Improv Comedy in Buffalo, NY
After moving back home to Buffalo, we wanted to create a space for the type of ensemble comedy that we performed and taught in New York City.
Our goal is to be a cornerstone of the improv comedy scene here in Buffalo by offering world-class improv instruction, by producing high-quality improv shows, and by being a pipeline connecting Buffalo with the international improv comedy scene.
We’ve got our Thursday Night Improv Mixer every Thursday at Amy’s Place by UB South Campus and shows most weekends at Allen Street Hardware. In addition to this, we do bigger events and one-offs, we host out-of-town performers, and we teach excellent improv classes and workshops to folks who want to learn to become performers!
Questions about who we are, how to get involved, or about a class? Check our FAQ or send us a message at email@buffaloimprovhouse.house
our team includes:
DAN REITZ has been performing and teaching improv comedy since the early aughts. His life in improv began as a founder of Syracuse University’s still-running improv troupe Zamboni Revolution, and continued after moving to New York City, where he studied and performed at the Magnet Theater, Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, and People’s Improv Theater. Before the pandemic he taught improv and ensemble comedy at Sarah Lawrence College, and was on faculty at the Magnet Theater, the People’s Improv Theater, and the Brooklyn Comedy Collective, and was a guest teacher at the UCB Theater. He is the longtime musical director of several internationally-celebrated musical improv comedy shows, including Baby Wants Candy and Your Love, Our Musical. Dan is a music composer and songwriter whose credits include the podcast Serial and the upcoming movie Leo, an animated musical from Happy Madison Productions starring Adam Sandler and directed by Robert Smigel. He is also a trombone player who does stuff.
ANNIE MOOR is a veteran of the Magnet Theater in New York City, where she was a beloved fixture for over eight years. In Buffalo you can see her with Buffalo Improv House, ComedySportz, and Unscripted at the Road Less Traveled Theater.
CAITLIN STEITZER has been performing, studying, and teaching improv for over 25 years if you can believe it. Before moving to Buffalo she could be seen performing regularly at the Magnet Theater in NYC, around the country at festivals with her indie team Honey, and hosting comedy variety shows at ABC NoRio and around Brooklyn. Weirdly enough, she is also a licensed clinical social worker, and has used improv throughout her career to build community and foster confidence in people from all walks of life. Her research on the connections between social group work and improv theater was published in the Journal for Social Group Work and presented at the 2010 International Association for Social Work with Groups Annual Symposium. When she was still in graduate school, Caitlin designed and implemented the Diversity Program at the Upright Citizens' Brigade Theater in NYC, one of the first of its kind in the country. As a social worker, she spent over 8 years at the nationally renowned Center for Family Life (CFL) in Sunset Park, Brooklyn and taught improv to maybe a gajillion people throughout all five boroughs. When not nerding out about improv theater she can be found hanging out with her dog and her husband, riding her bike, or creating dance music playlists.
TODD BENZIN is a Buffalo born and bred actor and improviser. Todd got his start in improv with ComedySportz Buffalo, and moved on to a long run with the Eclectic Improv Co. He is a Conservatory graduate from the prestigious Second City in Toronto and currently is a member of improv duo Babushka and Hour Town improv ensemble at Road Less Traveled Productions (RLTP). Todd has had the opportunity to teach several workshops at local high schools and through the Alleyway Theatre Education program. He has also appeared at Kleinhan's, the Kavinoky Theatre, Shakespeare in Delaware Park, Shea’s 710 Main Street, the Irish Classical Theatre, RLTP, the New Phoenix, the Ujima Theatre, Subversive Theatre, Theatre of Youth, and MusicalFare, where he was nominated for two Arties for Supporting Actor in a Musical. He has also appeared on film in “The American Side” and as a voiceover artist in several video games including the “Magicka” series.
DIEGO MARTINEZ has been performing and coaching improv and sketch comedy since 2010. He has studied across various theaters in Atlanta, Georgia and New York City and has performed all over the United States, Canada, and the internet. Diego has also tried out for every NBA team, but has been told he is too good to play in the league.
ANTHONY SALERNO has been performing and teaching improv comedy for over five years. He graduated from Dallas Comedy House's improv school in 2016 and taught their Level One through Five classes while performing on their house improv team. As a teacher, Anthony thrives on welcoming diverse backgrounds and relieving life's stresses through laughter and silliness. Originally from Buffalo, he's super excited to join Buffalo Improv House and help foster the growth of the local improv community.