David Shepherd (producer)

In 2014, Compass Cabaret 55, a documentary about the birth of modern theatrical improvisation directed by Mark Siska, also details the career of Shepherd and his contributions to Improvisational movement. Besides Shepherd, the interviewees include Bernie Sahlins, Janet Coleman, Jeffrey Sweet, and Compass veterans such as Ed Asner, Suzanne Shepherd, and Sheldon Patinkin.

In 2010, the documentary David Shepherd: A Lifetime of Improvisational Theatre was completed. It is an oral history detailing the career of Shepherd and his contributions to Improvisational Theatre. It was directed by Mike Fly and written by Michael Golding. The documentary includes interviews with past and present associates such as Bernie Sahlins, Suzanne Shepherd, and Janet Coleman.

The ImprovOlympic began as the Improvisation Olympics, and was founded and produced by Shepherd. His theatrical event placed competing teams of improvisers on stage in front of a live audience, and taping the performances for future replays. The format was refined by Shepherd and Gomberg and together they used the Theater Games, created earlier by Viola Spolin, as a way for teams to compete, and by 1981, Shepard moved his Improvisation Olympics back to Chicago.

In 1973, also at the Space for Innovative Development, David went on to create the ImprovOlympic (a competitive theatrical sporting event),

In 1972, Shepherd produced the Responsive Scene radio show which aired on WRVR-FM, a public radio station owned and operated by The Riverside Church in the City of New York. Responsive Scene was an hour-long improvised show with a round-table of professional actors performing from call-in suggestions from their audience of over 40,000 listeners.

In 1971, Shepherd produced the Community Makers in New York City. Assisted by Howard Jerome Gomberg, the organization was created to correct ailing communities by using improvisation as a people’s theatre, and was housed at the Space for Innovative Development, 344 W. 36th Street, New York.

In 1955 Shephered and Paul Sills founded The Compass Players, the forerunner of The Second City. Compass launched the careers of Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Jerry Stiller, Alan Alda, Alan Arkin, Barbara Harris, and Shelley Berman (to name a few) and started a revolution in entertainment.

In 1953 Shepherd was one of the co-founders along with Paul Sills and Eugene Troobnick of the Playwrights Theatre Club in Chicago. The theatre was noted for its original treatment of classic plays as well as original works.

David Gwynne Shepherd (October 10, 1924 – December 17, 2018) was an American producer, director, and actor noted for his innovative work in improvisational theatre. He founded and/or co-founded Playwrights Theatre Club, The Compass Players, Canadian Improv Games, and the ImprovOlympic.

Born in 1924 in New York City to an old money family, Shepherd grew up with left-leaning sensibilities. He was the son of Louise Tracy (Butler) and William Edgar Shepherd, an architect. His paternal grandmother was the sister of socialite Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt.