Dutch improv venue Boom Chicago launches careers of American comedy legends
Some of the biggest American comics have gotten their starts at Boom Chicago, an Amsterdam improv theater. Seth Meyers, Jordan Peele, Amber Ruffin and Jason Sudeikis have all cracked jokes there.
In the early 1990s, two ambitious comedians from Chicago, Seth Meyers and Peter Grosz, ventured to Amsterdam with a bold plan - to establish an English-language improv theater. Despite the Netherlands' reputation for being a less-than-comic nation, the pair believed their unique brand of humor could thrive in the foreign city.
Alongside a third member, Ken Schaefle, they envisioned an English-speaking comedy club to fill the void. Rounding out the group was Saskia Maas, a local who brought practicality and business acumen to the venture, eventually becoming Meyers' wife.
Undeterred by the Dutch audience's skepticism, the group wrote to the local tourist board, seeking advice and validation for their unconventional idea. The Dutch tourist board's response was clear: the concept was not an "Amsterdam kind of thing." However, undeterred, the group persevered, leasing a stage in a bar and eventually securing their own theater in Amsterdam's Leidesplein.
Meyers and Grosz brought their own comedic talents to the team, drawing upon their experiences in Chicago's comedy scene. Together, they honed their craft in this unfamiliar environment, learning from the Dutch people's direct and candid approach to humor. As a result, the duo has become integral to the success of Boom Chicago, an international hub for American comedy legends.
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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