A HISTORY OF THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION

Industrial was formed in July 2005 by Michael McFarland after his departure from another local group, The Ninjas, earlier in the year. The goal of Industrial was to form a creative-collective with no obvious leader and a communal form of management for running a troupe.

The initial line-up for the group consisted of Michael McFarland, Greg Maughan, Erin Weems, Brandon Libby, Mike Connor and Jessi Snow. Half the group had longform improvisation experience. Preparation for actual performances occurred during the summer and Industrial Improv premiered their unique style of improvisation in Philadelphia on September 11, 2005.

During the groups tenure they added members Kevin Thone and Akshay Sateesh, and lost members Michael McFarland (to New York City), Kevin Thone (to Belgium), and Erin Weems (to a small, needy child).

Industrial's profile rose rapidly as they performed at the inaugural Philadelphia Improv Festival (PHIF) in November 2005, The Washington Improv Theater the following month, and made their New York City premier at the Magnet Theater in January 2006. Also in 2006, they headlined two nights of the Rhode Island College Comedy Festival and performed at the Providence Improv Festival, The Del Close Improv Marathon at New York's Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and the Philadelphia Fringe Festival.

2007 saw Industrial become an anchor team for the emerging Philly Improv Theater (PHIT) in Philadelphia, continuing their record as one of the cities top acts and best exports. In addition to regular gigs in the city the group made a return trip to the Del Close Marathon in New York City and made their Baltimore debut with the Baltimore Improv Group (BIG).

In 2008, Industrial retired as hosts of Improv Sunday at Fergie's Pub and shifted focus primarily to performing at festivals around the county: making their debut at the Dirty South Improv Festival, returning to the Del Close Marathon and the Philadelphia Improv Festival. They also continued shows out of town, making their debut at the Peoples Improv Theater (The PIT) in New York City. There are one of only two Philadelphia-based groups to have performed in all three of New York's major improv theatres. They also appeared again at the Del Close Marathon and Philadelphia Improv Festival.

Finally, after farewell shows with the Philly Improv Theater in early February 2009 Industrial performed their last show on February 19, 2009 at the North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival.

 

PASSIONATE PERFORMANCES

Each show began with Industrial asking the audience to picture in their minds something that they were passionate about and then telling us what that thing was. Based on the first suggestion Industrial heard we would tell stories from our own lives that our audience member's passion inspired in us and use those stories to create a completely original 30-minute show that had never been performed before and was never performed again.