The autographs of the many improv comedians whom have performed at The Upfront Theatre in its two years of operation line the walls of its green room.

Some of the names are famous comedians, and others are Bellingham performers who call the Upfront their home base.

Above the door to the green room, written in black marker, are the words "Be Prepared" covered by a circle and a slash like a no-smoking sign.

The owner of the Upfront Theatre, someone familiar to any fan of "The Drew Carey Show" or the improv comedy show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" sat on the couch in the green room, with a coffee in hand to combat the effects of a late performance the night before.

He is famed actor, comedian and Bellingham resident Ryan Stiles, 47. When asked what he has done since the two television series ended, he said, "You're sitting in it."

He was talking about the Upfront, which opened in August 2004.

Stiles is back in Bellingham and will perform with other local improvisers at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. July 21 and 22 at The Upfront Theatre.

"I opened this theatre here for half-selfish reasons," Stiles said. "I wanted a place to play."

Before Stiles opened the Upfront, the Bellingham improv scene consisted of a few teachers doing workshops, Stiles said. He said he would drop in on those workshops and help teach the students.

"They'd been taking classes for a year, but they'd never been on stage anywhere," Stiles said. "You will learn more by going on stage once than you will in a year of classes."

When Stiles started the Upfront, he asked the teachers if they wanted to run it for him, and they agreed.

He said the Upfront has two paid employees, and the rest are volunteers. The theatre does not make money for Stiles, but that does not bother him, he said.

"If I could break even, I would be the happiest man in the world," Stiles said. "But that's not what it's about."

He said the theatre gives local improv groups and performers a great opportunity they wouldn't have in Bellingham without the theatre.

"They can get on stage three times a week, which would never happen down there (in Los Angeles)," Stiles said. "You'd be lucky to get on stage once a year down there."

Stiles said Los Angeles is a pit and he did not enjoy living there while he was working on "The Drew Carey Show" from 1995 to 2004.

He said the opportunities for talented actors or comedians who aren't pretty are limited in Los Angeles.

Stiles also dislikes the culture of Los Angeles. He said everyone in Los Angeles is either a rich star, a producer or bitter because they aren't a star and want to be one.

"They're all fancy cars and women with tight faces," Stiles said. "It's like they're beef jerky with eyes walking around."

His dislike of Los Angeles is part of the reason Stiles chose to live in Bellingham. He said the people of Bellingham are generally happier and more polite than the people of Los Angeles, and the city itself is beautiful.

"They (Bellingham residents) are always amazed that I am here, but everyone has to live somewhere," Stiles said.

Bellingham is also halfway between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., the cities where Stiles grew up. His parents are Canadian, but he is an American citizen.

Stiles stood up and grabbed a coffee-table book off a shelf above the couch. The book was about The Second City comedy troupe, a sketch comedy group that performs live shows, of which Stiles said he was a member from 1986 to 1990.

He flipped through the pages of the book, pointing out pictures of the dozens of performers who graduated from the troupe and now have careers in comedy, including "Second City TV"'s Martin Short, John Belushi and Mike Myers of "Saturday Night Live" fame.

"Anybody in comedy came out of Second City," Stiles said as he flipped through the book.

Stiles said he first did improv during his time with Second City, where the troupe would use improv in their shows to get ideas for scripted sketches.

Stiles said he modeled the Upfront's stage and backstage area after the troupe's Old Firehall theatre in Toronto.

"He built the theatre to foster local talent and to have a place for him and local people to come and play," the Upfront's Education Director DK Reinemer said.

The Upfront has shows every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The Thursday shows cost $5 and feature improvisers ranging from actors who have only recently started taking classes to Stiles himself.

The Upfront's Friday and Saturday performances showcase local troupes, such as The Changelings or The Upfront Players, or visiting groups from other cities.

Shows are at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and typically cost $10 for general admission and $8 for students, except for special events like the shows with Stiles on July 21 and 22.

Tickets for the Ryan Stiles performance cost $15 for general admission and $10 for students. Tickets go on sale at noon July 19.

Stiles said he likes to randomly drop in and perform whenever he is bored.

"Once in a while, my wife might go down to Seattle (and) take the kids," Stiles said. "I have a night off and I'll just come down here."

He said he loves to do the Thursday shows to stay in practice, most recently performing on July 13, one week before his scheduled shows.

"He's so kind up there (on stage)," Reinemer said. "He's brilliant, but he makes you look good."

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