Voted "Best-of-the-Bay" in San Francisco Bay Guardian's Annual Reader's Poll
1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004

The San Francisco Bay Guardian
Best Of The Bay

Best Comedy Troupe — July 28, 2004

There's no medicine like laughter and nothing quite as impressive, theatrically speaking, as improvisation. BATS Improv hands you both on a silver platter. Since 1986, BATS has provided both a training ground and a center for improv performance. The company specializes in full-length storytelling and can be seen performing several times a week. Bayfront Theater, Fort Mason Center, Bldg. B, Marina at Laguna, San Francisco. (415) 474-8935. www.improv.org.

Best Improv Company — June 30, 2003

Unlike most improvisation warm-ups and comedy sketches, works by Bay Area Theatresports are full-length plays created entirely on the fly. And kudos to the players and producers for keeping live theater based in financial reality with ticket prices in $12-to-$15 range. (415) 474-8935.

Best Improv Company — August 6, 2001

BATS, a.k.a. Bay Area Theatresports, a.k.a. the Bay Area's best improv group for the fourth year in a row, according to our readers, represents spontaneous hilarity at its finest. Not many performers can, on request, make you laugh until you're in pain as they depict, say, an 11th-century knight impaling your brother on Martha's Vineyard for having raped you, but these intrepid improvisers are up to the task. And for those envious of their superpowers, BATS conducts improv workshops to boot.

Best Improv Company — August 5, 2000

For the third year in a row, local audiences continue to choose the spirited Bay Area Theatresports as their destination for improvised theatre. A series of shows, including improvised musicals, take place throughout the summer, and ongoing improv workshops are also offered. Bayfront Theater, Fort Mason Center, Bldg. B, Marina at Laguna, S.F. (415) 474-8935.

Best Improv Company — August 3, 1999

Improv is a decidedly hit-and-miss affair, but Bay Area Theatresports just keeps on swinging - and audiences keep on laughing. You want "Improv-vised Shakespeare"? "That Time on the Month Again" (all female improv, of course)? BATS delivers, Bay Front Theatre, Fort Mason Bldg. B. Marina at Laguna, S.F. (415) 474-8935.

Best Improv Company — July 29, 1998

Turning improv into a competitive sport, Bay Area Theatresports performances at Fort Mason pit groups of students of the Keith Johnstone method of improv against one another with hilarious results. Audience members won't be embarrassed for the performers even when they have an off night, because it's all done in a spirit of good fun, with loads of zany antics. The improvers look like they're having such a good time, you might be tempted to take a class or two yourself.