In 1903, Ivan Petrovich Pavlov published his theories on “conditioned reflexes”, which came about through years of exhaustive experiments on the autonomic nervous system of dogs.

Some years later, Pavlov’s Dogs, a burgeoning improvisational comedy troupe, burst on to the scene – spreading its particular blend of medium to long form improv comedy. Their goal?  To trigger a response or “reflex” from their audience. Sometimes laughter, sometimes cheers, occasionally a kiss on the cheek from our mothers, whatever the response, Pavlov’s Dogs rests easy in the comforting knowledge that their audience paid money to see them.

So what sets Pavlov’s Dogs apart? It’s simple, really. The group was formed in 1998 to fill a niche that had not yet been tapped in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. Members of the group wanted to combine the intelligence and pacing of scene-based improv with the intensity and cannons-be-damned spirit of games and short form improv. That means each show is smart without being dull, and entertaining without being condescending.

The format of each performance teams short, stand-alone scenes with longer forms developed in various clubs, theatres and back alleys in Chicago . This pacing gives each show a solid rhythm. Plus, to keep the show’s set from getting predictable, the troupe experiments with new structures – constantly tweaking, inventing or ripping off new forms from other troupes (read: suckers). That way, no two shows are ever alike.

Although Pavlov’s Dogs did not win the 1904 Nobel Laureate in Medicine, the group didn’t mind losing to its namesake.

Pavlov's Dogs is performing an improv show Friday at 10:00pm with The Trip Fives
= = = => BUY TICKETS NOW <= = = =

-Reviews and Accolades-
See reviews on their web site

Artist's web site, Artist's MySpace page

Back to Show Schedule