Before the Coalition Theater was established at its current home in the RVA Arts District, the founders debuted in June of 2009 as the Richmond Comedy Coalition. Their first show, “Shut Up and Laugh,” at Art6 Gallery in downtown RVA featured the RCC’s original company members performing longform improv comedy.
Their energetic vibe and playful shows gained a following, and soon the Coalition booked a monthly show at Gallery5, a space known for showcasing local bands and burlesque alongside local art. Managing Director Katie Holcomb likes to point out that this was very punk rock of them, however the rest of the team wishes she wouldn’t.
The Coalition’s goal has always been to produce good, funny, smart shows that highlight longform improv comedy and to nurture the thriving and ever-growing comedy arts community in RVA.
By 2010, the Coalition saw a need for a physical space for artists to learn and thrive, so they founded The Coalition Training Center. This step grew the community exponentially and by 2013, the Coalition opened their own performance and training space in the heart of the Arts District after successfully funding a Kickstarter campaign.
In 2014, the Coalition restructured operations as a 501c(3) organization called Broad Street Comedy. From there, they began to develop programming and collaborative relationships with other organizations with the goal of enriching our community through the application of the principles of improv comedy. Over the years the Coalition has created collaborative programming with Art180, Higher Achievement, Richmond Young Writers, ASAP (Armed Services Arts Program), Side By Side (formerly ROSMY), CancerLINC, and are always on the lookout for new ways to connect with our community through comedic arts.
The Coalition Theater is an ever-growing hub for the comedic arts in Richmond, and we want Richmond to be seen as a destination for comedy on the East Coast and beyond.
