Absolutely worth it! I like the adult show at 9pm. Was a great time. Comics were great and able to adapt well to keep the entertainment going! This was my first Improv show and I will definitely seek out improv in the future! read more

Participating in improv is one of my worst nightmares. I can't imagine being onstage and not knowing what's coming up next, having to make things up on the fly, and trying to be funny on top of it all. However, I married my opposite. Ben T. decided to try improv after having been an actor on the side a few times, and he loved classes at Atlas. I will leave it to him to fully review the classes here, but I will say that he had a lot of fun, learned a lot, and met some really cool people (who he then introduced me to!). At the end of the improv course, you can participate in a class show. For me, this would be one of those "opportunities" that I would rather pass up. But Ben was really excited about it -- And I was very excited to be an audience member and see what he had learned over the course of 10 weeks. I was lucky to have met a few of the other improv course attendees, and I really think it added something special to the show to know a few people participating in it. Atlas is in a great location, although I found the parking lot difficult to find on a dark night. I ended up parking in a nearby parking lot and hoping I wouldn't be ticketed. The inside of Atlas is really cozy and cute, and the people up front were friendly. Since I was there early and by myself, I was seated right up front. The seating is a bit close together... So I made a new friend, the person sitting next to me! The show was hilarious. It reminded me a lot of Whose Line is it Anyway, which I used to LOVE and cry-laugh watching. The emcees (course instructors) were funny, friendly, and encouraging. The point system can get crazy, like it was on Whose Line, which adds to the fun. The audience was great at throwing out ideas when solicited for what we ate for breakfast or random letters of the alphabet, although to be honest even this made me nervous. I think I was just waiting for some point where they would drag someone on stage or something like that, but we were safe in the audience! I can't wait to make it here for the "real" non-student shows. If the students learned that much in 10 weeks at Level 1 I think the more experienced people would be insanely talented. I was very proud of Ben T. and the rest of his class! read more

Need a first date idea? Well, here's one! Took a date to Atlas Improv and within the first game, the performers on stage had us bursting out in laughter. I tried improv in college, so I was excited to see what they had to offer. I was not disappointed! I forget the name of the first game, but they had to guess some complicated words - it was impressive to see how they got to the answer. They are really talented! The place is also connected to Blair Street Brew & BBQ, so you can get drinks and grub before or after the show. That was a welcomed surprise for sure! read more

I've seen improv at venues across the US, and this was one of the worst shows. I went to the 10pm Saturday night show. The audience consisted of my wife and I and another couple. The 10pm show was more of a long-form improv show where the troupe three scene ideas based on an audience suggestion. Then each scene went through three iterations. I didn't laugh much. The players rarely reached the punchline in a scene which led to long period where time seemed to drag. At least three of the players seemed really new since their voices came off monotone and they relied on their scene partners to keep the ideas moving. There weren't clear transitions (other improv troupes I've seen use claps or patting players on the back to transition) between scenes so it was hard to follow the development of stories. Maybe I just went on a bad night? But I think you would want to have your A game on a Friday and Saturday night. At $8 a person, the price wasn't bad, but I didn't really have much fun. read more

I was really not sure what to expect seeing as I had never been to an improv show or heard of the place, but I was thoroughly impressed by the show tonight. My friends and I attended the 10 PM Friday show where they ran two acts in approximately an hour. Although the first act was a bit choppy, it was still hilarious. I think a few people were new to the improv scene, but it was still enjoyable. The second act had my friends and I laughing so hard we were tearing up. $8 adults, $5 students, you really can't beat that price for a few laughs! Attendance was pretty low at probably around 10 people (not including the other participants). We were seated at the front, however the room still felt full of laughs. Will definitely be back! read more

I give them props for trying but they need more training / practice. They take audience suggestions but do barely anything (if anything with them). They also take way to long on each joke to the point where it is no longer funny but instead just irritating and you can't wait for them to move on. read more

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Discovered Atlas through the visitmadison website and decided this could be a fun act to check out. I've been to improv sports before where different 'teams' get up and do a variety of bits while competing against each other. My partner and I showed up about 10 minutes prior to the 8pm show and were able to get in right away... we were the first there. Hesitantly, we waited for others to show. A total of 11 people in a venue that looked to fit 70. We were shocked! Perhaps because it was summer and not many students at the UW were around. Or perhaps because it was the 8pm show and others planned to make their way later in the evening. In general, I really enjoyed the show. Many of the other sport improv groups I've seen rely on crude humor. That wasn't Atlas' style. They're creative and certainly have a lot of fun with their work. For performing for such a small group, I was really impressed! The venue was extremely warm and I wonder if that was accidental. Did someone forget to turn on the AC? I'd recommend this for an inexpensive night out! read more

A group of us decided to come here Saturday at 8:00pm and we paid $8 each which I think is fair. Best of all you can buy concessions for a fair price - $1! I was super happy because I really wanted candy and water...lol The show had some really funny parts, it's all improv so you'll never see the same show twice! Our group came for the family friendly time and it was entertaining! The had one game when they asked someone from the audience to participate and win free passes, I wish I would have gone up! The four of us who went really enjoyed it and will probably return for another show. Parking is around the corner so you'll have to walk a little and also they only have one bathroom. Also I'd suggest getting there a little early so you can sit up front. read more

I've gone to two Atlas Improv shows (both times, the 8pm Theatresports show). It's such a fun place to go with friends, family, or a date-- plenty of laughs, and a very talented group. Highly recommended! read more

Fantastic improvisational comedy. I usually go to the 8PM show on Friday or Saturday for more fast-paced improv games. The 10PM shows are great, too. They don't serve alcohol, but the restaurant next door does, and there is a connecting door, so you can bring your drink in! read more

when i went to this improv i wasn't really sure what to expect, we went to the ten o'clock show and dispite there not being a big turn out of people in audence, the performers did a good job and made it entertaining. It would have been better if they sold beer there read more

Saw a show last night with my wife and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes, it's awkward at times (especially in the beginning) and the venue is very intimate, but I found myself laughing consistently and felt it was very authentic. Plus, at $8 a person, it's a pretty affordable way to start the night. Glad to see more improv in Madison and I have a feeling this is just the start for them. read more

At las-t I'm able to write this review. I was able to catch a show at ten where the crew did a Harold show which was a real hoot. Owl be brief here, but the show really had me cracking up. A red haired fellow was my favorite part. I'll be sure to come back when me PaPa visits from Italy next month for the last time in his life. read more

I saw a show tonight and it was about 10% entertaining. The rest of the time was not funny, not engaging, and not well preformed. This is just my opinion, but this improv group is not my groove. read more

Atlas is a great place to go for a night of improv comedy. Every show I've been to contains at least a gem or two that you'll try to describe to your friends tomorrow. They also have classes you can take! read more

Great place! Good shows, great people, very funny. A great place to go see live performances for a weekend outing.

I went to a 10 o'clock show and it was incredibly awkward to say the least. The performers took very long pauses and then would come back with very minimal/generic responses that did not move the story along at all. They did a monologue game where a character would do a monologue and then it would drive the scene. The monologues were actually sad, which left me wondering if that was intentional or not as I thought the Atlas was comedy improv. This all was true for 2 out of the 3 segments. The second segment was actually decent and the performers seemed like they knew what they were doing as far as quick responses that actually included some sort of detail for the story (none of these performers were in the other two segments). I do like that you can go to the barbecue joint next door and bring over beer. Ironically, the folks behind at the barbecue joint were extremely charming and witty. read more