Unexpected Productions

Seattle, United States

4.7

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 206-587-2414
Website:
www.unexpectedproductions.org
Address:
1428 Post Alley, Seattle, WA, 98101
at Union St
Downtown
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
900 ft3rd Ave & Pike St
910 ft3rd Ave & Union St
0.2 mi3rd Ave & Pine St
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Valet, Garage, Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
No
Good for Groups
Yes
Ambience
Casual
Noise Level
Average
Good For Dancing
No
Alcohol
Full Bar
Happy Hour
Yes
Best Nights
Fri, Sat, Sun
Coat Check
No
Smoking
No
Outdoor Seating
No
Has TV
No

Today

Today 6:45 pm – 12:00 am
Closed now
Local time (Seattle) 04:38 Friday, 29 November 2024

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday –
Wednesday 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Thursday 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Friday 6:45 pm – 12:00 am
Saturday 6:45 pm – 12:00 am
Sunday 6:45 pm – 10:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Whether you’re «flying solo,» partying with friends, or looking to make a memory with your sweetie, we have the perfect show for anyone who loves to laugh. Think #hilarious #comedy!

You share your story and we will weave it into a moment of laughter that can never be duplicated. Perfect for Bachelor/​Bachelorette, parties company parties, or a night with loved ones.

This is the home of one of Seattle’s longest running comedy shows, «Seattle Theatresports.»

The Improv School will help you discover the power of collaborative storytelling and connecting with your audience (on stage, at home, or at work). Step out of your shell, be funny and gain some incredible life skills. Add more spontaneity and playfulness to your life.

Our signature team building workshops, will get your team on their feet, immediately immersed in the skills of improvisation. They will expand their skills in team building, brainstorming, leadership development, corporate communication skills, and FUN!

History

Established in 1983.

Unexpected Productions is located in the Market Theater, in historic Pike Place Market, behind the world infamous Gum Wall!

Unexpected Productions started out 30 years ago in a Chinese restaurant in Pioneer Square, and evolved into a leader in improv in Seattle, the greater Pacific Northwest and the United States. It focuses on the art of storytelling in its work, taking suggestions from the audience and weaving them into stories, scenes and music. The audience is always part of the story.

For 3 decades, Unexpected Productions’ Improv School has taught new skills to tens of thousands of students. Now, improv troupes in cities across the country boast members educated by this unique institution.

Meet the Manager

K L.

Manager

Kent Whipple, Marketing & Development Manager, joined the staff in this newly-​created position in May 2012. He studied Arts Administration at the College of Santa Fe, 87. He has work in the arts, as either staff or board member for 25 years. He has worked with the Santa Fe Opera, the National Endowment for the Arts/​Advancement Program, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and several galleries. Kent has created and implemented a strategic plan in marketing, communications, and a 5-​year plan.

Kent has written for different magazines and news papers throughout the country with a focus on the arts.

IMPORTANT: Please contact Kent directly if you did not have a 5-​star worthy experience. He values your thoughts and opinions. He will take your perspective seriously.

When note working, you will find Kent roaming the streets of Seattle looking for good food, fun places and exploring this great city.

Unexpected Productions also recommends

Pike Brewing Company

915

reviews

Pubs

,

Breweries

,

Traditional American Restaurants

K L. says,

«They are great neighbors. They have amazing beers and excellent customer service. We go there often.»

Alibi Room

426

reviews

American Restaurants

,

Lounges

,

Nightclubs

K L. says,

«We are located right across from them on Post Alley. They have terrific food. and the serve late. Many of our clients dine there after a show.»

IL Bistro

424

reviews

Italian Restaurants

,

Lounges

,

Seafood Restaurants

K L. says,

«They are next door to us. They have a great menu. Many of our clients dine there before a show.»

Pike Place Market

2748

reviews

Shopping Centres

K L. says,

«We have been a proud member of the Pike Place Market for 20 years.»

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Nearby

Near this location:
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Vincent House
1423 1st Avenue Apt 440
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Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
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Pike Place Market Gum Wall
Pike St

20 reviews of Unexpected Productions

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Sammamish, WA
My wife, daughter and I went to Unexpected Productions for a fund-​raising event for a non-​profit I support. I’d never been to a live improv show so didn’t know what to expect. I have to say that it was a wonderfully entertaining and lively evening. The actors were also very gracious to include a middle school student who is battling cancer in many of their acts. It’s apparent that these talented folks love what they do. I was astounded at their quick wit, the humor and the passion and the energy they brought throughout the evening. The theater itself is small which is great because it’s easy to see the actors and catch the subtle nuances of facial expression that might be missed in a larger venue. If you haven’t had the chance to visit this jewel of Seattle, put it on your short list.
Place rating: 5
Redlands, CA
We came on a Saturday night and fell in love immediately. This was the first improv show I have seen, and I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did. It was easy to tell that the performers are passionate about what they do. Very funny, as well as friendly.
Best volunteers as well! I was told to refer to them as «Amber and her minions»
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
What a great evening with this fantastic group! My lady and I were invited in to see the show. We had no idea what to expect (no pun on name intended). But we were absolutely thrilled, impressed, entertained, and will be back.
Whether it’s a date night, a fun night, a sober night, a drunk night, or just need something to do… this unique experience is worth every penny. I’ll be heading here for my birthday’s or anytime I have friends in town. We are so lucky in Seattle to have this wonderful little place amongst our great theater scene.
Forget reading anymore reviews and just buy a ticket. Go now!
Place rating: 4
Toronto, Canada
Came to see Theatresports with my boyfriend on a Saturday night. We used the Unilocal code for discount tickets and checked in to get free sour patch kids. For under $ 20 for the both of us, the price is one of the best parts.
The show was very funny and the comedians were great. As it’s an improv show, some skits were much funnier than others but that is too be expected. They keep it relatively PG since there are children in the audiences, although note if you are brining kids that sometimes the audience members can be inappropriate.
There are 2 reasons I can’t give the experience 5 stars:
1. Showtime on the website says 10pm when it is actually 10:30. We rushed through our dinner and skipped dessert to get there for 9:30ish but ended up waiting over an hour. Pretty annoying so you may want to call to doublecheck time beforehand as you can’t rely on their website.
2. They have a bar but will only serve you about a shotglass size of water if you ask for some. We bought a couple beers and we’re feeling dehydrated and after asking the bar for more water we were told we had to wait in the concessions line to purchase a water bottle. That is utterly ridiculous to not serve patrons water especially when you are serving alcohol.
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
We went to see the show on Christmas. What a great way to end a great day. All of the crew were so funny and cleaver. I liked how they got the audience involved as well. Good times.
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
What an absolute gem of a theater and crew! I joined a friend to come see the production of An Improv Christmas Carol, and it was HILARIOUS. I’ve seen many a Christmas play, but this version is one I won’t soon forget.
True to improv form, the actors in UP are quick-​thinking and work well together on stage. I’m impressed how well they can keep straight faces throughout the ridiculous scenes and lines. I definitely wouldn’t be able to!
Another plus of this theater is that ticket prices are extremely reasonable: it’s slightly more than the cost of a movie ticket (about $ 15) to see a live performance. You’d be hard-​pressed to find a concert, art venue, or museum admission in Seattle that’s a better deal. AND they have concessions like the movies (plus booze!).
From skimming their website, it looks like they have improv events weekly, and the list of shows is frequently changing. This would be a great place to come for a first date or to bring family or friends who are visiting town.
Be sure to check in on Unilocal to get free popcorn! And get there at least 20 – 30 minutes prior to showtime, as popular shows tend to sell out and seats fill up quickly.
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
I’ve been going to TheaterSports since the 90s and it never disappoints. If you get a chance to see A (n improvised) Christmas Carol this holiday season, do it! Fun show! Kent the manager is great to work with if you have a group (reserve seats and get a discount). I celebrated my 40th bday there and at that time they were doing a Hitchcock Improvised Play, and being a huge Hitchcock fan it was one of the most amazing experiences ever! Alibi Room room next door is a great place to pre-​function. And don’t forget to leave some gum on the Gum wall!
Place rating: 5
Langley, WA
We had the best date night at improv Christmas carol last night! My sides hurt, my eyes teary. I think we’ll probably bring our family back before the Christmas season, and make this an annual event for our family.
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
A must see if your in town for a TRUE taste of Seattle culture! A dying breed of raw talent!
Place rating: 4
Bellevue, WA
Fun place to be on a weekend night in Seattle. Since it’s improv, the quality of the show can be a hit or miss (also depends on the audience too) but generally it’s consistently worth the money and time. There may be lots of American pop culture references so if you are not a native some humor is hard to get.
Hosts and the actors are very friendly.
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
Step away from the norm and go see this amazing improv troupe.
The improvised Christmas Carol was hilarious, and family friendly. We laughed so hard!
I’ve seen dozens of shows here and they always deliver the goods.
Place rating: 5
Lynnwood, WA
My husband and I just saw the improvised Christmas Carol for the first time at unexpected productions. All of the actors were funny and made us laugh the entire night! We love to come to this improv show it’s a fun date night out and well priced! Love this place!!! :D
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
Really enjoyed the Christmas Carol show! Wasnt sure how they would do a full storyline with improv, but they pulled it off and, despite some not so creative suggestions from the audience, it was hilarious. We laughed pretty much the entire show. My only complaint– the drunk woman behind us who was audibly confused most of the show.
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
The best improv I’ve seen lately.
Always take my Chicago visitors out here and it’s neat that it contributed to the development of the gum wall.
Place rating: 3
Pasadena, CA
Check in to Unilocal to get free popcorn! Grab a drink and some candy before the show.
My boyfriend and I have gone to the Improv Show twice– the first time was OK, 3 – 4 stars. The second time was 1 – 2 stars.
First time: Made us laugh a few times, but there were a many more stale moments. We’ve watched improv shows in LA and the one at Unexpected Production pales in comparison. The actors/​actresses here just don’t seem like seasoned comedians.
Second time: Bad. There were two teams, totaling 9 comedians– 8 girls, 1 guy. I always felt like men tend to be funnier than women, and this night confirmed that I was right. Don’t get me wrong– the first time I went to Unexpected Productions, my favorite performer was a women, but it seems to be rare. Anyway, there were more awkward moments than there were funny ones. An asian girl made an asian joke and it wasn’t funny. There were also kids in the audience so they kept the show PG– not ideal, but understandable.
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
Hilarious! Took my parents here on their second night in Seattle and we were all brought to tears from laughter.
We stopped in mid-​day to check it out and by tickets in advance and met Amber who works the box office. She was so sweet and a joy to converse with which made us even more eager to see the show.
The performers really gave their all. As individuals they each brought their own style to the stage, and together put on a delightful spectacle. Will definitely have to go back!
Place rating: 5
Boston, MA
Funny stuff.
My father, sister and I came here for their improv Happy Hour. The entire show was comprised of short-​forms, and I could tell that the players were experienced, and were having a lot of fun onstage. The live musician provided the perfect backing tracks to the scenes, and all of the improvisers were great at song games. I especially enjoyed their Shakespearean game. The free popcorn check-​in bonus was great, too.
The only downside is that the crowd was small (10 – 15 people max?), so energy was a little lacking. The improvisers did the best they could, though. Small crowds can be tough to please.
Overall, I had a very positive experience here.
Place rating: 4
Seattle, WA
I’m really looking forward to going here more!
It definitely was a fun time when I checked out the «Feel You UP!» show! That show in particular was a whole different improv style than I’d ever experienced. I had no idea what I was walking in to!
There is a little lounge area inside where you can grab some popcorn and wait for your show.
And of course you gotta give it up for having a sweet bar. The business is located right under Pike Place, you enter through Post Alley. It’s a stop along the gum wall. I was shocked to see how affordable the drinks were for this prime location!
I made sure to check in on Unilocal the night I went, there was a free popcorn deal. Actually, I saved it because I really want to check out TheatreSports in the future…
Okay NOW I know what I’m doing tonight haha.
Place rating: 5
Fremont, CA
I love improv shows, so the moment my bf’s sister told us we were going to one in Seattle, I was excited! From what I can remember, Unexpected Productions was located in some sketch looking alleyway near the gum wall. We went in towards the back of the place and sat on the cushiony seats as the improv show started.
You know the show was successful if they could make you laugh til tears were coming out of your eyes! I’m always amazed by the improv actors’ ability to think so fast on the spot, especially when there’s so many people watching. Midway through the show, there was an intermission where we could get up, eat some FREE popcorn, and use the bathroom! When the show ended, I couldn’t believe an hour and a half had passed already. Everyone started leaving the theater and some of the actors sincerely thanked us for coming. They were super sweet!
Def not a fan of how small it was inside, but the improv performance was awesome, hilarious, and a great way to end the night! I’d be down to come back for another show!
Place rating: 3
Seattle, WA
This was our first time at Unexpected Productions and while we felt the actors/​actresses tried, it felt like a number of the skits were a miss for us. We understood that because the show was based on improve and suggestions from the audiences, each skit could be a hit or a miss. It was just unfortunate that many skits seemed longwinded and some just lacked the punch lines or good stories. However, I have to applaud some actors/​actresses for dealing with some unusual suggestions from people. I felt like some audience members were just a little tipsy that their suggestions and lead in stories for the acting crew seemed weird or oddly disconnected.
The place though seems inviting and had great, friendly staff. Given that we had a good experience with the staff, I wouldn’t rule out coming back here again in the future. However, we just hope that next time when we come, it be more humorous and entertaining for us.