Stone Soup Improv

I have never seen live Improv and it was incredibly impressive.I hosted a small client event at Stone Soup Improv and I reached out to folks who attended after the fact and everyone loved it. So this review is only a single review, but there is research from about 20 other people behind it. Everyone I asked would give Stone Soup Improv 4 or 5 stars.My cheeks hurt until Tuesday following the show. Even the skits that bombed were funny.An absolutely great time. I would certainly recommend Stone Soup to anyone who is wavering.

Improv is hard, man. I know that from attempting it at a couple of workshops within the last year, during which I bounced from the high of getting something really right to the low of feeling the trickle of yolk on my face. Which is why I applaud the six brave souls of Stone Soup Improv, who hit way more highs than lows in the show I attended last night.Stone Soup consists of three guys and three gals, though gender was highly irrelevant during their entertaining romp of a show in which roles were often reversed to strong comedic effect. Female performers played mustachioed bartenders in a Western and a stalking boyfriend in a Paris nightclub. Blokes were suddenly aged mothers and passionate daughters in scenes from a Spanish soap opera. Mind you, this show had much more than gender reversal going on: there were talking wristwatches, two-faced customer service representatives, kung fu masters, bullfighting dentists, world knitting championship competitors - all conjured up out of the imagination of the performers, with seeds planted by the audience. There were memorable moments sprinkled throughout the show, my favorites being the poetry slams performed by Jonathan Stern and Dan Rosenthal (about dish soap lingerie and eagle scouts, respectively) and the song composed on the spot by the magnetic Jennifer Simmons built around random words lobbed in by the audience (you try coming up with lyrics on the theme of Nantucket, including the words pterodactyl, eukelele and fink). And even occasionally less successful skits became classic - when Ryan Fuller turned to Stern in the middle of one scene and said " I'm lost", the audience roared, sharing Fuller's confusion. A couple of skits fell a little flat, but that's the beauty of improv - you shut the scene down, wipe the slate, and start over. In the interests of full disclosure, I should make it known that I work with three members of this cast. Regardless though, I'd recommend this show to anyone looking for a night of unpredictable comedy where just about anything can happen.

Having lived across the street from Second City in Chicago for two years, I must say I was missing my improv after moving to San Francisco. Luckily, some friends suggested I check out Stone Soup Improv in Oakland. Definitely worth the trip over the bridge (especially if you combine it with dinner at one of the great Rock Ridge restaurants)!The night I went, two of the regular troup members weren't performing, so I'm definitely planning to go back and for another show soon. They perform the first Saturday of every month -- so I'll have another chance soon.

This was my first time at an improv show and it was a blast! Everyone in the audience got really into the show (there was lots of audience participation and at one point two audience members volunteered to go on stage and become part of the act - it turned into one of the funniest bits)! It's also nice that they solicit the audience for suggestions on the spot and some of mine made it in!The improv members all seemed like they were enjoying themselves too, and who doesn't appreciate the opportunity to take a picture with a giant carrot after the show?The show is a lot of fun, is great for all audiences, and definitely does not break the bank! If you're looking for something to do by yourself or with some friends and enjoy comedy but don't want to trek over to the city, why not give Stone Soup Improv a shot?

I wanted to leave a more recent review for this page. I was impressed by the reviews here on Yelp, but was kind of nervous because the last review was from 2013. But let me tell you, I was not disappointed!I booked for a party of 30 (we were all college students), and they were willing to accommodate seating for our group. From the very beginning, all of us were cracking up. The humor was clean/appropriate. And they were a talented, energetic, fun, and welcoming cast and crew.Definitely worth a visit if you are in the Bay Area!

Went to see their two hour improv comedy skit on a Saturday night. The first hour was strong, think I may have been crying from laughing so hard.Second hour was funny, but a little bland here and there (they did some singing, which I'm not a big fan of.) Overall, they definitely did more than I could have done! These guys are pretty funny, and keep coming with lots of good, innovative material!I think they do a routine every first saturday of the month and it was only $10/person!

Three words:Fun Fun Fun!Went last night with friends to see someone we know in the troupe, but the experience would have been worth it even if we had walked in off the street! We will definitely go again. Live performances,audience participation singing (great singing), dancing (they are NOT dancers though!) and comedy up the ying yang.

They do shows at the Temescal Arts Center on the first Saturday of each month. The cover is $6 for students/seniors and $9 for everyone else.When I went there were four performers - two gentleman and two ladies. They performed various, unrehearsed 2-3 minute skits througout the night. Some were funnier than others, but on the whole it was very entertaining. I have definitely seen better improv, but also paid much more. For the price and location (very close to my apartment), I would definitely recommend for those looking for something fun to do on a Saturday night in Oakland.

I really have enjoyed this group's shows the two times I've gone. They've been hilarious!The cast plays off each other wonderfully well, and even if someone makes a mistake, that becomes part of the comedy or a running gag. This is a sign of some good comedians. Plus, there are some very talented vocalists in the group, and doing improv comedic singing is a particular talent that several of the individuals pull off well.So yeah, they're awesome. Go see 'em.

I have been seeing them perform for years, and enjoy them every time. The troupe has been working together for years, blend with each other very well, and they are very funny.