Claim: Kaitlin Olson began her career in a theater troupe.

The Groundlings are an improvisational and sketch comedy troupe and school based in Los Angeles , California . The troupe was formed by Gary Austin in 1974 and uses an improv format influenced by Viola Spolin , learning her improvisational theater techniques from the Second City 's Del Close , to produce sketches and improvised scenes . Its name is taken from Shakespeare 's Hamlet , Act III , Scene II : '' ... to split the ears of the groundlings , who  for the most part are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumbshows and noise . '' In 1975 the troupe purchased and moved into its current location on Melrose Avenue .   The Groundlings School holds new sessions every six weeks with over 300 students per session , with more than 2,000 students per year going through the program . The competitive program , with admission by audition , consists of 5 levels -LRB- Basic , Intermediate , Advanced Improv , Writing Lab and Advanced Lab -RRB- . Participants must satisfy instructors in order to advance .   The program takes years to complete , as 18-month to two-year wait-lists between upper levels are common . Students may be asked to repeat Basic and Intermediate classes multiple times . By the late 2000s , students had one chance to complete classes in Improv and Writing . Failure to pass either of these classes means a student can not complete the program , nor be invited into the Sunday Company .   Students may be voted into the Sunday Company , where they may remain no more than two years . Many move on sooner than that . Many Groundlings performers have found success in movies and television , including several who have become cast members and writers on Saturday Night Live , MADtv , and Reno 911 ! .