Carolina Improv Company

Carolina Improv Company is a comedy club in Myrtle Beach, SC, located at 704 8th Ave N. Founded in 2008 by Gina Trimarco Klauder, the organization serves as a destination for improv comedy theater and training. It offers adult classes and corporate development programs designed to enhance communication, collaboration, and creativity. The company has held a 4.60 rating based on 134 reviews, reflecting a solid reputation and an established track record among the customers it has served.

The business originated when founder Gina Trimarco Klauder, a Chicago native with experience in improv culture and television production, moved to Myrtle Beach in 2007 and found no local hub for improv. After losing her job during the 2008 economic downturn, she used proceeds from selling her Chicago condo to establish the company. The first class was taught in November 2008 at Legends In Concert in Surfside Beach. By 2009, the company secured a permanent home at the Myrtle Beach Mall, operating as the Uptown Theater. This venue earned the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Business Innovation Award in 2009 and the number one spot on TripAdvisor for Nightlife Attractions in 2010, a ranking that continued until the theater closed in 2020. The curriculum includes Level 1 Introduction to Improv, focusing on fundamental principles like active listening and trust-building; Level 2 Advanced Improv, which covers short-form games; and Level 3 Characters and Relationships, where students craft defined characters through voice and physicality. An Improv Games Series allows for ongoing skill refinement, while the Improvised Intelligence program provides customized training for businesses, targeting areas from customer service to company culture.

The location sits on 8th Ave N, just off Broadway and Main Street. It is about a tenth of a mile from the Myrtle Beach Greyhound bus station and Mount Atlanticus Miniature Golf. North Kings Highway is a short drive away, and Nance Plaza is located nearby.

Carolina Improv Company combines live performance with structured skill development, offering Myrtle Beach a dedicated space for improv theater and professional growth since 2008.