)
Performances: Buffalo ComedySportz has performances every Friday night at 8pm and Saturday night at 7pm at the Buffalo ComedySportz Arena located at 4476 Main St. Amherst NY 14226 (please use the Harlem Rd. entrance). 
Tickets: Adult $10, Seniors, Students and Service Members $8, Children under 12 $5.  Please check our website www.buffalocsz.com regularly for performance additions and other fun actives.

Name: Buffalo Sketch Comedy
Performing Since: 2009
Bio: Buffalo Sketch Comedy is an enthusiastic trio who draws a clean comedy style from SNL and "Who's Line..."  The group brings together original sketches and improv in their energetic show.  A proven formula guaranteed to make you laugh.  
Members: Tom Barr, Jeremy Dolph, Christopher Scherr
Links: BuffaloSketchComedy.com, Facebook page, Twitter
Performances: The last Wednesday of every month at Merge Restaurant (439 Delaware Ave.), show starts at 10:00pm.

Name: Defiant Monkey Improv
Performing Since: 2009
Bio: Defiant Monkey Improv’s goal is to create on-the-spot participatory theatre that is humorous, thought-provoking and entertaining.  Karen & Andy, the founders of Defiant Monkey, have years of improvisational experience including ComedySportz, The Second City of Toronto, Wondermakers and Improv Buffet.   Our long-term plans encompass a wide range of venues along with a structured series of improvisational workshops designed to facilitate the development of skilled improvisational actors throughout Western NY.
Members:  Andrew Spragge & Karen Eichler
Links: Facebook page, http://monkeyimprov.blogspot.com/, monkeyimprov@yahoo.com
Performances: Currently performing in conjunction with W.A.R.P.D. Productions in the Taylor Theatre at the historic Kenan Center, 433 Locust St, Lockport, NY.  Our next performance is December 12th 2009 at 7 pm; we will be performing the first half of the show and W.A.R.P.D. will perform staged Christmas readings for the second half.

Name: Eclectic Improv Company
Performing Since: 1998
Bio: The Eclectic Improv Company improvisational theater and comedy troupe continues to redefine the concepts of theatre and comedy, presenting a fast-paced and interactive show creating hilarious characters, sketches and songs completely on spot.  Each show is unique and you never know what to expect because everything is improvised and based on audience suggestions.  You'll never see the same show twice!
Members: Todd Benzin, Peter Cumbo, Don Gervasi, John Kreuzer, Steve Petersen and musical improviser Michael Hake (bios at http://www.eclecticimprov.com/cast.html). 
Links: EclecticImprov.com, Facebook group
Performances: Last Saturdays of the month (September - June), 8:00pm at Shea's Smith Theatre, 658 Main St., Buffalo.  Tickets: $10.00, available through Ticketmaster.com, Macy's and Shea's Box Office.

Name: The Francis Bacon Experiment
Performing Since: 2008
Bio: FBE is a combination of short & long form improv comedy, sketch and video.  The group wanted to bring improv to downtown Buffalo/Allentown.  FBE performs in the Allentown District.  Shows are currently on the 3rd Thursday of the month at Staples Bar on Allen Street.  This also started as a community-minded venture.  We encourage people to submit videos, and we'll show them.  Sketches too!
Members: John K., Dan D., Rich L., Jeannine F., Amy F., Katie H., Kim B., Paul M.
Links: Facebook group, MySpace page, TheFrancisBaconExperiment.com
Performances: 3rd Thursday of every month, 10pm, Staples Bar on Allen Street.

Name: IMP
Performing Since: 2010
Bio: IMF is improvisational comedy without rules. You never know what you're going to see during an uncensored IMF show but, in general, this long-form improvisational style leads to longer, deeper scenes than the fast-paced, short-scene action found in a ComedySportz show.  There is no brown bag foul (or any other foul, for that matter!) during an IMF show, so we can only admit adults (age 18 and over).  Check out IMF: It's Improv...
Performances: Second and fourth Saturday of the month at 9:30.  Tickets are $10. A $15 Twofer Bundle can be purchased for a same-night ComedySportz and IMF show - 4476 Main St. Amherst NY 14226 (corner of Main and Harlem, please use the Harlem St. entrance).

To be listed, please submit your troupe name, a brief bio, picture, and any links (website, facebook, etc) to chetwild@gmail.com and we would be happy to add you!