OUR ORGANIZATION

The History of Camp Improv Utopia

Started as an idea around 2006 when Nick Armstrong, John Abbott and Jessica Young were on a JTS Brown team called NiteTerrors coached by Craig Cackowski. Improv Utopia didn’t come to fruition until 2011, when Nick approached John, Jessica, Brian O’Connell and Patricia Forman to start what would be a Scoutesque like Camp meets Improv.

In 2011, Camp Improv Utopia launched to a sold out group featuring theaters from all over the country. Camp West is held at Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria, CA and still is to this day.

In 2014, Camp Improv Utopia East was launched, therefore changing the camp in Cambria to Camp Improv Utopia West starting in 2015. Camp East was held at Camp Netimus in Milford, Pennsylvania in the Poconos in 2014 and 2015 and added a new Assistant Camp Director and board member Chris Moody from Detroit. Camp East’s first year was also sold out and featured campers from the all over the world. In 2016, CIU East moved to the beautiful Camp Trout Lake in Stroudsburg, PA in the Pocono Mountains were it is currently.

In 2016, Camp Improv Utopia Yosemite launched it’s first camp which also sold out. CIU Yosemite is a whole new curriculum where you get one instructor the entire weekend and study a form they are a master of. Camp Yosemite is held at Calvin Crest in Oakhurst, CA.

In 2018, we launched our international improv retreat in Ireland and immediately sold out. IU Ireland takes place in Newgrange Co. Meath in Ireland.

In 2023 we are continuing our International series of retreats this time in La Zenia, Spain. This is much different then our US retreats in that its in a urban area and near the majestic mediterranean sea. The spain retreat is also a more intimate setting with a small group of improvisers.