Monster Improv produces longform improv shows and offers classes in Phoenix, Arizona (O’odham Jeveḍ land) and around the world to empower people in their improv journeys, whether they’re just starting or have a tremendous amount of experience under their belts.
The founder and artistic director of Monster Improv, Jose Gonzalez (who wrote what you’re reading), has been known to say that Monster Improv is like a DIY indie music label but for improv. I’m also known for shifting from the third-person to the first (and back) whenever I like and I have awesome people in my life — like Nina Miller, Marisol Chavez, Clifton Gray, and Caitlyn Rogers — who I’m grateful can help with Monster Improv, which magically transforms it into a Do-It-Together effort that all people can enjoy and take part in.
The idea for Monster Improv started as a 2010 side project to occasionally splash some unconventional improv around the valley but Jose’s busy life constantly back-burnered it. It took a worldwide pandemic and his front-burnered improv home going belly up for Monster Improv to finally emerge in October 2022 at the Downtown Phoenix all-ages arts and music venue, The Trunk Space, with the first in-person GHOSTFEST Improv Marathon since 2019.
In addition to having The Trunk Space as a homebase, Monster Improv has produced shows and offered classes and workshops at Central Phoenix mainstays like The Newton/Changing Hands and the Phoenix Center for the Arts.
Coming soon from Monster improv is our Longform Improv Training Program (aka LIT Pro); IDKY, a lo-fi conversational podcast with some of the most intriguing artists, musicians, and performers around as guest; and a few other exciting things that can’t be mentioned quite yet.
As an entity, Monster Improv is all about starting small, going slow, trusting the process, and opening our heart to serendipity.