BATS 40th Summer Cave Match 7/12 & 7/26/26 [SCH-S]

Cave Matches are an opportunity for improvisers to create a team and perform their very own format at the BATS Bayfront Theatre. BATS has hosted Cave Matches for years to build and engage our community, give our past and present students a place to play and produce high-quality shows, and most of all, to have FUN doing it!

Shows take place on Sundays at 7pm, Doors open at 6:40pm for box office.

July 12 • 7 pm Improv on Demand vs Gastrointestinal Bliss Hosted by Lisa Wang

Love stories collide with yearbook memories as two original formats fight for their place in the tournament.

July 26 • 7 pm Swim Swam Swum vs Bad Book Club

Surreal slam poetry meets delightfully terrible romance novels in one of the strangest matchups of the summer.

You can’t plan love, so we’re not going to. Watch us improvise a love story before your very eyes! This original longform show is a celebration of all kinds of love (and summer of course). Expect meet cutes, love confessions, and teary breakups. The days may be at their longest, but come celebrate your summer nights with Improv On Demand!

Players: Will GutzmanJulian BernadoSimran TandonAnna Mistele

Yearbook! Crowd gives us the name of a club and we perform four entries

Players: Bryce EllerSonia GetzRyan ShaverCarolyn McCandlish

Swim Swam Swum is a glimpse into the twisted minds of the SF-based poet society, swim slam swum. You can expect the unexpected as your suggestions become swim slam poetry before your very eyes. But be warned, once the show starts, there is no telling where it will go. We have been told by the venue that no cigarettes, bongos, or berets will be allowed on premises. Come down to the Bayfront and you'll be glad you swim swam swum.

Players: Sage SimmsDaania TahirEmma GoodmanJared Ursing

Did everybody do the reading? No? Neither did we! But we've got the titles, and we'll find out what happens together. Bad Book Club will be performing a Super Scene of multiple stories inspired by actual romance novel titles you've never heard before, but we swear are real. 

Players: Greg BurtonKatie BlankDavid SmithSuzanne MalekIrena Smith

At BATS Improv, one of our core values is respect for our audience. We understand that some people hesitate to sit up front because they’re worried about being "picked on." That’s not our style.

While we may invite audience members to join us on stage, it’s always your choice—and if you do, we’ll treat you with the same respect and playfulness that we bring to the entire show. No embarrassment, no mean-spirited jokes—just a fun, welcoming experience for everyone.

So sit where you like, relax, and enjoy the show!

Accessibility at Fort Mason

Wheelchair-accessible entrances and parking: Fort Mason provides accessible parking spaces and entrances for visitors with disabilities.

Accessible restrooms: ADA-compliant restrooms are available throughout the facility.

If you need specific accommodations or have unique accessibility concerns, please email us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to assist.

Please Note: Improv can be unpredictable! While most BATS performances are suitable for teens and some adventurous middle-schoolers, we recommend considering what other entertainment your child enjoys. We provide general show descriptions—like rom-com, comedy, or drama—and will flag any content that may include violence, such as in “Improvised Kung Fu.” Ultimately, we trust parents to use their judgment in deciding what’s appropriate for their child.

Refund Policy: Sorry no refunds for our shows at this time.

Cancellation Policy: An event can only be canceled by the venue and/or event organizer. If the venue or event organizer cancels an event, you will be refunded within 4 business days of the event date for your purchase.

Photography by Ben Krantz

Show poster by Derek Yee