ABOVE: From short form improv on a stage at Ozona's Bar & Grill in 2009, to our very own theater on Commere in 2010, to sold out shows in our new, two-theater facility - the last 7 years have been a wild ride. 7 Years of DCHThat's 7 years of classes, 7 years of jams, and 7 years of laughs.
Some of you have been around since the very beginning, some of you came somewhere in the middle, and some of you are brand new to the wonderful world of DCH. So, for this week's post—and in honor of 7 lovely years—we take a look back at some highlights. 2009 – Dallas Comedy House opened in January in the back of Ozona's Restaurant. Six people came to the first class—four of whom were paying students and two people who Amanda bribed to come so that it looked like a legit class. The curriculum focused on short form improv and only introduced long-form improv (now the staple performing style at DCH) at the end of the third level. During Level 1 and Level 2 showcases, scenes were called by instructors because editing hadn't been taught yet. 2010 – DCH opened its doors on the Commerce Street location. The first Dallas Comedy Festival was held in the new theater with Joe Bill and Jill Bernard. Construction began on the Training Center, adding two classrooms and allowing for more classes to enroll. Man Dip and sandwiches were introduced on the menu... and shortly after being introduced, disappeared. This started a multi-year food menu desert – with only Chex Mix and Sour Patch Kids to satiate performer and student hunger. Having space and a year under its belt, DCH built a corporate team and booked some initial work, which has continued to grow over the years. 2011 - The Training Center opens adjacent to the Commerce Street Theater. Tim Meadows, a bona fide celebrity, came to the Dallas Comedy Festival. Buddies Season 1—an improvised sitcom—changed the game, routinely selling out shows and setting a new standard for comedy in Dallas. The original stage was changed from a pie shape to a flat back after several people fell into the corner of the stage. This change made the green room a little smaller, but also saved a lot of people from falling. In October, Amanda bought out her business partner and became DCH's sole owner. 2012 – This was a big year for food and flu. JELL-O shots hit the bar menu during the Dallas Comedy Festival. Unrelated, the festival was riddled with bad luck. Several important performers and employees got the flu. The soda gun burst open in the middle of a show, leading to syrup and soda covering the floor and slowly leaking into the theater. While trying frantically to clean up the sugar-syrup mess before customers let out of the show, the men’s restroom toilet began leaking, flooding the bar from the other side. Surrounded by what is quite possibly the most disgusting combination of liquids during the busiest week of the year, we did what we do best and improvised our way through it. Nothing a “Caution, Wet Floor Sign” and several mops and rags couldn’t fix. Later that spring, hot dogs are served in the theater and patio. 2013 – The 313, starring Keegan-Michael Key, Jaime Moyer, and Maribeth Monroe, performed at the festival. Their high energy show is still talked about and made it a week to remember. Jaime Moyer and Maribeth Monroe have continued their friendship with DCH and even came to Opening Weekend at our Main Street location. In the fall, the Improvised Movie debuted. A fun, new format, sold-out shows, and a haunted house to boot. It was a memorable October. 2014 - DCH celebrates five years. Troupes from past and present come back to perform in a joyous reunion! The fall launched two additions to our programming with the Family Friendly Show and our very first sketch revue, Charles Dicken's Great! Expectations! The first graduating class of our sketch program put on the first four-week sketch revue as graduates. This kicked off the steady growth of our sketch program and what has now become a consistent course offering. 2015 – We said goodbye to 2645 Commerce and moved down the street to 3025 Main Street. Our U-Haul got stuck on the middle of Commerce mid-way through the move. We held our first graduation at the new space. We gained a second theater, twice as many classrooms, and so many bathroom stalls! Our sketch program grew. We have food on the menu. Man dip is back! 2016 - We have a record-setting 280 students, classes registering every month, and our first sketch revue with paid performers in the works. Corporate bookings are at an all-time high, and we will hold our first auditions for corporate team additions this winter. Most importantly: You are here. Let's make some memories for the next 7 years!
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