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Haus of Comedy is a new project by Windhaus Improv LLC, which was founded in 2022 by Jessilee Windhaus. Initially offering adult classes, workshops, and improv comedy shows, Windhaus Improv quickly grew in popularity before becoming an independent entity in 2023 and an LLC in 2024.
Looking ahead, Windhaus Improv will expand as Haus of Comedy, opening an improv and sketch comedy theater in Downtown Sacramento. Our offerings will include live comedy shows, improv training, entertainment for private events, team building workshops, branded merchandise and concessions, and unique special events.
We need your support to help launch our new theatre!
What we need and what you get
We are hoping to raise $10,000, which will go towards construction costs for our theater. This will include building a stage, flats, walls, stairs, risers, and more, and will help us pay the folks who do the hard work.
Here's why we hope you'll give whatever you can and help spread the word:
We have perks! Perks for donating include stickers, branded apparel, free services, and more!
Donating means showing your support for a queer and woman owned local business.
By donating, you will help foster and expand this incredible community of artists and bring more joy to Sacramento. This means more shows, more classes, more performance opportunities, and more.
About our founder Hi! My name is Jessilee and I'm the founder of Haus of Comedy.
I fell in love with theater and improv during a summer camp when I was 10 years old, and it's been an obsession ever since. On car rides home from classes or workshops or showcases, I remember blabbing to my parents about the funniest moments from games, my personal triumphs as a young improviser, and the fun friends I had made.
When I was at Sac State studying to earn my BA in Theatre and performing at a local improv theater in my downtime, I remember feeling absolutely devastated after a rough breakup (one of the ones where you can't get your mind off of how sad you are no matter what you do). I was impossible to cheer up... until I set foot in the theater for our team's weekly improv practice.
For the next two hours, I completely forgot about how sad I was. I laughed, played, and connected with my team. Even though I had been doing improv for years at that point, it hadn't occurred to me until then that it wasn't just fun; it was powerful.
Meet the team
Our "why"
Many of the best times of my life have been thanks to improv and sketch comedy. To be part of a community centered around playfulness, joy, support, creativity, and open-mindedness is inexplicably beautiful.
My favorite thing in the world is watching someone else fall in love with improv, and I get to see this when I teach. I see adults who have long been discouraged from being playful and creative and "weird" discover that there is a space where this is not only OK, but it's necessary. Whether it sparks a lifelong passion or becomes a fond memory, I can see it change people, and that is a rare thing.
I feel the same way when I produce shows. In 2013, I founded That Plus Chips sketch and improv comedy group and in 2015, I co-founded Empire Arts Collective. Seeing performers come together because of a shared love for expression, silliness, and laughter is special. Everyone is committed to making each other laugh and to sparking joy, and audiences can tell. It's infectious.
I founded Windhaus Improv during a turning point in my life, when I realized that improv, when done right, reflects the best of humanity. It is creative, compassionate, understanding, communicative, collaborative, innovative, and fun. And it has made me snort a lot when I laugh.
I am excited to announce the launch of Haus of Comedy, which will be an improv and sketch comedy theater in Downtown Sacramento. Haus of Comedy will provide improv shows, training, special events, team building, and more. More importantly: it will be a space for people to unwind. Comedy is more than just entertainment: it is a catalyst for happiness, connection, and community.
This campaign will help us to build a brick-and-mortar space to house our art. A theater will allow us to expand our offerings and services and provide a home for lots of weirdos (like me!)
By donating, you will help foster and expand this incredible community of artists and bring more joy to Sacramento.
Other ways you can help
If you want to get involved and spread the word, we've included a kit for sharing on social media, via email, text, etc. It's available here.
The impact
With a strategic location in Old Sacramento, we are poised to attract a diverse audience, drive local business traffic, and offer a unique entertainment experience for Sacramentans.
Research into the effects of arts and entertainment businesses on local economies demonstrates that an investment in a comedy theater in the downtown area will have significant positive ripple effects on nearby businesses. In 2017, the combined $5 billion in direct arts funding by local, state, and federal governments yielded $27.5 billion in government revenue. Research conducted by Americans for the Arts shows that the arts drive commerce to local businesses and that arts travelers are ideal tourists because they stay longer and spend more to seek out authentic cultural experiences.
Ours will be more than just a comedy venue; it will be a catalyst for community development and personal enrichment. Haus of Comedy will attract a diverse array of patrons and performers to the downtown area, and fill an existing void within the entertainment options currently available Downtown.
How we're mitigating risk
Our business model, built on diverse revenue streams, will ensure sustainability, while our connections to the international improv community will allow us to attract top-tier instructors and performers and utilize industry best practices. With minimal upfront investment and construction required, Haus of Comedy is poised for a swift launch. Our leadership team brings over 70 years of combined experience in improv and performing arts and has collectively launched four successful arts organizations that continue to thrive.
Lastly, we are proud to have an incredible community of improvisers, performers, and other artists who have our backs!
About Calling All Dreamers
Haus of Comedy was one of 10 businesses selected amongst over 50 startup businesses who applied for the prestigious Calling All Dreamers business incubation competition. During this competition, industry professionals mentor entrepreneurs to get unique business concepts into storefronts. Produced by Downtown Sacramento Partnership, the six-month-long program involves workshops, hands-on experience, a support network of other entrepreneurs, and the chance to earn a coveted business start-up package.
In late 2024, Haus of Comedy was selected as one of the top 5 finalists chosen to present their pitch to the selection committee. We are waiting to hear who will be selected as the winner and runner up and will be happy to provide an update once we learn more!
More about our shows and services
Looking for more information?Check the project
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