OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION

At Kismet Improv, we aim to create a theater environment that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and promotes belonging for everyone—audiences, students, performers, teachers, and coaches. We are committed to dismantling exclusionary and oppressive historical legacies in improv comedy, and recognize the vital roles of both management and the community in this work.
 

Core Principles

At its core, our framework champions equal opportunity for all, fostering an environment where everyone feels welcome and belongs. This is crucial for learning and embodies improv principles, ensuring all on-stage participants, regardless of experience, are on equal footing. All interactions must be respectful and fair.
 

On-Stage Conduct and Audience Trust

Kismet on-stage conduct prioritizes building trust with the audience through inclusive and thoughtful comedy. We do not support comedy that is designed purely to shock or that isolates parts of our audience. For our theater to thrive and deliver truly compelling performances, we need our audience to feel secure and engaged.
 

Dismantling Historical Legacies

We recognize that historically, the landscape of improv comedy has been shaped by white people, mostly white men, which created an exclusive environment and an implicitly, and at times explicitly, discriminatory culture. This has had othering and disempowering effects upon racial and ethnic minority groups, diverse gender identities and expressions, sexualities, and people with disabilities. At Kismet, we are committed to dismantling this legacy by building an improv community that is genuinely equitable, welcoming, and empowering for every voice.
 

Curriculum and Instruction

Our curriculum integrates objectives for inclusive behavior, ensuring all students learn and practice inclusive improvisation. Instructors guide this process with feedback and discussions, continually learning from diverse communities. Students acquire tools for promoting diversity and inclusivity, while Instructor Enablement resources support teachers in managing classrooms and delivering the curriculum effectively.
 

Scholarships

Kismet Improv offers scholarships to foster a more diverse and inclusive improv community. Our goal is to make improv education accessible to those facing financial barriers or who are historically underrepresented in live comedy.
 

Our Representation Scholarship (100%) specifically supports individuals from marginalized groups, including people of color, those with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, those from non-English speaking backgrounds, individuals over 50, and those with non-traditional educational or career paths. We also offer Financial Aid (50%) to help students facing financial challenges continue their improv journey.

For more information and to apply, please visit www.kismetimprov.com/scholarships.