The Hideout Theatre

When we were rock climbing at Reimer’s Ranch and Hanging out at Hamilton Pool we would journey into Austin at night for some amusement.
Once you get yourself some not so easy to find parking on a Friday night The hideout Theater is a good spot for some talented comedians to make you laugh…
it’s not expensive and a good way to spend some time in Downtown Austin…

Great show. The host is wonderful. I can’t give it 5 stars because of the guy who worked behind the counter in the café area. White, short blonde hair, glasses. Kind of a dick. But besides that, great show.

We came to see performance tonight after purchasing the tickets Feb. 5^th. This was was a sold out performance and when we arrived our names were not on the list that we had purchased tickets. Despite showing evidence of not only pay pal receipts but also credit card charges our seats were not honored and we were forced to pay again (b/​c paid patrons did not show seats became available). We were told to dispute the charges w/​paypal as they never received the money. Felt this was very unprofessional due to 2 types of proof we still had to purchase another set of tickets.

Easily one of the best parts about visiting Austin. If you’re looking for a creative date and great time with your friends, this is the #1 place in Austin to check out. I’ve gone three times and it’s consistently fun.
The best skits I’ve seen are the Murder Mystery ones. Most recently, they are currently doing a silly version related to Conan the Barbarian. While not every joke will hit a home-​run, they are consistently fantastic. And for the price of $ 15 or so, you have no right to complain. You’re getting A-​level jokes that will leave you in tears.
The theater is very clean and there’s not much disadvantage as to where you’re sitting. Arrive a little early though because seats are not assigned. First come, first serve, which can get a little awkward if you’re trying to save one.
Essentially, you’re guaranteed a new show every week, even if it is the Murder Mystery for example. I saw two completely different versions and both were fantastic.
They also have some great coffee, which is nice to have before or after the show. Overall, it’s a very, lovely theater and becoming a tradition for me to see a show each time I’m in Austin. Support the arts and enjoy a laugh!

If you are a fun couple that loves to laugh, enjoy life, and are looking for a date night this is the place. The staff is great, the actors and hilarious (like seriously I havnt laughed so hard this year.) come enjoy the coffee house downstairs then see the show. We love this place!

I went w/​a date to the Big Bash 8pm Friday night improv show and we both enjoyed ourselves.
However, while each little skit was mostly funny and when the cast incorporated the lines the audience wrote into the final skits, it was funnier often than not; both my date and I were kind of surprised and baffled at how off the cuff and almost disorganized the show was, especially for the $ 15 price tag.
Having been involved in the improv scene in Indpls and seen a few shows around Austin at much cheaper ticket prices, I was kind of sitting there expecting a bit more giggle for my buck. The improvisers were good, but they often broke character, cracked up at their own jokes and I just felt like I was more watching a graduating improv class than a $ 15 improv comedy troupe.
I will say, that the keyboardist (his name escapes me at the moment), was the BEST part of the show! Seriously, this guy’s musical prowess was just amazing! His musical improv skills were just incredible and he definitely made the show! Anyone who can play a bossanova rendition of «Silent Night» on the fly deserves made crazy props!

Found this place online by googling something to do since I was in town on business alone. Sounded interesting & was even cheap (only $ 5). Paid online for the ticket, just need to pickup ticket @ will call. When I got there the ticket was waiting for me. There were 3 shows, 1 was students of improv, another was former students of improv & the last was an experienced troupe of improv. All were funny! Was very glad to see the show. Would definitely come back again!

Was walking along Congress and stumbled upon this place and it was so cute! My friend and I dropped in for a quick drink and saw a sign that there was an improv show that night. There was a couple of groups that went on and we had so much fun! Small theater but you really miss nothing being that close to the show. I highly recommend it if you’re planning a fun little night out or if it’s spur of the moment like myself.

I have taken all 6 levels of classes at the Hideout Theatre and can honestly say it was some of the best money I have ever spent. At first I just thought it would be something fun, and then I went down the wormhole and discovered an art form that is magical, amazing fun, and a great way to build community and make new friends.
The theatre is enormously supportive of new improvisers and there are loads of opportunities to perform at the theatre for those that desire. Also, you have student showcases at the end of each level (except level 1) and the opportunity to build your performing skills. The teachers here are all excellent and regularly perform (so you know they got actual skills!)
Experienced improvisers are very encouraging to new ones, and I remember being encouraged to audition for a show that I was way under qualified for, but the director still made me feel welcome and not like a complete idiot when I fudged my monologue for the audition!
Check them out, it is amazing fun.
I continue to perform here and participate in all the great events they have including but not limited to:
Improv Marathon — every June
OOB Fest — every Labor Day/​weekend/​week
Maestro — every Saturday night
Monthly happy hours/​mixers

I have seen a few shows at the Hideout and always had a blast!
My daughter attended the summer camp there and really loved it. She was on the younger end of the group but felt very confident going every day, made friends, laughed and played a lot of games. The instructors seemed excellent and really gave her the attention and entertainment she needed to enjoy herself!

Hilarious! We went to an hour long murder mystery performance that was part of their 46 hour improv marathon. This was our first time here and the show was hilarious! The actors were good and funny! And to top it off, tickets were only $ 5 each!

Hideout Theatre puts on a quality improv show. I probably go to shows there 2 – 3 times per month. The vast majority of that time, I’m laughing my head off hysterically. There is comedy there that is just as high of quality as anything you’ll see in NY or LA, and often times better. Here are my favorites in order: Parrallelophonograph at 10 on Fridays, The All Star Jam at 8 on Fridays, the Threefer at 8 on Thursdays, and Maestro at 10pm Saturdays.
I’m also a fan of their classes. I’d highly recommend taking a class with Andy Crouch. He can diagnose and help a scene faster than anyone else I’ve seen. I’ve never taken a class with anyone else, but I hear good things.
For those improv nerds out there, the Hideout’s improv philosophy is Johnstonian, as far as I can tell. So their goal is to always have grounded scenes-​to present the who, what, and where. A part of that is that you’ll see dramatic scenes as well as comedic. In fact, I was very impressed by their show «Everything and Nothing», improvised Chekhov plays, which were more dramatic than comedic. So bottom line is-​there are some really amazing, creative, interesting things happening here. Check it out!

I’ve seen 2 shows here, and the comedians are extremely talented! Plus they sold drinks at happy hour prices during the show — bonus! The most recent one I saw (Austin Secrets) was a combination of funny and real/​dramatic/​moving skits. I was impressed at how well they could move back and forth between making you want to laugh and cry.
The theatre room itself is a bit warm and stuffy, and they could use a little more space for seating (but couldn’t we all use more space in Austin?) Intermission is a welcome reprieve for some fresh air. That being said, it’s still great fun, and I’m totally going back! :)

This is good entertainment.
I went to see «Austin Secrets» and the experimentation in the craft and the stage skills are remarkable. These actors know how to take a stage without hesitation. Good timing, good presence, and wonderful way to read an audience. I would recommend checking them out to any seasoned or new improv performer.
Great job!

People here are nice and respectable. Fun environment. Seems really nostalgic to me and I like that about it. The coffee is really good, unlike any other coffee I’ve had in my time in Austin, TX. It’s also a theater so you can catch some great flicks, sip coffee or your a route drink and mingle with cool people.

I came here for Wafflefest: waffles + improv = happy visitor! The theatre itself is in a cozy coffee shop, with the actual performance rooms located in the upstairs and basement areas. For the event, we showed up early and helped ourselves to a very casual, but nicely prepared, waffle buffet. When it was time to sit down, we were called to the appropriate stage. It’s quite a small space, but felt right for improv as you are close to the performance and they are always asking the audience for ideas. [Sidenote: the improv group Girls Girls Girls, who we saw that night, were excellent!] They encouraged us to bring our food with us and get up for refills throughout the show if we wished. The atmosphere was overall very casual and friendly, and I would love go back to see more shows. I even grabbed a cup of coffee [chai latte] on my way out, which was delicious. All that being said, the price was very reasonable, so the casual atmosphere was very fitting, and it’s a great place to stop in if you’re ever in downtown Austin.

Very small theatre that was a venue for Austin Film Festival. Because it’s so small, it easily «sells out.» Seating is in chairs… comfortable so long as you’re not in them too terribly long. Seems well-​used and well-​attended, especially among the younger crowd.

Um yes. Have lost count how many times I have been here for improv and also during work for a coffee.
The gardito — 2 shots of espresso with some half and half is absolutely amazing.
and we forever look forward to Thursday nights, where for $ 5 we are happily entertained by mediocre or sometimes really good improv for a few hours!
Cool, cool, cool spot and I hope it never leaves Austin. I tell EVERYONE about this place.
Coffee is good, pastries are good, improv is good, ALL GOOD THINGS

Decent improv
but the suggestions from the crowd can make or break the night!

Hmmm. I suppose I could bat out a head-​to-​head comparison between Hideout and ColdTowne, but the people who keep plugging away at Austin improv deserve more than being compared like pancakes from Magnolia and Kerbey. Okay, maybe not a whole lot more, but at least a little extra. Besides, I’m mildly curious where I’m going with this.
My dilemma here is I want to say Austin’s improv clubs are the best entertainment bang for the buck, and the Hideout Theatre is one superb place to see it. On the other hand, if I had a dollar for every time some audience member shouted «Proctologist!» as a suggestion or some troupe invariably went for the gay and vagina scenes as an easy out, I’d have one big stack of bucks. I’m not saying that’s good or bad material, I’m just saying when I’m paying to see improv, predictability makes me think you’re being lazy. It’s really not a big deal, and I understand going for the sure thing.
Like I should have done with a straightforward review in the first place. Okay then — Hideout Theatre is a cool venue, the box-​office is in the back of the first floor Hideout Coffeehouse, and you will wait and go upstairs to the actual theater. If you use Foursquare, check-​in first and take advantage of the two-​for-​one deal. The theater seats around 50, you can pre-​purchase tickets online to guarantee your seat, and I’m pretty sure all improv clubs in Austin are BYOB. It’s hard to beat Hideout’s Thursday night special — three troupes in a row for $ 5 at 8pm, and an entirely separate free show beginning at 10pm. Remember this place is right downtown on Congress, so give yourself enough time to find and pay for parking.
On the Thursday we attended, «Oh, Science!» was on top of their game, «Goat» was pretty cool, and we realized everyone in the «Bad Boys» troupe wears glasses. They were also hilarious. We didn’t do the 10pm show. It also occurred to me that Austin’s improv groups must be a fairly close-​knit community, since I see the same performers at different venues on different days. I’m kind of curious what venue is their favorite, and what type of crowd works best for them, or if that even matters at all. I’ll ask them sometime, right before someone starts shouting, «Proctologist!»