Over the years, the comedy improvisation program at ACME Comedy Theatre has evolved to become the premier long-form narrative school in the country. Most well known as the style behind the soap opera format, long-form narrative is exemplified in ACME improv shows. In long-form narrative improv, actors typically portray the same character throughout the show, exploring relationships and furthering storylines as they are paired up with different members of the cast.

In the soap opera format specifically, the goals of the actors change somewhat. Not only are they seeking to craft a story that has a beginning, middle, and end within the context of a single episode, they are also acknowledging and incorporating past episodes, while at the same time developing character arcs that will carry them through to a satisfying conclusion in the final episode several weeks down the road. The end result is an amazing experience of brilliant improvised storytelling.

ACME Comedy Theatre boasts three long-form narrative performance troupes: the top level Zebra Company, the up and comers of Yankee Company, and ACME's newest performers fresh from the ACME Comedy School, the X-Ray Company.