- Burn Manhattan
Burn Manhattan was a critically acclaimed experimental underground
improvisational comedy troupe that performed inNew York City from 1996 to 2000.History
Burn Manhattan was founded in the spring of 1996 in New York City. It's founding members included
Matt Higgins ,Jay Rhoderick ,Kevin Scott ,Todd Stashwick andJohn Thies . The troupe was formed in collaboration with directorShira Piven . The troupe blended the improvisation traditions from many sources. Todd Stashwick and John Thies were alumni of Chicago'sThe Second City . Kevin Scott was a founding member of the experimentalChicago based improvistional troupeBang Bang (Whose members included acclaimed playwrightsTracy Letts andGreg Kotis actors Michael Shannon, Bob Fisher andPaul Dillon ). Matt Higgins and Jay Rhoderick were part of the New York underground comedy scene. Shira Piven was part of ThePiven Theater Workshop , founded by her parentsByrne Piven andJoyce Piven . Former Second City Musical directorMark Levenson came on board and the core troupe of Burn Manhattan was solidified.Throughout the years swing performers were brought in. They included Kate Walsh, who was a regular cast member in their first year,Andy Newberg ,Jeremy Piven andSpencer Kayden .The troupe primarily performed in Manhattan's lower East Side, slowly building their reputation by performing on dark nights at other theaters. Venues included The House of Candles, Nada, Nada45, The Greenwhich Street Theater, The Chelsea Playhouse andThe Kitchen .In 2000 Matt Higgins, Jay Rhoderick and Kevin Scott formed Centralia which went on to create the musical Generica
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