Killing My Lobster (KML), a quarter-century-old San Francisco sketch troupe, showed post-2024 restructuring signs of recovery in early 2025. Class sales were more robust than previous years, with class slots nearly selling out in the first six months and two additional class sessions added later. The Sketch on Speed series sold out all performances and BAD Lobster met ticketing goals. Sudden loss of regular foundation and federal grants, including NEA funding, undermined financial stability. A hoped-for Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund grant failed to arrive on August 6. The board planned a suspension of operations and sent members an email on August 12.
Compared to most Bay Area theatre companies, Killing My Lobster were actually doing well in 2025. Despite other companies cutting back or shutting down in the wake of DOGE-mandated cuts to the arts and DEI programs, this quarter-century-old SF sketch troupe actually seemed to be in good shape, thanks to some 2024 restructuring. Sure, they weren't producing one-show-a-month anymore, but everything else looked good:
Our class sales had been more robust than previous years, with our class slots almost selling out in the first six months of 2025, and we had actually added two class sessions in the second half of the year. Our Sketch on Speed series had completely sold out all four out of the four performances we'd held so far, and BAD Lobster had met our ticketing goals. It felt as though we were slowly-but-surely turning the ship around.
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