The Compass Players
1955-1958 (Chicago); 1957-1962 (St. Louis, NY revivals) · Chicago, IL; St. Louis, MO; Hyannis, MA; New York, NY
Also known as Compass Theatre, The Compass
The first improvisational theater in America, seeded Second City, Nichols & May, and every long-form tradition that followed.
Known for
- Opened July 8, 1955 at a storefront at 1152 E. 55th Street near the University of Chicago, considered the first improvisational theater in the US.
- Founded by David Shepherd (a leftist theater-maker who wanted a 'people's theatre') and Paul Sills (son of Viola Spolin).
- Used Viola Spolin's Theater Games as the training methodology, the foundational technique of all American improv.
- Performed 'Scenarios', scripted narrative outlines the cast improvised around, along with 'Living Newspaper' and full improv scenes from audience suggestions.
- St. Louis incarnation at the Crystal Palace (run by Theodore J. Flicker) is where Flicker, Nichols, May and Del Close hashed out the 'Westminster Place Kitchen Rules', the first codified principles of improv scenework.
- Alumni include Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Shelley Berman, Severn Darden, Barbara Harris, Del Close, Alan Alda, Andrew Duncan, Theodore Flicker.
Connected to
Notes
The Compass-to-Second City lineage is the spine of American improv. Shepherd and Sills split over direction, Sills wanted a polished comedy revue, Shepherd wanted a politically engaged people’s theater. Sills went on to co-found Second City in 1959 with Bernie Sahlins and Howard Alk; Shepherd moved on and eventually co-founded the ImprovOlympic concept with Charna Halpern in the 1980s. The St. Louis era under Flicker is underrated, it’s where Del Close first connected with the Compass methodology he would spend the rest of his life refining.