CROSSROADS IN A NUTSHELL
Crossroads Comedy Theater is a nonprofit company committed to offering the best arts and skills training to residents of the greater Indianapolis area. Through our classes in improv, comedy writing, stand-up, and more, we provide people with skills that go beyond the stage and page and benefit them in in their everyday life and work. Whether you are looking start your path to the stage or are content to be in the audience – we got you covered. Crossroads does not yet produce live shows, but there are plans to begin soon!
OUR STORY
Crossroads Comedy Theater was founded in 2021 by Mike Marbach of Philadelphia. Previously, Mike served as Education Director (2011-2017) and Artistic Director (2017-2020) at Philly Improv Theater where he also instructed, directed, and performed. After live, in-person entertainment was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, Mike found that many of the performers he most often worked with were interested in continuing to find ways to create and have fun. As a result, the cast of Study Hall: Comedy Inspired by Lectures tested the waters of virtual performances via Zoom. When successful runs of Study Hall gave Not Yet Rated: An Improvised Movie the thumbs up that no sharks were in the digital waters, this cast also dove into the online ocean. Did that metaphor work?
While lifeguarding all of that, Mike realized that the Wooder Cooler podcast network and each comedy show he oversaw had their own websites, social media, email addresses, and ticketing systems, and decided it was best to pull everything under one roof. That’s how Crossroads Comedy Theater was born. Well, not born so much as the appropriate forms were filled out, fees were paid, and the business entity was registered with the government.
Though Crossroads was originally formed in Indiana – it was Philly that was seeing all the action. Now fully residing in Indianapolis, Mike has stepped down from most of his Philly efforts to concentrate on helping to finally work to build up Crossroads in Indianapolis.
We recognize that although we have a great reputation in Philly, no one knows who the heck we are in Indy. For this reason we’ve partnered with Red Curb Comedy in Avon. Red Cub has been around for over five years and has entertained thousands at their awesome theater in Avon, Indiana. Crossroads and Red Curb will be working together to train the next generation of Indy performers and generally introduce more to the many benefits an improv or writing class can have both personally and professionally.
MISSION & VISION
Our current mission is in the Indianapolis area is to build from the ground up in a way that is inclusive of all experiences. Our mission is to forge connections in our community through our education program and eventually live performances and private events for area businesses. We strive to make people laugh, think, and feel, or, at the very least, blink.
Our vision for Crossroads in Indianapolis is a theatre company that maintains a respected and trusted multi-disciplinary education program and produces live shows that happen all around the great state of Indiana. No matter where you’ve been, where you are, or where you’re going, Crossroads Comedy Theater has something to offer you.
