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The Brave New Workshop, founded in 1958 by circus aerialist Dudley Riggs, is the longest-running satirical sketch comedy theater in the U.S. Originally called the "Instant Theatre Company," Riggs introduced improvisational comedy by using audience input, reshaping live performance.

In 1997, John Sweeney and Jenni Lilledahl took over as co-owners, ensuring the theater's future. Hennepin Arts acquired the Brave New Workshop and Dudley Riggs Theatre in 2021, continuing its tradition of sketch comedy and improv. Over 400 original productions have entertained more than 4 million people.

Dudley Riggs, who passed away in 2020, left a legacy as the founder of the nation's longest-running satirical theater, shaping comedy for decades to come.

Dudley Riggs Theatre

The purchase of 824 Hennepin allows us to bring our nonprofit arts and cultural event center operating model to another property in the Hennepin Theatre District. Performances by the Brave New Workshop theatre company will continue in that building but our approach will be to treat the two properties as one event facility. The additional space at 824 will help us enhance our traditional event capacity, expand our community and nonprofit work, deepen our support for local performers, and grow our own programing.

The property at 824 Hennepin adds two additional rental spaces to our portfolio. A 200+ seat theatre on the second floor and a large flexible seating performance and event space on the first.

These additions will allow us to book more revenue generating events and more nonprofit and community events. By promoting the two buildings as one event center, we’ll also be able to host larger events requiring more spaces than either building could provide alone.

824 Hennepin will also serve as a hub for our own educational programing, donor and sponsor engagement events, large scale meetings, and community engagement events. We’re particularly excited by the opportunity to offer technical master classes in the second-floor theatre. Our larger theatres are so busy, it’s difficult to get access for students. The 824 building is a golden opportunity for hands on learning experiences with sound and lighting equipment in a more traditional theatre environment.

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