[3][4][5] The Teatro Brasileiro de Comédia (TBC) was founded in 1948 by Franco Zampari, an Italian engineer from Indústrias Matarazzo, with financial support from the São Paulo bourgeoisie.

In 1945, Zampari, who had two positions at the Municipal Theater of São Paulo, began to engage in theatrical activity after writing, producing and presenting the play A Mulher de Braços Alçados in the backyard of his home.

The Teatro Brasileiro de Comédia gained members who would become important actors in Brazilian theater, such as Sérgio Cardoso, Paulo Autran, Tônia Carrero, Cleyde Yáconis, Cacilda Becker, Walmor Chagas, Nydia Licia, Fernanda Montenegro and Fernando Torres.

In the following years, the organization achieved considerable successes, such as the productions of The Teahouse of the August Moon, by John Patrick, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, by Tennessee Williams.

In 1959, the Teatro dos Sete was formed by Fernanda Montenegro, Sergio Britto (both former TBC members), Gianni Ratto and Ítalo Rossi.

The third floor was smaller and had no public access; the basement housed the building's third stage with audience, the hall, a second rehearsal room, the lighting control system, the storeroom, another toilet and the underground water tank.

[12][11] The company innovated by not focusing on individual actors or actresses and by recruiting internationally renowned artists to direct the show during a period of professionalization in Brazilian theater.

[6][13] The experience brought by these professionals, combined with an aesthetic rigor and techniques that had never been practiced in Brazil before, played an essential role in the development of theatrical activity in the country.

[6][13] Besides the professionalization and the structure of the theater, the company innovated by combining entertainment and culture, worrying about income and box office, and training actors to focus on the show and submit to the director's scenic direction.

[14][15] At the time, Funarte was subject to a lawsuit filed by businesswoman Magnólia do Lago, owner of the property between 1982 and 2008, who claimed to have rights to the "Teatro Brasileiro de Comédia" and "TBC" brands and demanded almost R$7 million in compensation from the organization.