Please join us as we welcome the Morganton Improv Troupe to our new theater on Saturday, August 9 at 7PM.
Admission is free; Donations are welcome and greatly appreciated.
Beer and Wine will be available.
Morganton Improv was formed in March 2018 by performer Abigail Taylor, who invited the community to a free weekly improv workshop through a local newspaper article. This early version of the group brought together around 20 locals with varying levels of performing experience to learn and explore improv in a judgment-free zone. A few months later, the group evolved into a performing troupe and sketch comedy collective with about ten core members, calling themselves the Digital Pigeons.
They began performing monthly at local bars, starting with free Beer & Improv nights at Brown Mountain Bottleworks in downtown Morganton. From there, they expanded to bars and venues across Morganton, Valdese, and Lenoir, holding a few short-term monthly residencies and performing multiple years at the Historic Morganton Festival.
In 2019, Morganton Improv hosted the Foothills Comedy Festival at the Old Rock School in Valdese, featuring improv groups, sketch comics, and award-winning stand-up comedians from across the Carolinas. That same year, they wrote and produced a comedy sketch film titled Witch Hazing, which was featured in the Asheville Comedy Short Film Festival and won a Storytelling Award at the MACA Micropolitan Film Fest. They also launched F.I.X. (Free Improv Exercise), a free summer Saturday morning “workout” group on the Downtown Morganton Square designed, in their words, “for silly people who f*cking hate working out.” Additionally, they performed at TEDx Hickory 2019.
In 2022, the group expanded into youth programming, offering a summer improv camp and youth improv classes, led by troupe member Tracy Gratton Scott. Most recently, member and improv teacher Chet Wagner—who brings nearly 20 years of experience—has led a series of improvisational classes for adults, teaching core concepts like “Yes, and,” active listening, and ensemble work.
Morganton Improv’s mission is to not only create engaging entertainment and education opportunities for the public, but also to provide a welcoming space for aspiring improvisers and comedians in the region. The Morganton Improv Company players include founder Abigail Taylor, Beth Forsythe, Chet Wagner, Tracy Gratton Scott, Trevor Carriere, and Paul Gratton.