National Comedy Theatre’s Mainstage is San Diego’s longest-running improv comedy show, performed by a professional cast every Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM.
Our professional cast creates a complete 100-minute comedy show live from audience suggestions. There is no script and no predetermined outcome, so every performance is completely different.
National Comedy Theatre opened in San Diego in 1999 and has grown into the longest-running show in the city’s history, with more than 7,000 live performances for San Diego audiences and visitors.
Over more than two decades, National Comedy Theatre has built a professional company known for fast-paced, audience-driven improv comedy and a consistent live-show experience. NCT has also been recognized repeatedly by San Diego publications and the City of San Diego for its performances, longevity and contributions to the community.
See Awards & PressNothing is written in advance. Every National Comedy Theatre Mainstage performance begins with suggestions from the audience and becomes a comedy show created entirely in the moment.
Throughout the show, the performers ask the audience for words, ideas and other suggestions that become the inspiration for scenes and games.
The cast invents the characters, dialogue and comedy onstage as it happens. There is no script and the performers don't know what they'll be doing until the show begins.
Because the audience and suggestions change every night, no two performances can ever be the same. What happens at your show happens only once.
National Comedy Theatre’s Mainstage is performed by a professional cast with extensive improv training and live performance experience.
NCT performers train extensively before joining the Mainstage company and continue developing their skills through regular rehearsal and live performance. The result is a fast, confident show built around strong ensemble work, quick thinking and years of experience creating comedy in front of a live audience.
Many NCT cast members have performed with the company for years, helping create the consistency and chemistry that have defined the show since 1999.
Meet the Professional CastNational Comedy Theatre performers have taken NCT’s improv comedy far beyond San Diego, performing for audiences across the United States and around the world.
National Comedy Theatre has participated in numerous overseas tours through Armed Forces Entertainment, bringing live improv comedy to U.S. service members stationed far from home.
NCT performers have traveled throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa, performing in locations including Iraq, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Bahrain and Djibouti.
National Comedy Theatre’s Mainstage performs every Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM at our theatre in San Diego. Every performance is live, unscripted and created from audience suggestions.
Coming to your first Mainstage show? Here are a few things to know before you join us at National Comedy Theatre in San Diego.
Expect a fast-paced live comedy show created entirely in the moment. The professional Mainstage cast uses audience suggestions to inspire scenes, characters and games, so the performers — and the audience — never know exactly what is going to happen next.
Yes. There is no script or predetermined storyline. Audience suggestions provide the inspiration for the performance, and the cast creates the comedy live onstage. Because the suggestions change every night, every Mainstage performance is different.
No. Audience members are invited to call out suggestions, but participating is completely optional. You can offer as many ideas as you like — or simply sit back, watch the show and enjoy what everyone else comes up with.
The Mainstage show is appropriate for all audiences. However, because of the length and style of the performance, we generally recommend the show for ages 12 and up.
Mainstage performances run approximately 100 minutes. Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7:30 PM.
Mainstage performs every Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM at National Comedy Theatre, 3717 India St., San Diego, CA 92103. Check the current show calendar for upcoming performances and ticket availability.
Join National Comedy Theatre’s professional cast for a completely unscripted Mainstage performance created live from audience suggestions. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM.
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