CSz Boston - Home of ComedySportz — Local services in Boston

Wasn't sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that ComedySportz (CSz) had nothing to actually do with Sports humor because I would have been completely lost. It just refers to the aspect that they are competing in a match for comedy entertainment vying for the applause of "Tonight's Loyal Fans" (spectators). What a treat to see entertainment appropriate for all ages (no swearing, nothing lewd/crude) with their clever foul names! In most of the comedy shows I've seen they've are extremely liberal with using swears and questionable/cringe-worthy jokes to get laughs...

The improv show happens every Friday night at the Riot Theater in Jamaica Plain with a run time of 1 hour and 30 minutes and a 10-15 minute intermission. We watched the "Boston Massacre" face off against the "Somervillains" in a 3 vs. 3 team and a referee. I believe they have a rotating cast from week to week. They have several rounds with different games testing each team's ability to think on their feet with the given scenario. All of the actors were very talented and managed to keep us laughing throughout. I love that they heavily incorporate audience participation in shouting out suggestions! My SO tried to physically volunteer me for a skit and the referee noticed this so he ended up performing on stage himself. Thankfully he was also able to think on the spot. I definitely wasn't expecting him to be incorporated directly in the skit since most other comedy shows just require the volunteer to stand still and tell them interesting facts about themselves that they will spin into a story. So be warned if you volunteer yourself you will be expected to be funny, but it's only for a few short minutes in front of 30 people. The scoring system throughout the game seems a bit Whose Line-esque where it's somewhat arbitrary based on point values and the hosts queuing up the powerpoint slides as they also gave points to random audience members with distinctive features (plaid shirt guy, smiley girl).

I'll definitely keep a look out for CSz in other cities too since apparently it's been running for 30+ years and it's all over...

Courtney Pong (a self centered restaurant manager who is looking for a cheap way to get into the spot light.) does not know how to run a comedy club. She will shut down a show and send the audience home if she does like the comedians set. She claims to be taking the higher ground to be morally superior to such performances by creating a "safe space for her audience" not realizing she is selfishly imposing her own views and opinions on others. Furthermore she does not respect the comedians or the art of comedy. A comedy club is place where comedians should feel comfortable to try to new material, push the boundaries and let the audience help them form their act, not a self centered comedy manager who is looking for a cheap way to get into the spot light. If you dont like a comedians joke and want him off stage you give him the light and you dont hire him again you dont shut down the entire show and kick your audience out of the venue! I will never be back to this place. It is the kind of place where alt comics go and fake laugh at each others bad jokes. This place is not inclusive for all people you need to be part of their crowd to be accepted here. Courtney pong even posted on social media how proud she was and how alive he felt to interrupt mid show and take the stage to humiliate the comedian and kick her audience out in some childish fit of immature outrage. An absolute disgrace to the art of comedy and the social justice movement. If you want to see real comedians at a real club there are many others in Boston. She has also asked her facebook friends to leave 5 stars reviews to off set the negative feedback she...

CSz Boston was booked for my company's work retreat. They led a 3-hour session called "Twists into Triumphs: The Top 5 Habits & Skills of Improvisers Unveiled."

On a personal level, I thought the workshop was excellently led by the CSz team. They created an inclusive and safe environment for folks to make mistakes and work together while trying something they may have never done before. In addition, as someone who has had fairly negative experiences with improvisation in the past, I thought that the CSz team made improvisation concepts accessible, while smoothly connecting improv concepts to every day/ professional life experiences.

Beyond what I thought, everyone who I spoke to after the session simply raved about the experience and also saw how they could bring the lessons learned into their everyday lives and professional lives. The energy and enthusiasm was palpable.

I cannot recommend CSz Boston enough. Such a wonderful experience. I just hope my company decides to bring them...