Dudley Riggs

Dudley Riggs (January 18, 1932 – September 22, 2020) was an improvisational comedian who created the Instant Theater Company in New York, which later moved to Minneapolis to become the Brave New Workshop comedy troupe.

Later, The New York Times critic called Riggs' performances "word jazz," while members of the Second City troupe visiting in the 1960s and 1970s referred to the shows as "spot improv".

In order to keep skills strong, Riggs rented a street-level space in New York City where group members could practice.

He held off writing a review for three weeks because he couldn't believe that the performers were actually taking in the audience's ideas—Kerr was convinced that group members were calling upon accomplices for input and were using pre-arranged material.

After the café moved to South Hennepin Avenue in Uptown in 1965, claims of "the first espresso machine west of the Mississippi River" were also made.

A number of famous performers started at the Brave New Workshop, including regional natives Louie Anderson and Al Franken, writers such as Pat Proft, television executive producer Linda Wallem, and scriptwriter and producer/director Peter Tolan.

[citation needed] After operating it for 39 years, Riggs sold the Brave New Workshop in 1997 to Mark Bergen, John Sweeney and Jenni Lilledahl.