The Compass Players
1955-1958 (Chicago); 1957-1962 (St. Louis, NY revivals) · Chicago, IL; St. Louis, MO; Hyannis, MA; New York, NY
Also known as Compass Theatre, The Compass
The first improvisational theater in America — seeded Second City, Nichols & May, and every long-form tradition that followed.
Known for
- Opened July 8, 1955 at a storefront at 1152 E. 55th Street near the University of Chicago — considered the first improvisational theater in the US.
- Founded by David Shepherd (a leftist theater-maker who wanted a 'people's theatre') and Paul Sills (son of Viola Spolin).
- Used Viola Spolin's Theater Games as the training methodology — the foundational technique of all American improv.
- Performed 'Scenarios' — scripted narrative outlines the cast improvised around — along with 'Living Newspaper' and full improv scenes from audience suggestions.
- St. Louis incarnation at the Crystal Palace (run by Theodore J. Flicker) is where Flicker, Nichols, May and Del Close hashed out the 'Westminster Place Kitchen Rules' — the first codified principles of improv scenework.
- Alumni include Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Shelley Berman, Severn Darden, Barbara Harris, Del Close, Alan Alda, Andrew Duncan, Theodore Flicker.
Connected to
Notes
The Compass-to-Second City lineage is the spine of American improv. Shepherd and Sills split over direction — Sills wanted a polished comedy revue, Shepherd wanted a politically engaged people’s theater. Sills went on to co-found Second City in 1959 with Bernie Sahlins and Howard Alk; Shepherd moved on and eventually co-founded the ImprovOlympic concept with Charna Halpern in the 1980s. The St. Louis era under Flicker is underrated — it’s where Del Close first connected with the Compass methodology he would spend the rest of his life refining.