seattletimes.com seattlepi.com Classifieds NWsource Rentals Homes Autos Jobs
The Seattle Times Company jobs
NWsource People's Picks 2005 you know what's best.
2005 winners
You liked, you voted, they won.
RESTAURANTS ENTERTAINMENT & NIGHTLIFE SHOPPING & SERVICES NWSOURCE HOME
Favorite:
Fringe theater company
Unexpected Productions

For more than two decades, improvisational comedy troupe Unexpected Productions has held court in the Market Theater, taking suggestions from audience members and spinning them, as the kids say, into comedy gold. The funny thing is, it is funny; UP rarely lets a sketch go on past its expiration date or reaches for cheap laughs or raunchy humor. The troupe's comedy is smart, fast-moving and -- true to its name -- wholly unexpected.

That said, even the members of UP would no doubt tell you to check out the many wonderful theater companies that didn't get as many votes -- Theater Schmeater, Empty Space, Mirror Stage and more. If you need an alternative to Agatha Christie dinner theater or overblown productions of "Hello, Dolly!" with faded TV stars in the lead roles, you can always turn to these uncompromising companies.

  1. Other top finalists
  2. Annex Theatre
  3. Capitol Hill Arts Center
  4. Empty Space Theatre
  5. Jet City Improv
  6. Live Girls! Theater
  7. Macha Monkey Productions
  8. Mirror Stage Company
  9. Open Circle Theater
  10. Theater Schmeater
  • advertising