THE ORPHANS must fend for themselves with nothing but 1 meager audience suggestion, a unique method of improvisation, and each other. THE ORPHANS create a spontaneous performance by using a form of highly theatrical and extremely physical long form improvisation. At the start of each show, the audience supplies a one-word suggestion. That's all they'll ask you for. Then, for the next hour, THE ORPHANS do all the work--using this word as a thematic launching point from which characters and scenes are created. The subject matter is a surreal, combined product of their own moods and thoughts as well as current events, politics and audience reaction. The end result is a long form improvisation that's often comedic, sometimes serious, frequently fascinating and always spontaneous: THE ORPHANS won't stop until somebody takes them home.

THE ORPHANS ARE an improv comedy troupe formed in 1999 under the direction of the late Dr. Martin de Maat, Artistic Director of The Second City. The cast, which retains 90% of its founding members, have trained and performed with improv comedy institutions including The Groundlings, Upright Citizens Brigade and The Second City. Their combined stage time, friendship and tenacity produces a rare group mindset--making every show both spontaneous and intuitive.

They're directed by John Thies,
formerly of Chicago's The Second City &
the NYC improv troupe Burn Manhattan.

"A theatrical rollercoaster. . .you never know whatâs going to happen next!"
Carlo Fiorletta, Stage Press Weekly . . July 11, 2002

". . .one of NYC's top improvisation troupes. . .truly off-the-cuff and always hilarious."
Langdon Hall, DigitalCity.com, 2002