Originally set as the spin-off festival from the long-time and incredibly fun Gatlinburg Improv Festival (2010-2020). The Secret City Improv Festival originally aimed to continue the fun, but it was held in the fall rather than the spring. The first Secret City Improv Festival was originally scheduled for fall 2020, but due to COVID-19, it was not held until September 2021.
Today, the Secret City Improv Festival is the only Improv Festival in Eastern Tennessee. We are proud to continue what was originally established with the Gatlinburg Improv Festival and are striving to evolve it into a festival unique among all improv festivals. In 2022, we will introduce a new portion of our event, featuring high school improv troupes in their show block. These troupes will complete a rigorous series of intensive workshops designed to pair each participating school with a professional improv teacher. A curriculum has been designed to ensure each troupe takes home a valuable learning experience. In 2024, we hosted a show in partnership with the Oak Ridge Public Library and were named Event of the Year at the Secret City Community Choice Awards. In 2025, the festival expanded to a three-day event and became the largest comedy festival hosted in East Tennessee.
The first edition of the Secret City Improv Festival was a success. Welcomed 14 troupes from across the nation and hosted shows at theater capacity with our COVID-19 protocols. We had wonderful partners for that last festival, and we look forward to expanding for this year.
Our goal for the Secret City Improv Festival is to provide an environment that fosters networking and collaboration for improv teams from across the Southeast and the USA. Our mission is to showcase a diverse range of teams and styles on stage and to foster growth through workshops.
The City of Oak Ridge, while known as the Atomic City, has a rich history with the arts. From a long-standing theater tradition at the Oak Ridge Playhouse to a renowned ballet company and a regular stand-up comedy showcase, Oak Ridge, TN, is a city that appreciates the art of Improv.
The Secret City Improv Festival is hosted in the Historic Grove Theater. Built during the Manhattan Project, the Grove Theater was designed as a grand concert hall capable of seating 1,000 audience members. It was a showcase for the new city of Oak Ridge and was known for its exceptional acoustics. Its dimensions were carefully engineered to maximize performance acoustics. When the theater was converted to a movie theater in 1950, the original hardwood stage was hidden behind the projection screen. When the theater was acquired by its current owners in 2008, the performance stage was rediscovered and restored. Today, the Grove Theater is home to everything from the Oak Ridge Youth Orchestra, the Civic Ballet, the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival, the Secret City Improv Festival, and so much more.
We aim to present a festival that showcases the best improv theater talent we can assemble in this magical historic theater. Enjoy the spectacular colors of East Tennessee’s fall, have a glass of sweet tea, and be part of a special event!