About me
ComedySportz® was started in 1984 in Milwaukee, WI, by Dick Chudnow, who based it on the competitive Theatresports improvisational techniques of Keith Johnstone from Calgary, Alberta. Expansion began with the addition of Madison, WI, in 1985. The first Comedy League of America National Tournament was held in 1988, with 10 teams participating. CSz Worldwide now has grown to almost 30 teams in the US and Europe.
CSz Portland is in its 32nd season, has played over 5,400 ComedySportz® shows and hasn't missed a weekend since May, 1993. Look out Andrew Lloyd Webber ... we're gunning for Cats. We are unique in the Portland improv scene in that our players are employees who are paid for every ComedySportz® match as well as for teaching public and private workshops.
CSz Portland was founded in early 1993 by Ruth Jenkins and Patrick Short, who serve as Club President and General Manager. Ruth and Patrick performed with and managed CSz San Jose for five years prior to moving to Oregon.
CSz Portland kicked off on April 2, 1993 with a private show for the Oregon State Thespian Conference, then opened for real on April 16, 1993, with our first public show. The opening night lineup was Patrick Short, ref; Ruth Jenkins, Angela Schrock, Amy Gray, John Dieffenderfer, John Breen, Dave Levesque, Carl Shoemaker and Denise Howard. Jason Henderson was the sound tech and Mike Short was our guest on keyboard. Kent McCarty, Ed Ferrero and Charles Brod played in the second show.
Kent, Amy, Ruth, Angela and Patrick are still active with our organization. 5 out of 12 after all this time... not bad! The legendary founding member John Dieffenderfer passed away in March of 2018 and we lost Dave Levesque in 2019.
On January 1, 2025, Ruth and Patrick turned over the reins of CSz Portland to Rick Steadman, a 23+ year veteran of CSz Spokane, Los Angeles and Seattle.
We've grown to offer a wide variety of entertainment and training services - all connected to our values of collaboration, inspiration, gratitude and fun!
