SFIT History
The Seattle Festival of Improvisational Theater (SFIT) was founded in 2002 by Matt Grabowski and Andrew McMasters. With a focus on innovation and professionalism, SFIT has become known as an exciting and steadfast part of the national improv circuit. From humble beginnings we’ve grown to a point where over 80 groups from across the nation have applied to this festival each year for the past few years.
And as the improv landscape has grown exponentially in Seattle, more and more local groups vie for spots at this event.
Over these 16 years we’ve welcomed over 125 unique improv groups from Austin, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Milwauke, Minneapolis, New York, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Portland, San Fancisco, and Vancouver, B.C. (many of them returning multiple times).
As a surprise to us all, in 2012 our first group from abroad (Paris) applied to the festival, with Italy, Edmonton, and Mumbai following in subsequent years.
Despite growing interest from across this great planet, we have chosen to retain the feel of (what Austin improv maven Asaf Ronen once called) “a boutique festival,” with just two venues, so you can see (almost) everything, and meet (almost) everyone. We value this level of intimacy and quality in this event.
SFIT continues to seek out the best performers and instructors in the improvisational theater world, and entice them to Seattle to delight and inform audiences in the greater Seattle area and the Pacific Northwest.
And as the improv landscape has grown exponentially in Seattle, more and more local groups vie for spots at this event.
Over these 16 years we’ve welcomed over 125 unique improv groups from Austin, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Milwauke, Minneapolis, New York, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Portland, San Fancisco, and Vancouver, B.C. (many of them returning multiple times).
As a surprise to us all, in 2012 our first group from abroad (Paris) applied to the festival, with Italy, Edmonton, and Mumbai following in subsequent years.
Despite growing interest from across this great planet, we have chosen to retain the feel of (what Austin improv maven Asaf Ronen once called) “a boutique festival,” with just two venues, so you can see (almost) everything, and meet (almost) everyone. We value this level of intimacy and quality in this event.
SFIT continues to seek out the best performers and instructors in the improvisational theater world, and entice them to Seattle to delight and inform audiences in the greater Seattle area and the Pacific Northwest.