What a fun way to spend an evening. It's improv so you never know if it's going to be the best show of your life or the worst. Depends on the day. Located in format mason across from the german restaurant. It's up the elevator on floor 3. I've been exploring my neighborhood and working through the artist way and thought why not go for an artist date at BATS improv. It's cute it's homey. The first popcorn was free. They have drinks for sale alcoholic and non alcoholic. Then you can walk into the theatre and find a spot to sit. Closer to the front and your shout outa might have an easier time of being chosen. I came for the improve battle of newbies mixed with veterans. It was fun to guess who was who. They did different games and totaled points with elimination rounds. So of course there was a range in experience and expertise. Regardless I was thoroughly entertained laughed, cringed, felt surprised, and elated. Honestly a much better way to spend an evening compared to a movie. In person human connection. That's what we need as a collective whole these days. read more

Just an incredible experience absolutely hysterical. Able to make you laugh without being over the top, risqué or bad language. I attended last weekend with my parents and I felt like I was in San Francisco for pre Covid days. It was a good feeling. Keep up the good work! read more

BATS is SF's answer to Chicago's Second City. It is a special form of entertainment that offers an alternative to going to a movie or concert. Live actors perform very funny improv in a good theatre. Located in Fort Mason where there is parking, restaurants and bars within close walking distance to BATS. I recommend attending a performance when looking to entertain out of town guest, a date or just for a fun night out for yourself. read more

Took their 3-hour INTRO TO IMPROV fun af. Couldn't even sleep the rest of the night till the am bc still hyped off the energy. [lightning emoji][rock&roll hand emoji] A few icebreaker warmups led into the rest of the evening as a series of exercises for creativity & spontaneity. Mental + physical. Best thing was no matter how "introverted", "shy", "awkward", or wtf ppl claimed to be, literally everyone magically came up w surprising shzz plus stories from their past to share w the group. Can life just be this way? read more

TheaterSports is such a fun format and BATS does it well--no need to be over-the-top goofy or gimmicky. Just good simple, delightful discovery on the moment. A super fun evening of spontaneous theater! read more

I've been to over 50 BATS shows and taken classes there for years. Both their shows and classes are awesome. Their shows are wildly entertaining and it's not an exaggeration to say their classes have changed my life. read more

I LOVE BATS IMPROV! BATS stands for Bay Area Theater Sports, and it is an organization that teaches improv classes, brings improv skills to work places and schools, and gives live performances every Friday and Saturday night at their theater in Fort Mason. I have taken many classes at BATS and from the members of their outstanding troupe of improvisers (shouts out to Dave and Zoe), and spent many happy Friday and Saturday evenings watching them work their magic in the Bayfront Theatre. They specialize in long-form improv - at least once a week they do one two-hour (or sometimes two one-hour) fully improvised productions - including musicals! - which allow for plot and character development and very satisfying resolutions. They are masters of their craft, and though I've been to literally hundreds of these long-form shows, I have never left unimpressed. Sadly, as with many performing arts groups and non-profit educators, the pandemic is tough on them. Unbowed, they were game to (very publicly) risk failure (woo hoo) trying a new format, live and totally improvised, as always. They have started live-streaming shows for free on Friday and Saturday nights. This past Friday night's performance - a full length Murder Mystery - was AMAZING! You can watch it on their website. They are also offering virtual classes during the quarantine. For upcoming classes and performances (and to DONATE!) you can check their website at Improv.org. read more

BATS is the best! I've been to two improv shows now and they're a riot. Clean theatre space, great prices on performances. My friends and I went here for my bachelorette party last night and the cast of players didn't disappoint! I've also taken two weekend-long improv intensives with Ken, Zoe, Rebecca and Basel, and they were fantastic. Such a fun time full of learning, encouragement, getting out of your comfort zone and thinking outside the box. Try out a class. Go to a performance. No matter what you do, you're in for a great and memorable time! read more

Amazing show ! So much talent! Improv at its best: Rafe, Regina,Lisa and Rebecca were so funny: Family sitting next to us said it was their 10th show in 2 years! Can't wait for the show. read more

I was having a bad day and my bf surprised me with a improv show. I came here not knowing what to expect. The night I went, it was a Friday and they were having "Theatre sports". Two teams compete with each other for the audience's vote, the team that has the most points move on to the next round. The last team standing wins theatre sports. I have to say the two teams I went to see was pretty funny but there was moments of awkwardness (which is expected when you Improv), overall still funny. There was a elderly gentleman that sat behind me and didn't get this show and was speaking so loudly. It is a small place, so please be courteous of others that are trying to watch the show. There is also a lot of audience participation. My bf bought tickets on google deals for $10 bucks but tickets originally run from $17-20 which is still reasonable for a show. Also, another plus is that when you go on a Friday, you can grab dinner at Off The Grid (depending on OTG being open that night or not). I really recommend this if you want to go out but don't want to party or spend a lot of money. read more

BATS Improv - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

GOT FRIENDS VISITING? Take 'em to BATS. SOMEBODY'S BIRTHDAY BAT 'r up. Just want to get out on a Saturday night and enjoy a live event with real people at a price you can afford (with free parking? BATS, baby, BATS! Without a doubt the BEST VALUE in SF entertainment. Also, SOME OF THE FUNNIEST THEATER YOU WILL SEE. Ever. Anywhere. Gee, that's not hyperbole or anything, is it? Nope. Really. Not an exaggeration. This brilliant troupe of performers can create a full length musical on the spot--complete with songs and choreography! Their theater is comfortable and cozy in Fort Mason, which also means that there's plenty of free parking (where else can you say that in San Francisco?) And the classes--GREAT FUN--it's like being a kid again--and everybody needs to do that on a regular basis. ADD BATS TO YOUR LIST OF "GREAT THINGS TO DO IN SF!" (Note: while there are classes for kids, the theater doesn't recommend you bring kids to the regular evening shows which can be inappropriate for kids because they're so good for adults!) read more

I've been here 3 times over the course of the last 4-5 years and every time it's been amazing. Absolutely the best improv I've seen anywhere. The only bad thing is that it makes other improv not as much fun. Don't worry about being volunteered for anything, they only take willing volunteers on stage and don't make fun of the audience. You can participate as much or as little as you like. read more

BATS is one of my favorite places to go for a weekend performance - the improvised sketches take cues from the audience at the beginning of the show, and often build on the other characters, creating inside jokes within the performance. Some of the performances I have seen are so funny that my friend and I reference them years later! My friend actually was inspired to take the improv classes at BATS - and he had a lot of fun with it, and his participation in performances was really hilarious and enjoyable. He says that it really helped him with public speaking and reading cues from people - all good thing in the ongoing process of being a good communicator with other human-type critters. The performances are relatively inexpensive and loads of fun - check out a few or 10... laugh your ass off! read more

I was an improv virgin when I first came to BATS. No idea what to expect except for the fact that I might get a laugh or two. I was skeptical. Improv is not to be confused with comedy, the concept is amazing in the sense that everything is unscripted and the actors are literally flying by the seat of their pants. Once this concept is successfully grasped, you can really enjoy the talent on the stage. There are a couple types of shows: 1. Segmented small acts that usually work as individual skits, often inspired by the audience's opinion. OR 2. Full production type plays running about 2 hours long and completely improvised. I have been to both and although the shows are hit or miss in terms of the level of entertainment they are ALWAYS entertaining. I have laughed so hard that I can remember seeing the ceiling more than the actual stage. Other times I can just enjoy the talent which is equally as fun. In addition to shows I have taken a foundation class with BATS as well. Its defnitely a fun past time and a good skill to have! The improvisors at BATS are mostly open, happy and have really good energy. Its a nice intimate theater setting that I often enjoy bringing my friends to. Its not for everyone but EVERYONE has an opinion and it opens people's eyes to something that is more than just cheap laughs. Its hard to really get into exactly what I like about this group without confusing the layman non-improvisor, but definitely hold your opinions about improv until you see 2 or 3 shows! Sometimes the language and content can be less than child friendly so leave the kiddies with the sitter and enjoy a grown up, chill night in the city! read more

Had a great time at the Director's Cut even a couple Friday nights ago! Go to Off the Grid for dinner and end the night with some great laughs here. Basically, each comedian has a theme (Lifetime movies, dream careers, etc etc) and gets ideas for skits from audience shout-outs. The other comedians act out the chosen set-up, and the director can tell them what to say, change the lighting/music, set the tone, and give general direction to the scene. At the end the audience yells "Hit!" or "Flop!" and if it's a flop, the director has to do something embarrassing (eg call a loved one on stage and apologize for directing that horrible scene, yell out the window to apologize to all of SF, etc). As a HUGE fan of improv at UCB in NYC (a place where you're likely to see stars from 30 Rock, Community, Comedy Central, etc every week), I was really happy to find another improv theater here. This show was on a smaller scale with only 5 comedians and maybe not quite up to par with TV status comedians, but the theater is smaller and you get a more intimate show. ALso, I still laughed my guts out and will definitely come back! read more

Five gold stars to Bats Studio for being a super place to learn, play, challenge yourself and have fun in classes. I have been doing Improvisation for 2 years and found my way into a great class with Tim Orr. I highly recommend Tim for his skills in teaching advanced improvisation, his talent in teaching and performing!! and for his ability to make learning challenging and fun. Got to have both!, I have attended several great shows and recommend Zoe Galvez, Rafe Chase, Rebecca Poretsky, and Rebecca Stockly to mention a few. So get on the Improwave! and learn how to discover living in the moment, having fun and how to deepen relationships. You may also want to master personal issues such as shyness, mild anxiety and more. I am training this summer and encourage you to review the many wonderful classes and sign up for a life enhancing experience. I am hooked! Patrice read more

O YES. Best improv group in the city, I'd say. Check it out, shows are Fri and Saturday. Ever since I've discovered them I've been coming almost every week. Sure a hole in my wallet but theyre worth it. The cast members are the same, I mean there's a large group of them and they switch every few shows. Real talent. Something fun to do in alternative to a typical movie at the theater you know? read more

A fantastic evening of unexpected fun. I have never been to a live theatrical improv, and this was a pleasant surprise. If you like to laugh and have watched Whose Line is it with Drew Carey, this is similar. A fantastic evening of fun and laughs. Highly recommended for a unique experience. read more

BATS Improv - Bats Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

So sorry to write this review but I think BATS might need a little wake up call. My husband and I have been to BATS twice before albeit many years ago and we really enjoyed it. This time around not so much. The cast is mostly made up of middle aged actors and they seem a quite stale. Time for some new blood. read more

Saw 3 for All with Stephen, Rafe, and Tim. Absolutely hysterical. The short skits weren't that funny, but I loved the long improv segment where they made an hour long film based on a suggestion from the audience. These guys are total pros! This plus dinner would be a perfect date! read more

Bought a groupon here so we made it out on a Friday night. The show started off kinda weird - I didn't get where the improv came in because it just looked like the cast was just being weird and uncoordinated on stage. It was best when the cast asked for suggestions for locations, names, and actions because that made it clear that the cast was improvising. The cast we saw did pretty well, but I would say that none of them have singing voices at ALLL. All in all, we had a good time and enjoyed ourselves. The musicians were awesome and lots of laughs were had. And PS it's across the way from Greens which is Amaaaazing! And bring a coat - it's cold at Fort Mason! read more

Signed up for their intro to improv twice. Both classes were cancelled at the last minute with no explanation.

My favorite place for improv! A live theater destination in San Francisco for over 35 years. Shows are Friday and Saturday nights and super entertaining! read more

I saw my first live improv show here last Saturday night and it was fun! It was a battle between SF and LA Improv threesomes, and the LA team was the returning champion. Hubby and I had to admit, the LA team was a little better, though all 6 performers were talented, clever, and funny. And before you start throwing rotten tomatoes at me for favoring the team from Southern California, I'll mention that I was born in SF. I just call it like I see it. The least fun skits were the audience participation - best to leave it to the professionals. They are so much better without us, especially the drunky-drunks. Really. Overall, it was a fun time. Highly recommended. read more

If you're looking for Improv theater in San Francisco then look no further. BATS Improv are the pros and keep you thoroughly entertained. The theater space is quite small but you'll feel cozy and at ease when you walk in those stage doors. The staff greats you with warm smiles as they take your money because the price is reasonable and the show will be sure to keep you laughing. You can never guarantee the amount of laughs to be had as each show is entirely unscripted and audience participation is needed. read more

I took Improv Foundation 1 here and it's one of the most fun things I've done. In the 6 classes, you will not be able to perform on stage, but you do exercises to stay and focus on the present moment and not think too far ahead. It's like being a kid again. Our instructors Rebecca and Laura were awesome - I will totally take it again! You can be all levels of shy and still take this class. You won't regret it. 1st rule of Improv: Say Yes! 2nd rule of Improv: Dare to be boring The most important rule of improv is to make your partner look good. These are also true in life and in relationships. read more

I just started my first class and all I have to say is...where else in life can you hoot like a wild jungle animal, swagger around like Quasimoto, and make up several crazy stories on the fly, all within the span of 3 hours? The classes offer an opportunity to let your imagination run wild--uninhibited & uncensored, while working with concepts such as leadership, communication, giving & receiving, making others look good, and the sharing of power. Besides, it's hilarious to hear the things that come out of others'--and your own--mouths. A diverse group of students & great instructors in a super fun & supportive environment that seems to bring out the best in everyone. Some rules of BATS Improv: 1) Accept all offers 2) Just say it 3) Make others look good 4) Have fun read more

I am almost wanted to cry when my last class ended. But then we exchanged emails and then it was ok again. Pros: Inexpensive classes, great improv shows, dedicated improv teachers, good environments Cons: Fear of letting yourself come out? This ain't the place. Also, it's not really a place to improve communication skills, but rather agility and spontaneity. Humor is not about being witty as I learned at BATS Improv. It's about working with others, building on top of people's suggestions, playing to the audience. It's about being spontaneous and...letting go. At work, someone suggested to take improv classes as a way to develop and improve my communication skills. So I thought, why not...if work is paying for it. Of course, strangely enough, this put in a very different mindset. My fellow classmates all came to improv class not because of any work-related goals but for personal development. Some thought they were the "life of the party" and wanted to take something for kicks. Others wanted to be less shy socially. It's all of the above for me, but I was tired of just hanging with friends and wanted something productive. I took Foundation 1 which was very reasonably priced for $249 with Rich Cox. During the range of the classes, we built upon skills we learned, playing really fun games and other exercises. Unlike many instructors, Rich focused on building a trusting environment. Even with the creative writing class I took, it was difficult not to judge others as the "loud one" or the "annoying one". In BATS Improv, Rich successfully created an environment where we felt safe and could depend on others even if we were such a diverse set of people. We played games like passing a sound around a circle, miming certain actions (like making a salad), building upon suggestions (like if someone is a tree, you can come in to be an acorn), guessing games (like charades) and others. I personally disliked the ball game (keeping the ball in the air), but the play we had in the class allowed us to be kids again...and yet really learn how to apply those skills to real life. From the class, I gained a lot of new friends. We're trying to go to karaoke together every few weeks to play upon our newly found improv skills. With each class, you get a free pass to a show. I went to the Theatresports format with five other non-classmates. All of them enjoyed the show tremendously especially the bf who got to be on stage (he thinks he's a natural at improv but wait until I convince him to take a class!) Quite naturally, it was an amazing experience during the 6 weeks (one class each week). Annoyingly, the only way to get there from downtown is the 30x bus, but there's always someone willing to drive you back. Don't worry about not buying the tickets early enough. I wish it was a show that would sell out, but it doesn't. I am going to another show soon since the bf got another pass for being a participant! I have to say, it's funny...I don't know what my classmates do for a living. I don't know what they like or dislike. But what I do know is how they will perform on stage, their spontaneity. It's the strangest relationship I have built but it overcomes many barriers we face every day. read more

BATS is one of those organizations that give me pause whenever I consider leaving the Bay Area. Honestly. There's just no other place like it in the country, I'm convinced. The shows are consistently funny, and I promise it will be a much more memorable evening than spending $10-15 on that same old boring movie & popcorn. Nearly every Friday through Sunday night of the year you can pick up a live show here that will knock your socks off. I especially recommend "True Fiction" and "Three For All" as two of my favorites. But the thing that really gives me the warm fuzzies about BATS is the classes they hold. I've attended quite a few, plus one "summer school" series with Keith Johnstone, their mentor and inspiration. It was phenomenal. Something about improv makes me a better, more positive, more human human, and I want to do nothing else but improv all the time. As much fun as watching it is, doing it is about a thousand times funner. I've been taught by Barbara Scott, Diane Rachel and Zoe Galvez, and they were all excellent coaches and generous and funny human beings. Oh -- and they've been voted Best of the Bay for many years -- AND the classes have often been voted best place to meet someone if you are single. read more

If you are looking for a hot date spot than look no further. The improv groups here are amazing. We came during their "one and done" tournement that they have been having for the past few months. Each night they had two bay area groups compete against each other and the audience decided who won. The skits that these people were able to come up with on the spot was amazing. The space is a little small and can get a little hot. They have a small snack area that sells small snacks and beer. The don't seem to strict on bringing outside food in. A few people brought stuff in from Off the Grid. All in all, everybody should come and visit this place. read more

For as many classes as I've taken at BATS and the several shows I've seen there, I can't believe I've never reviewed it here on Yelp! Every show you see is entirely made up, often using suggestions from the audience. Nothing is scripted. Nothing is planned. There may be a format for the evening, but you can go each week and will never see the same thing twice. Many (all?) of the performers also teach, and this is where the magic happens. My time taken improv classes has always been well spent. I've met friends, had fun, learned things from creative games to play on road trips to skills that have helped me with personal relationships and work. read more

Honestly, I didn't know what to expect while coming. After dinner, we decided to make our way over. I think that there's a parking lot outside of the gates and one inside. I believe you can park in either one and they're both free. Possibly. Anyways, we had gotten tickets to the murder mystery, "A Very Merry Murder Mystery". It was really funny based on the things people shouted out at the start of the show. I know it's all improv so every time someone sees the play, it would be different which is great. I wonder if they draw who the killer is too - probably. I definitely was laughing the entire time. So many great jokes and characters. Each of the actors were playing 2 or 3 characters at a time so by the end of it, it was hilarious to try and figure out who actually murdered the character. Great theatre and I hope to come back and watch more and different, or even the same show! read more

As an improviser, it's great to see shows as well executed as this. A friend suggested that I see a BATS show while in San Francisco, and I'm glad he did. My girlfriend and I stopped by for the Family Drama (an improvised three-act Thanksgiving play) and laughed all the way through. The performers were a riot, and they portrayed realistic people in a story that was engaging at all times. All of this to say that I'd make the 2 hour trek back to San Francisco just to see another BATS show. These guys rocked it. read more

The first time I went to BATS I was really skeptical. "Come on," she said,"it'll be fun. It's called 'Rock & Roll Theatre Sports' - two teams dressed up as rock stars compete in different improv games." "Hmm, well that could be fun," I said. ["Hmm, this is gonna be seriously excruciating," I thought.] "Here," she said, "take a look at their website, doesn't that look like fun?" It was full of kooky-looking people doing madcap shenanigans. "Sure, what the hell, I'll go." ["Oh god, what kind of water torture did I sign myself up for?"] Needless to say (given my 5 star rating), I had a surprisingly good time and I've been back several times since because it is such a good deal for a huge amount of entertainment. The improv performers have balls of steel and deserve serious props for the guts it takes to do improv of this type in front of live audiences. Yes, the pictures look dorky as hell and would cause many like myself to have worries going in, but if you aren't in tears by the end of the night from laughing you must have a heart of coal. read more

FANTASTIC! Probably the best improv show I've ever seen, and I've been to a few Second City Shows in Chicago. We got tickets on GoldStar for the Shakespeare show that were comp and only cost $10 for two people (including a $5pp service charge). I had absolutely no expectations going in, but the performers were some of the best I've ever seen (5-15+ years of experience). I was blown away by how they were able to construct an entire play, complete with your classic Shakespearian themes, crazy plots and dialogue and tie up almost all of the loose ends when it ended. One of my favorite parts was the question-and-answer at the end, where the performers come out on stage and answer all of your burning questions about the show. There is no preparation, no planning during intermission, just pure talent! Amazing. Definitely wanting to come back and see their other shows. Outside they sell a few cookies, beer/wine ($5) and Peets drip coffee ($3), cash only. If you park slightly outside the gates at the Marina, its free! read more

Awesome way to end a week - with laughter thanks to actors and actresses at BATS! Came here for a Yelp event on a Friday evening. I've been to a couple of improv shows (not at BATS) and this has been the best one so far! Two teams of 3 rotated to improvise different scenes and were awarded points by 3 judges. The show lasted an hour-ish, with a 10 minute intermission. Most of the scenes were easy to understand and also relate to. Lots of audience interaction, from asking for ideas for scenes, or getting people to act on stage. I also really liked that everyone was just having a good time, not really treating it as a competition. Will come back if I get a chance! read more

We saw a murder mystery improve show and it was fantastic! You can really tell an experienced improv actor. The show had a story line, distinct characters complete with unique accents, and a conclusive ending. Very engaging show and it was amazing what the actors did with no set. Laughed the whole way through. We really enjoyed our time here and will for sure be back many more times in the future. It was worth the $20 per ticket too. Would I bring out of town friends to BATS to show then SF? Yup. Oh, the only con was that they were out of wine. But ya know, the show was so good - alcohol was unnecessary. read more

If you ever need a pick me up and a good reason to laugh, check out a BATS Improv show. I've been to a handful of their shows, and I crack up every time. The format is accessible for many humor preferences (from dark, to geeky, to just plain slap stick). The company is large enough that you will see a variety of styles and approaches. These guys just have a great chemistry. I have a particular soft spot for their Theatresports shows, but I am sure that just about anyone who loves to laugh can find something they love about BATS. You will find their ticket prices to be very reasonable, and they often offer discounts for students. Keep it super duper uber fun, BATS. Thanks. read more

There are two parts to this review, the first being the Friday/Saturday Night shows, and the second being the Improv classes. Here's the summary of both experiences: Must do, Stomach cramping from laughter, Tears of joy, an Escape from the chaos of life. The Friday/Saturday Shows: The weekend shows are hilarious, they have different themes and styles every week, but I've never been to one that wasn't hilarious and had me rolling non-stop throughout. You are guaranteed to get a great ab workout from all the laughter. The theatre is quaint, and has a nice feel to it. The actors are amazing and come up with some of the funniest characters and stories. Prices are reasonable, its must cheaper to buy it online so if you can plan ahead buy your tickets online! Improv Classes: I'm guessing you're saying to yourself, "no way can I do this," "I'm not funny," --- WELL, that's what I said for 2 years, then I manned up and finally took the class. It was nothing like I expected, the first few weeks were cake. The structure is such that it builds a comfortable environment with games first and then eases you into the concepts of Improv. Fast forward 18 months, I'm still taking classes at BATS and I love it (its something I look forward to every week and its an escape from the chaotic world we live in), I've met some amazingly cool people and built some great friendships. Don't be scared, sign up for the intro class, life's too short, enjoy it! "Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face." read more

Best show in town. These guys are the masters of improv. I saw them when I first came to the city and have been back a half dozen times since. I also took their Improve 101 course and learned to "yes and..." On Fridays, there's Off the Grid food trucks outside the theater. Makes a good two spectacle date night. read more