Innovative, quick paced comedy for an inexpensive entertainment. The actors 'gel' with each other it is to the audiences benefit. The theater is Very nice with comfy seats and lots of parking. read more

I took classes up to Level 3 here and had an absolute blast. I wish I had more time to take more classes as being able to just relax and let go of all your inhibitions is a great feeling. Improv is such a rewarding but difficult activity, and if you are thinking about doing it, you definitely should. Yes, YOU! I had Diane Rachel and Zoe Galvez as my teachers and both were absolutely wonderful. Being there for 3 hours at a time 6 weeks in a row is a real great way to kick start getting in to Improv. It isn't cheap, but it is definitely worth it. read more

Got free tickets and I like improv so was happy to check it out last night. The cast had a few standouts and it was a good time and although I respect how difficult it is to improv an entire 3 act play and how much talent that requires, as for pure entertainment...it was good but not great. We had a few good laughs to be sure. To be fair, I think some of the audience suggestions for the play were pretty lame and of course, the actors have to work with what they're given. I've gone to plenty of improv in LA and NYC and I do enjoy improv and they were good. read more

Classes here are essentially day camp for adults. Which if you think about it, should be really, really enticing. You play fun games, you meet a bunch of new people, and you take a short break in the middle. I am not really a fan of improv theater. Years ago, every time I caught a glimpse of that show Drew Carey hosted, "Whose Line is it, Anyway?" I would flip the channel and wonder what kind of doofus laughs at that stuff. I'd seen improv a few other places, and was never that into it. That said, my current job comes up a little short in the human-interaction department, so I decided to try out an improv class, just because I knew I'd end up talking to a bunch of people, even if it was in a German accent or while pretending to hack my way through the Amazon or whatever. The teacher (Diane) was great, the other students were very friendly, and the environment was very positive. I laughed pretty consistently for three hours every Tuesday night for six weeks. I imagine I will sign up for another class soon. read more

I'm not usually a fan of improv because it can be uncomfortable watching the performers struggle while trying to be as witty as possible when put on the spot. However, BATS Improv was decent entertainment for a night and I definitely got a few laughs out of it. There were times when the acting seemed strained, but overall, the performance was pretty good for the task at hand. The bf wanted to do something different and thought an improv show would do the trick, and he enjoyed it more than I did. While I liked the performance, I think it'll be a while before I return for the reasons stated above. This is typically how one of their shows go: - there's usually a theme for the night. the night that we went, there was a James Bond theme. - the performers have no idea what they're going to be doing onstage, as the audience chooses the title of the show, where it takes place, and some props that the performers will have to use, i.e. an audience member will shout out "chicken" and the performers will have to incorporate a chicken into the performance. - it's supposed to last about 2 hours long, but our show went just past an hour and a half. To be honest, an hour and a half is probably the best length for a show like this. Otherwise, it all kind of slowly drags out in the end. If you like improv, try out BATS. But if it's not your thing, you probably won't be swayed either way. read more

Been seeing show here for years! Love this place! If you want to laugh until you cry, this is the place to go. Smart, memorable shows that stay with you for years. It's just too bad that some of the incredible moments on stage are never to be seen again. There were a few show I would have loved to tell my friends about-- to go see--but they are improvised, never to be seen again. sigh. Their classes are great too!!! read more

BATS rocks. For a few years I'd been kickin' around the idea of taking an improv class, and I finally made time to do it. The "Foundation 1" class is a series of 6 three-hour classes where you learn the basics in a fun and constructive setting. The classes are small enough (limited to ~15 students) so that everyone gets to participate. John Remak taught the class, and I highly recommend him, but my understanding is that all of the teachers are ace. I'll find out more soon -- I signed up for "Foundation 2." read more

My husband and I went to see BATS Improv during our three day trip to San Francisco after reading several glowing reviews. I'm giving them 2 stars because we only saw them once and they could have just been having an off night, but I think it's important that Yelpers know what they're getting in to. In recent months we've seen Second City in Chicago ($25ish a ticket) and The Groundlings in Los Angeles ($17 a ticket), so we've seen some pretty amazing sketch theatre/improv. BATS ($20 a ticket) felt more like watching my high school drama class exercises. It sometimes took painfully long for the actors to set up the scene and most often their jokes fell flat. All too often the punchline was that the characters turned out to be gay. How many times can you do that in one 2-hour show? If you do decide to check out BATS because you'd like to go to Off the Grid at Fort Mason and it's all in one place, make sure you do Off the Grid before the show. We thought we'd have time afterward and missed Off the Grid all together. Totally bummed, because that looked really amazing! read more

I've been Yelping all about the restaurants we go to before enjoying a BATS show, and realized I've neglected to review BATS! We love coming to this place, Improv at its best. This group does a great job of being on their toes the entire performance. They are always original and after attending 7+ shows with friends, and bringing family to their show who are visiting from the east coast we are obviously huge fans of BATS. Apart from the talented group of actors and actresses and the very fun different shows they do, the location is awesome. Heading up to Fort Mason and grabbing dinner in nearby Marina/Cow Hallow or the Food Trucks right in Fort Mason a night at BATS is a night well spent. The tickets are very reasonably priced, the theatre is comfortable, they earn each of these stars flying easily, if I could give them an additional two thumbs up I would. Thank you BATS! read more

A favorite place to bring out-of-own guests for performances or to take some fun classes with talented instructors and learn to get out of your own way while having fun and collaborating with others! read more

I have seen this theater group numerous times and its always a good time. These guys, and gals, are funny! I take out of town visitors here occasionally and it has never let me down. The show is different every time, but it is guaranteed that you will laugh. I suggest wearing classic SF layers to the show, the theater is small and gets warm even when it's half full. Parking is plentiful, although Fort Mason has started charging for it. Not so bad though, it was $4 last time I went. Hint: purchase tickets day of for half price at the Union Square half price ticket outlet. read more

Second time to San Francisco and had to plan a return to BATS to see a show. After seeing multiple shows during my first visit to San Francisco a couple years ago, this was definitely on my must do list when I came back. Great show in a great venue. Will see another show whenever I come back to San Francisco. read more

If you want to learn improv theater, and you live in the Bay Area, BATS is the place to go. Their teachers are both skilled AND supportive, and you will get world-class training that will prepare you to perform OR just be more confident in your everyday life. I took classes here for years, and now I run an improv company of my own. I have BATS to thank for giving me an excellent foundation. Thanks, BATS! read more

yes aaaand... it's the BEST ever! Bats improv is my favorite theater in SF, i am a huuuuuge fan of improv shows, i admire the actors for their creativity, humor, wit and originality. I often catch a show, it's always absolutely different than the previous one and all are very entertaining. I was fortunate enough to take foundation classes, 180 fun filled minutes for 6 weeks. My teachers, Lisa and Dave are amaaaaaazing educators and super funny. Best 3 hours of the week for sure! very highly recommended!!!!! read more

Went to my first BATS performance last night and saw the one of the premier shows for the fall season called "Scary Stories". I left feeling quite impressed. I have known about BATS for some time now as I've been taking Improv off and on for years. I wanted to check out one of the original groups (that's now 30 yrs strong) since I was thinking of revisiting taking classes. The level of professionalism and "surrender" between all the actors was very inspiring. The show was quite captivating and, of course, very funny! I left feeling the acknowledgment that it's time to revisit this beautiful creative outlet and to be surrounded with professionals like the ones I witnessed last night on stage! read more

Writing this review as an audience member not a student. As a venue this place is great. Very good lay out, despite the posts supporting the roof in the auditorium so if you're sitting on one of the edge/isle seats your view of the stage might be limited. Lighting and stage design are really professional. The shows here - like all improv - can be hit or miss, but there are some troupes that consistently amazing such as "3 for all". I don't necessarily think that BATS shows always worth the $$, though they do offer student discounts which is a plus. read more

Cool reupholstered seating for a cool reupholstered improv group. It's really refreshing to see good live improv. They have a great competition month in the summer where different subsets of the actors compete for laughs to see who goes on to perform against LATS (LA theater sports). Shows are relatively cheap ($10-15), and it's a short distance away from bars and restaurants on Chestnut in the Marina. My personal recipe: girl + Squat & Gobble (see earlier review) + BATS show = happiness. read more

Looking for a fun alternative to movie night? Then grab a date or a group of friends and check out the Bay Area Theatre Sports Improv Theatre in Fort Mason. If you like the show "Who's Line Is It Anyway?" then you'll love the BATS Comedy Troupe. They take audience suggestions and create extemporaneous skits and shows (even musicals!) on the spot. Talk about comedy without a net. Obviously, not all the skits are winners. But even when the jokes fail, it's still fun to watch. You can't help but be impressed by this brave group of comedians. Audience participation is encouraged and is definitely part of the fun. There's usually a short intermission so folks can use the restroom and order cookies, wine, and beer. Tickets are usually under $15 (comparable to a night at the movies). Enjoy the show! read more

I love the shows as well as the classes put up here. I took F1, F2 classes with Zoe and loved them. This is one of the best places to spend a relaxed friday / saturday evening with your family / friends. Looking forward to the next show and class. read more

Got to the event thanks to RushTix and had a wonderful night full of laughter! The location is a good - plenty of parking. It's in the building B - so the second one in the Fort Mason area. Theater is a perfect size; they did not need to use microphones, and it accommodated probably about 150 people. I loved it and I will be back. read more

Hilarious. We went for the "Jackpot" night and absolutely loved the show. The actors were all seasoned, great at improv, had impeccable timing and excellent chemistry together. We'll be back! read more

Caught the crew from "Warp Speed" performing their Star Trek homage themed show last Friday. So so funny. I've been doing improv for several years, these guys put on a highly enjoyable and very funny show. I'd actually seen several of the performers do shows at festivals on the east coast (North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival) years ago, so I anticipated great things from this show. Expectations were plenty met, and many laughs were had. PS, if anyone from BATS reads this, if you're ever in the Greenville SC area, come and visit us at Alchemy Comedy. We'd definitely love to host you there. read more

ZOMG BATS is AWESOME :-) I started going to see my friend in the Sunday players, and always had the best time. Now I'm taking the first class, and it's also great. It's tons of fun, and impeccably paced. Every thing we do builds on the previous thing, so gently (baby steps!) that we don't even notice how much ground we cover in one class. No anxiety! There are so many important transferable skills that go into improv: presence, attention, positivity, teamwork, listening, connection, authenticity, play. I can't recommend it enough! Come check it out! read more

I'm a big fan of Improv/Theater Sports and BATS was my first fix when I moved to the bay area. A friend of mine actually gave me a gift certificate and I attended the improv holiday musical with my husband and another couple. The staff at the ticketing counter were a little disorganized, but it was ok. It has that small theater feel and I didn't mind. The physical space itself is actually pretty nice. When I was waiting outside, I didn't expecting the theater seating area to look so nice. The show was very funny and enjoyable. I'd definitely go again. read more

BATS is wonderful! I recently moved to the Bay Area from LA and I was skeptical. San Francisco is a theater town, after all, and I felt that nothing could match the likes of Second City and The Groundlings. Half a year of classes later and I'm happy to report I was wrong. BATS stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the other improv giants, for several reasons: 1) The quality of the instruction. All of the teachers seem to have the best interests of their students at heart. They consistently go above and beyond in terms of helping students realize their creative potential. More than anywhere else I've studied, BATS is an environment where it feels safe to express yourself. 2) The quality of the students. Yes, this is a factor. I had a blast training in LA, but I'm not an aspiring actor and many of my classmates were. This lead to a competitive vibe on occasion. What's remarkable is that my classmates at BATS don't seem to have any motive other than experiencing the sheer joy of improv. In other words, they're not doing it for any reason other than the activity itself. (The Buddha would approve.) There's also a tremendous diversity of backgrounds amongst the students - engineers from Google, PR managers from Silicon Valley firms, theater majors from Stanford, etc. This leads to a variety of unusual scenic perspectives you aren't likely to get improvising elsewhere. 3) The innovative show formats. The main company is always trying something new... everything from improvised Greek Myths to Star Trek! Serious kudos to the artistic directors at BATS. If they keep taking creative risks, I'll keep watching. read more

A really fun experience in a great location. I'd never been to Fort Mason, so it was a real treat just to walk around it before heading to the theater for the show. I love improv comedy, and this didn't disappoint. And for the price, well, you can't beat it! read more

I love BATS! I took my parents here when they were in town and we had so much fun. There weren't a ton of people at the show we went to and it made me sad. Skip the pricey SF comedy clubs and go to a BATS show ASAP. I will definitely go back and I better see you there. read more

Had a blast here today. It was hilarious and I laughed until I cried several times today. Would definitely recommend this. Plus the free drink upon yelp check in is an added plus! Come ready for an ab workout :) read more

Freakin FABULOUS. Laughed SO hard. Shouted and cheered till I was hoarse. Like "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" but BETTER!!! Best father/daughter date ever. Can't wait to go back with boyfriend and housemate read more

I have been volunteering at BATS Improv theatre for about a year now, whenever I wish, I just sign up through their volunteer emails. Since I get a free pass to see another show of my choice each time I work, I have seen at least 25 shows since then, often with my hubby, who later on, also became a volunteer! We enjoy most of the performances very much and I especially find the improv pros to be bright, funny, charming and entertaining. My favorite formats, as they call each type of show they do, are "Spo Bro" which is short for Spontaneous Broadway (the singing talent doesn't matter, it's the fun of making up songs), Theatresports, and Super Scene. I began taking classes last summer, and now I am in my fifth class, so I guess you could say I am hooked on improv! Classes are truly fun and exciting - each coach has their own distinct personality and ways of showing the students how to connect with our scene partners and create the story together. I have found that many things I've learned in class translate into everyday life too. I highly recommend checking out the shows, go to the website and buy advance tickets to save a few bucks. Some shows are very popular and do sell out, so don't wait to buy at the door, although you can. Try a class too, it's not just for actors, it's for everyone who wants to have fun and expand your world a bit. I had some theatre experience, but this was eye opening for me and more fun than the scripted plays I had done years ago. Just go see a show and maybe try the intro class and you will be a happier person too! By the way, I just noticed that for some reason, this review has my hubby's name as the writer, but it's actually ME, Debbie! Sigh... read more

After attending a show here on Friday night called "Super Scene", I will never turn my nose up at improv again. Honestly I was a bit nervous about attending an improv show, but the BATS team really delivered. I was prepared for awkward silences and limited laughs, but show's format was wonderful (started off with 6 different story lines/scenes and gradually dwindles its way down to 1 super scene) and the actors really were on point and worked well to compliment each other. Simply hilarious and so much fun. Found this place because the BF had a free ticket for being a student of their Improv class (which he's having a blast in and highly recommends). We will definitely be returning for more shows soon. Stand up comedy? Who needs it when you've got BATS. FYI, it also looks like most of their shows are on Goldstar so give them a try. Yay for discounted tickets! And on Fridays, you can even check out Off-the-Grid right before a show! Yum. Double yay! read more

Great theater, easy to find parking, good reception, drinks on average price, and absolutely hilarious!!! I went for the first time to check their Valentine's Day musical (I hate musicals), but the actors were very engaging. Will definitely invite friends and check again soon read more

BATS = Bay Area Theatre Sports Not only are the shows really fun to watch and/or participate in, but going to classes there is a full on blast. If you like the show "Who's Line is it Anyway" then you'll really like BATS. There is so much talent here. If you are not an actor, but you love improv you have to go see them. The shows change regularly and are always fresh. They have themed shows as well as off th cuff straight up improv. Audience participation is big on some shows and not in others. Anything with Laura Derry in it is bound to be hysterical. She just happens to be o the homepage right now. Its cheap to go see them on a Friday or Saturday night. Look 'em up! http://www.improv.org/ read more

What I've learned from going to BATS: Improv is good for the soul. See it, do it, practice it. The BATS crew is full of some of the most talented, creative, funny, helpful and friendly people around. The impact of improv, be it small or big, either as viewer or participant, can be profound. And its fun as hell. read more

Came here with some friends and had a fantastic time! The players are professional and clearly love doing what they're doing. You can really feel the chemistry between them as they build off of each other to create plenty of delightful moments. Whether you're completely new to improv or have seen/done some, BATS Improv definitely increases your appreciation for the form. Worth every second and penny, would definitely recommend, and hope to see more shows in the near future! read more

I have always loved BATS improv, They're usually hilarious. Friday night was the first "off" night I've seen at the theater. It was supposed to be a Halloween horror-themed show but it was like no one knew the genre! I mean there was a zombie, and there was a gas station, but no scene where the zombie got burned up at the gas station-- how?? Also one of the actors kept not giving up on his plot lines but then not taking them anywhere. Oh, and making sexist and transphobic jokes. I almost had to leave because his gender jokes were so painfully bad. First time I've seen anything like that at BATS. The other actors were obviously trying to get him to cut it out so that was good at least. Anyway, the main thing I wanted to say is: Lisa Rowland. She is legendary. I swear, she saved this show as much as it could be saved. All of her characters were deep and hilarious. She sang two of the show's best songs in two different characters, back to back! She is just amazing. Even with this disappointing night, I won't stop coming to BATS when Lisa Rowland is in the company. read more

This is top-notch improv, as good as any you'll see at Second City or iO in other cities. Lovely theater space, great location and a terrific place to see a show. Within walking distance of the Chestnut Street shopping area. Alcohol and snacks sold on-premise and can be taken into theater. We saw "The Day Of..." and were utterly thrilled with the stellar five-person cast. The "instant movie" they created from audience suggestions was smart, funny and heartwarming. This is definitely worth a trip for the whole family. read more

Improv was funny but it gets warm and stuffy in the theatre so wear layers. I enjoyed the humor and acting thinking on your feet! It was great but they need to have better ventilation. read more

I've officially become a BATS improv junkie! My husband and I have taken several classes there - and attend a show at least twice a month. This weekend, I plan on going all 3 nights! Anyone know of an improv addiction group? :) Seriously, I'd take a night of dinner and improv over a movie any day. It's interactive, fresh, fun, silly and incredibly creative. The players are amazing performers, and many are equally great instructors. Highly recommend taking a class or two at BATS. It gets you out of your comfort zone in a fun way, let's you be a kid again and teaches you to take risks in a safe environment. read more

I'm a huge fan of Alfred Hitchcock films. As luck would have it, BATS Improv is doing a Hitchcock themed show right now. They take audience suggestions and then blend it all into a 'murder/mystery/comedy' show. All improv. Always amazes me how people do this kind of thing on the fly. Always a lot of fun, and good laughs. These people work very well together and put on a hell of a show. The only bad thing... the theater is hot. It's freaking hot. No A/C. By intermission, my hubby and I are chugging bottles of cold water. Sit near someone who decided to wear a bottle of cologne, and you're screwed. There is no air circulation. Thank God for the programs they hand out. They make great little hand fans. read more