Our STory

Fremont, The Center of the Universe

Seattle Comedy Theater has been making Fremont funnier since 2012.

It started with Alex Grindeland, who grew up in the ComedySportz world — first as a high school player in Milwaukee, then as a pro on the Milwaukee team. After years on the circuit, he drove cross-country to start something new in Seattle, stopping along the way to meet ComedySportz teams and learn what made them work.

The first ComedySportz match in Seattle happened on June 29, 2012, at the Ballard Underground — against a visiting team from Portland, refereed by the same teacher who had first introduced Alex to improv. Despite an irregular schedule and a venue that was literally underground, ComedySportz Seattle grew a loyal fan base fast.

A community is Born

In 2014, Alex signed a lease on The Atlas Theatre in Fremont. In 2017, when the vintage mall that originally shared the building closed, he expanded into the rest of the space — growing the lobby and building out what's now The Sidecar Theater.

When Alex relocated to Florida in 2020, the company was led for a time by Rick Steadman, a seasoned ComedySportz veteran, who later went on to become the owner of ComedySportz Portland.

Erika Lowe's story with ComedySportz started much earlier — and much farther away.

She first performed with ComedySportz Los Angeles in the High School League in 1992, competing at the World Championships in Milwaukee in 1995. She performed with ComedySportz Santa Barbara in college. Then, in 2016, she walked through the doors of CSz Seattle for the first time — not as a performer, but as a single mom looking for an affordable night out with her 8-year-old daughter.

She applied for a Diversity and Equity Scholarship, took the 101 class, and never looked back.

Erika completed the full class track, was cast as a Player in 2018, and began teaching and directing in 2021. She was one of six cast members who helped reopen the theater after a year of closure during COVID. She became Artistic Director in December 2024, and took ownership of the company in August 2025.

The Next Act

In her first year, Erika oversaw a full remodel of the Atlas Theater, launched a musical improv program, built a BIPOC improv community, and rebranded the company as Seattle Comedy Theater — with a new website, new shows, and a renewed commitment to what this place has always been: Fremont's home for comedy, community, and yes-and.