David Shepherd
1924-2018 · New York, NY / Chicago, IL
Also known as David Gwynne Shepherd
Producer and theorist who co-founded the Compass Players with Paul Sills, envisioning a 'people's theater' rooted in working-class stories and improvisation.
Known for
- Co-founded the Playwrights Theatre Club in 1953 with Paul Sills and Eugene Troobnick.
- Co-founded the Compass Players in 1955 — the first modern improvisational theater in America.
- Created the Improvisational Olympics competition format with Howard Jerome in the 1970s, which inspired Charna Halpern's ImprovOlympic (iO).
- Founded the Canadian Improv Games.
- Hugely influential theorist of participatory, improvisational 'people's theater'; his political vision predated and shaped the Compass's scenario-based improv.
Connected to
Troupes
The Compass Playersplaywrights theatre club
Schools & Theaters
Festivals
Sources
Referenced by
Festivals
People
Schools & Theaters
Troupes
Forms
About people on this site.
We publish factual, sourced information about improvisers. We don't take sides in beefs,
write hit pieces, or speculate about anybody's personal life. More on why.