November 12, 2009

The Calgary Improv Brier

The Calgary Improv Brier: “Improv, Hurry, Hard!” will be March 12 and 13, 2010 in The Epcor Centre. There's an open invitation to improv teams to compete for a cash prize and the winner gets a showcase appearance in the Calgary International Improv Festival, September 30-October 3, 2010. If you'd like to submit a team, please email crhilton@shaw.ca.

Posted by Fuzzy at 2:43 PM

October 23, 2008

TCIF Accepting Submissions

The third annual Twin Cities Improv Festival is now accepting performance submissions. Submissions are due by January 15, 2009 and more details are available at their website.

Posted by Fuzzy at 10:49 AM

July 3, 2008

New Orleans Improv Festival

The New Orleans Improv Festival has been announced for October 23-25, 2008 and is accepting submissions for performers. Ian Hoch writes:

We're celebrating our third year in our cozy space with three days of improv, friends and fun. America's most eccentric city plays host
to improv's most exciting performers and teachers.

Visit www.neworleansimprovfestival.com to apply. Applications are due August 1st, 2008.

Questions call 504-899-0336 or email ian@lanuittheater.com

This is the improv festival you wish you could take home in your pocket!

Posted by Fuzzy at 3:17 PM

June 9, 2008

Improvaganza: The Hawaii Festival of Improv

Improvaganza: The Hawaii Festival of Improv has announced dates for their 3rd annual festival -- September 25-27, 2008 -- and is accepting performance applications through June 13.

Posted by Fuzzy at 3:58 PM

October 12, 2007

Dirty South Improv Festival now accepting submissions

The Dirty South Improv Festival is now accepting submissions from performers. The festival will be February 19-23, 2008 in Carrboro and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. There's a submission fee, which is $25 until October 15 and $35 thereafter.

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:19 PM

August 28, 2007

Toronto International Improv Festival

Now that's lead time... the Toronto International Improv Festival will be accepting admissions through May 1, 2008 for their next festival, which will be August 11-17, 2008.

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:26 PM

June 15, 2007

New Orleans Improv Festival

The New Orleans Improv Festival has announced their dates for their 2007 festival: November 8-11, 2007.

Posted by Fuzzy at 6:01 PM

March 30, 2007

Laughingstock 2007

The SouthEastern Comedy Arts Alliance is presenting Laughingstock 2007 - a collection of individual shows SECAA member troupes to benefit St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Shows will take place from March 30 - April 30, 2007.

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:45 PM

March 26, 2007

Red River Improv Festival

The Red River Improv Festival will be September 20-23, 2007 in Fargo, ND. The deadline for performance application (Word Document) is May 11, 2007.

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:44 PM

February 22, 2007

International Improvisation Theatre Festival

The fifth International Improvisation Theatre Festival, hosted by Inspinazie, will be April 1-7, 2007 in Leuven, Belgium. Guest performers include True Fiction Magazine (USA), Narobov (Slovenia) and Stella Polaris (Finland).

Posted by Fuzzy at 1:08 PM

Fracas! Improv Festival

The Fracas! Improv Festival, which organizers claim is the only purely collegiate improv festival in the country, will be April 12-14, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA.

Posted by Fuzzy at 1:02 PM

February 2, 2007

Providence Improv Fest

Mauro Hantman, director of the PIF, writes:

The Fourth Annual Providence Improv Fest is now accepting applications for performers.  PIF4 runs June 27 - July 1, 2007 in Providence, RI.  The Providence Improv Fest is New England’s biggest improv festival, highlighting the best and most innovative performers from around the country and the world.  Submitting an application is free.  Deadline for submissions is April 15.  For more information, or to submit an application, go to the PIF website.

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:20 PM

December 11, 2006

CIF 2007

The 10th Chicago Improv Festival will be April 23-29, 2007. CIF9 featured about 75 acts on 9 stages, but festival organizers have announced that this years festival will be dramatically pared down from that schedule:

For CIF 10, we are cutting out almost all of the extra stages and multiple shows. We are going to present a total of 10 events over the course of the festival week. As such CIF 2007 will feature approximately a total of 35 acts and ensembles.

The festival is accepting submissions for "any improv-related performance style. This includes long-form, short form, mid-form, ensembles, solos, duos, sketch-comedy & original work" through December 31, 2006. Details are on the festival website.

Posted by Fuzzy at 11:56 AM

September 8, 2006

Miami Improv Festival now accepting submissions

The Miami Improv Festival (January 11-14, 2007) is now accepting performance applications from sketch and improv groups. The deadline is Monday, November 13, with a discount on the submission fee for applications before October 9, 2006.

Posted by Fuzzy at 3:11 PM

September 7, 2006

New Orleans Festival Returns

Their 2005 festival was canceled by Hurricane Katrina, but like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the New Orleans Improv Festival has been scheduled for November 9-12, 2006. The festival is now accepting submissions for performance slots.

Posted by Fuzzy at 11:24 AM

July 21, 2006

Southeastern Comedy Arts Alliance

Several groups in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama have started the Southeastern Comedy Arts Alliance and are inviting other groups in the region to join them. The organization will be holding the Southeastern Comedy Arts Festival on September 29-30, 2006, at Mississippi State University. Complete details after the jump...

James Comans writes:

Hi. I am contacting you on behalf of the Southeastern Comedy Arts Alliance.

My name is James Comans, and I'm the managing director of Lab Rats Comedy in Starkville, MS.

We've been doing improv and sketch stuff for almost four years and we've recently become involved in a push to form an alliance of like-minded performers from anywhere in the southeast, for the purpose of helping each other out, both by scholarly means and by means of helping each other grow in publicity however possible.

We really would like for as many groups to get involved on this ground floor level, because right now, membership is absolutely free.

Right now, we're just a collection of improv groups in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama who want to help get the word out about comedy in this area, but we know that soon the alliance will span across many more southeastern states.

There will be a Southeastern Comedy Arts Festival on September 29-30, 2006, at Mississippi State University. It will feature workshops, networking opportunities, and competitions in standup, sketch, and improv. Heck, if for nothing else, it will be great because somebody's going to go home to their fans being able to claim being the CHAMPIONS of the SOUTHEASTERN COMEDY ARTS FESTIVAL. Try putting that on your promos! The rights to host the 2007 Festival are still up for grabs, but you'll have to attend the festival this year to make a bid.

Well, basically, the first step of what we need is
  • The official name of whatever organization(s) you want to be affiliated,
  • Downloadable logo(s) we can use for your organization(s), on the website (if you have it),
  • A brief description of the organization(s), including home base and any member stats you could offer, plus anything else you want said,
  • A contact person & information for further info (if it's not you).
  • Any important dates or information you want out for people to know about you.


Basically, that will give us something to put up to get things started, and we'll probably expand the website features later on.

Also, any comments on SECAA itself that you think might help it run better would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

And if you would like me to go ahead and send you info on the festival, just
email me back a snailmail address and it'll be in the mail ASAP. (Got ya covered.)

Thank you very much,

James Comans

Managing Director

Lab Rats Comedy

Starkville, MS

director@labratscomedy.com

Posted by Fuzzy at 4:09 PM

June 29, 2006

Providence Improv Fest

The Providence Improv Fest is going on this weekend, June 28 - July 2, 2006.

Posted by Fuzzy at 6:49 PM

May 26, 2006

Miami Improv Festival announces 2007 dates

The Miami Improv Festival will take place Thursday, January 11 through Sunday, January 14, 2007.

Posted by Fuzzy at 4:10 PM

May 12, 2006

Denver Improv Festival

The 2nd Annual Denver Improv Festival has been announced for October 13-15, 2006. The festival will be accepting performance submissions through August 1, 2006.

Posted by Fuzzy at 3:30 PM

MILF application deadline extended

The Michigan Improv & Laugh Festival has extended its performance submission deadline to May 26, 2006.

Posted by Fuzzy at 3:28 PM

April 28, 2006

Chicago Improv Festival photos

The Chicago Improv Festival has a Flickr account, with photos being added each day of the festival.

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:22 PM

April 27, 2006

Photos from the Phoenix Improv Festival

Some photos from last weekend's Phoenix Improv Festival:

Kristen Freilich: Flickr set of 65 photos
Fuzzy Gerdes: Flickr set of 23 photos
Kevin Patterson: Best 65 shots
Kevin Patterson: Complete set of 656

Posted by Fuzzy at 9:32 AM

April 25, 2006

Chicago Improv Festival

The 2006 Chicago Improv Festival has kicked off.

Chicagoist: CIF Nine: What's So Funny?

Posted by Fuzzy at 11:41 AM

April 14, 2006

PULVER

PULVER, a Norwegian Improvisational Theatre Festival, will be May 4-14, 2006 in Oslo. And speaking of Norway, Scenekunst.info looks like a good resource for impro in Norway. I think. (I don't speak Norwegian.)

Posted by Fuzzy at 1:42 PM

April 7, 2006

2006 XL Funnywriter Contest

I usually get all snooty here on the New Improv Page* and won't post things about sketch comedy, but this might win one of my readers $500, so I'm bending my own rules:

The Austin-American Statesman, Esther's Follies, and the Hideout Theatre are presenting the 2006 XL Funnywriter Contest and the Funnywriter Sketch Festival.

Until April 27, 2006 you can visit the contest webpage and enter your 600-word-or-less sketch. You may enter the contest as often as you like. Six sketches will be chosen as semi-finalists and performed and judged:

Six semi-final entries will be performed on Friday, May 12, at the Hideout Theatre, as part of the Funnywriter Sketch Festival. The six semi-final entries will be performed again on Saturday, May 13, at The Velveeta Room as part of the Funnywriter Sketch Festival. Those six entries will be published in the May 18, 2006 edition of the American Statesman XL magazine and performed at Esther's Follies the following night, May 19, scored by a panel of five judges. First Place winner will receive $500 and all six finalists will receive gift packages featuring Esther's tickets and tee shirts and prizes from area businesses. First, second, third place winners will be announced at the end of the show on May 19. The three winners and three honorable mentions will be performed again on May 20 at The Velveeta Room. Contest participants do not have to be present to win.

* But just here. I perform sketch comedy, but I try to keep the New Improv Page focussed.

Posted by Fuzzy at 11:50 AM

March 30, 2006

Michigan Improv and Laugh Festival

The Michigan Improv and Laugh Festival (yes, the MILF) will be hosted by Improv Inferno in Ann Arbor from July 12-15, 2006.

Posted by Fuzzy at 1:11 PM

March 27, 2006

Vancouver International Improv Festival

The Vancouver International Improv Festival will be in Vancouver, BC (that's in Canada) June 5-10, 2006.

Posted by Fuzzy at 6:33 PM

February 28, 2006

Oberlin College Improv Conference

The website for the 2006 Oberlin College Improv Conference (Oberlin, Ohio - April 21-23, 2006) is now active with online ticket ordering and information on the workshops and performances.

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:11 PM

January 11, 2006

CIF date update

The Chicago Improv Festival has returned to its roots and will be a one-week festival this year, April 24-30, 2006.

Posted by Fuzzy at 2:24 PM

December 8, 2005

Snubfest '06

The lineup of performers for Snubfest '06 has been announced and includes Sketch and Improv groups from Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Michigan. In its second year, the festival has expanded to two venues over four days and now includes workshops.

To qualify for application to Snubfest, performing groups had to have been rejected in their application to some other festival in 2005.

Snubfest '06 will be January 12-15, 2006 at the Cornservatory (4210 N Lincoln, Chicago) and Lincoln Lodge (4008 N Lincoln, Chicago)

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:21 PM

November 11, 2005

AIN Conferences

The Applied Improvisation Network has announced conferences in Amsterdam (March 10-11, 2006) and San Francisco (November 15-18, 2006).

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:14 PM

Toronto Improv Festival 2006

The dates for the 2006 Toronto Improv Festival will be August 18-27, 2006.

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:03 PM

Toronto Improv Fest 2005 photos

Impatient Theatre Co has uploaded a buttload (it's a technical term) of photos from the 2005 Toronto Improv Festival to their Flickr account.

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:00 PM

Miami Improv Fest submissions deadline extended

The 2006 Miami Improv Festival has extended their performer application deadline to November 21, 2005.

Posted by Fuzzy at 10:05 AM

August 15, 2005

Snubfest '06

Snubfest '06 has been announced for January 12-15, 2006 in Chicago, IL. Applications are now being for the festival -- to apply you must have been rejected from another festival sometime in 2005.

Posted by Fuzzy at 11:13 PM

St. Louis (Improv) Fringe Festival

The St. Louis (Improv) Fringe Festival [that's the official title with the parentheses and all] will be September 9-10, 2005 in St. Louis, MO at COCA in University City - The Loop. Scheduled performances include Paper Slip Theatre, Homoerratic Comedy, Project Improv, Ed Reggi’s "A Cell Phone Story" and a fully improvised live film.

Posted by Fuzzy at 10:42 PM

Toronto Improv Fest

The Toronto Improv Fest begins tomorrow and runs through Sunday, August 21. If you can't make it to Toronto, the Jamboree crew will be live-blogging the festival. The festival has received some coverage in the Toronto Star and Eye Weekly.

Posted by Fuzzy at 8:54 AM

July 11, 2005

Miami Improv Fest dates and submissions

The 2006 Miami Improv Festival, hosted by Just the Funny, will be held January 11-15, 2006. The festival will be accepting performance applications through November 15.

Posted by Fuzzy at 3:57 PM

July 9, 2005

Southern Improv Festival

Dates for the second Southern Improv Festival in New Orleans, LA have been announced - October 11-16, 2005 - and the festival is now accepting performance applications.

Posted by Fuzzy at 3:53 PM

May 24, 2005

Denver Improv Festval

Dates for the first Denver Improv Festival have been announced: October 14-16, 2005. Currently, the site for the festival features a survey that organizers are asking visitors fill out.

Posted by Fuzzy at 10:09 AM

May 12, 2005

PIF photos

I have posted a gallery of photos from the 2005 Phoenix Improv Festival.

Posted by Fuzzy at 3:43 PM

May 11, 2005

Dallas Comedy Festival

The Dallas Comedy Festival has been announced for July 27-31, 2005. The festival will feature improv, stand-up, and sketch performances and workshops. Announced workshop leaders include ImprovOlympic's Charna Halpern and The Reckoning.

Performance applications are still being accepted.

Posted by Fuzzy at 10:14 AM

CIF9

The dates for next year's Chicago Improv Festival have been announced: April 28-May 7, 2006.

And the CIF website now has photos from this year's festival (scroll to the bottom of each of the linked pages).

Posted by Fuzzy at 9:49 AM

April 25, 2005

Chicago Improv Fest has begun

The Chicago Improv Fest has begun and runs through Sunday, May 1.

The official festival website: www.cif.com

The festival schedule as a PDF, courtesy of YesAnd.com.

YesAnd.com has festival-related coverage including an article on Dan O'Connor's World Cup Comedy (who perform at the festival) and the inclusion of the Implosion College Showcase in the festival.

Chris Jones reviewed the opening weekend for the Chicago Tribune: A funny thing happened to female comics at Chicago Improv Fest.

Posted by Fuzzy at 3:51 PM

April 20, 2005

Improv Duos

The Chicago Sun-Times has a lengthy article about two-person improv and sketch groups: Dynamic duos get biggest laughs in Chicago sketch comedy

Posted by Fuzzy at 2:05 PM

April 19, 2005

Philadelphia Improv Festival

Coming up in just a few weeks is the Philadelphia Improv Festival - April 29-30, 2005 - at The Actor's Center, 257 N. Third, Philadelphia.

The festival features "over 10 of the Philadelphia Area's finest improv groups," including The Ninjas, Rare Bird Show, The Cabal, LunchLady Doris, ComedySportz, Elaschtick, The Throng, The Village Idiutz, Gurus of Guffaw, Without a Net, and Giggle Mill. Daytime workshops will also be offered.

Posted by Fuzzy at 4:40 PM

March 25, 2005

Out of Bounds dates announced

The Out of Bounds Improv Festival and Miniature Golf Tournament will be held from September 7-10, 2005 in Austin, TX. The festival is accepting performance applications through May 31, 2005.

Posted by Fuzzy at 6:05 PM

March 14, 2005

Courageous Mongoose Improv Festival in the news

The Bowling Green [KY] Daily News covered the Courageous Mongoose Improv Festival with reviews of performances by Jill Bernard and Happy Gas Improv.

Daily News: Evening of improv

Posted by Fuzzy at 9:22 AM

February 16, 2005

Photos from Miami

Jesse Parent (of JoKyR and Jesster) and Fuzzy Gerdes (of Bare)(and who is me) have both posted galleries of photos from the Miami Improv Festival 2005.

Jesse's photos
Fuzzy's photos

Posted by Fuzzy at 8:29 PM

Snubfest review

The Chicago Tribune reviews last month's Snubfest (they reviewed it last month, we're just slow around here). Men in Shirts' Chuck Charbeneau responds to the use of the word "skits".

Snubfest's Buscemi the odds-on favorite [Chicago Tribune]

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:34 PM

February 9, 2005

CIF Alternate Stage performers announced

The Chicago Improv Festival has announced their alternative stage performers (that is, everything except the mainstage) for 2005.

Posted by Fuzzy at 11:10 PM

January 31, 2005

Miami Improv Festival press

The Miami Improv Festival begins this week (February 2-6, 2005) and has garnered a variety of press in local papers:

Funny Festival [New Times]
Just The Funny to present �05 Miami Improve [sic] Festival [Miami's Community Newspapers
Off Cue [New Times Broward - Palm Beach]

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:44 PM

January 2, 2005

Upcoming Festivals

2005 is jam-packed with festivals (21 by my count, and that's just through the fall). Here's what's coming up in the next few months. Check out the Festivals page for more.

Chicago Sketch Fest (Chicago, IL) January 6-16, 2005
Yes, as the name of the festival indicates, this is sketch comedy, not improv. But because it's Chicago you'll see a lot of improvisors on stage using their from-a-script muscles. And the Octa-Sketch event, Monday January 10, blurs the line as 4 teams of 5 actors from different sketch comedy troupes will be given 8 hours to create a 30-minute sketch comedy show to be performed that evening.

San Francisco Sketch Comedy Festival (San Francisco, CA) January 13-30, 2005
More sketch. Sue me. Three weeks of performances from great performers from all over the country.

Snubfest (Chicago, IL) January 21-23, 2005
This new festival has one main application requirement - your show has to have been rejected by another festival sometime in 2004. The organizers brag that their participants have been snubbed by HBO's Aspen Comedy Festival, the Amsterdam Improv Festival, Seattle SketchFest, WaffleFest, the Del Close Marathon, Toronto Improv Festival, Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, Miami Improv Festival, and the Chicago Short Film Festival.

Miami Improv Festival (Miami, FL) February 2-6, 2005
Bare will be there, and it's my birthday weekend.

Seattle Festival of Improv Theater (Seattle, WA) February 16-20, 2005

Dirty South Improv Festival (Chapel Hill, NC) February 24-27, 2005

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:37 PM

December 21, 2004

Second City 24-hour Marathon

For the third year, Second City is doing a 24-hour marathon of improv to provide holiday presents for needy children. The show starts at 8:30 pm tonight (December 21, 2004) and runs until 8:30 pm tomorrow night. A core group of improvisors, including Dan Bakkedahl, Joe Canale, Andy Cobb, Shelly Gossman, Pete Grosz, Paul Grondy, TJ Jagodowski, Mick Napier, Pat O�Brien, and Sue Salvi, will participate for the entire 24 hours. Special guests include Jeff Tweedy, Steve Albini, Kelly Hogan, Robbie Fulks, Billy Corgan, The Blisters, and Sally Timms & Jon Langford.

Tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased at the door. More information...

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:38 PM

November 29, 2004

Jamboree 2004 photos

Jamboree 2004
Photograph by Kevin Thom

Better late than never, I've recently run across two different galleries of excellent photos from the Toronto Jamboree 2004: 271 photos by Kevin Thom and 27 photos by Jenni Tapanila (please note that most of the rest of Ms. Tapanila's site is Not Safe For Work).

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:49 PM

November 3, 2004

Seven: The US Improv Festival

SIX was in 1999, so "it's about damn time" for Seven: The US Improv Festival, which has been announced for Fall 2005 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:53 PM

October 11, 2004

Fracas! dates announced

Second Nature Improv has announced the dates for their second annual Fracas! Improv Festival in Los Angeles: April 14-16, 2005. Registration is now open to improv troupes from any institution of higher learning (i.e. college or university).

Posted by Fuzzy at 10:29 AM

September 21, 2004

Miami 2005 Announced

The 2005 Miami Improv Festival has been announced for February 2-6, 2005 in... Miami. Florida. Their official information follows:

-----------

The 2005 Miami Improv Festival (MIF 2005) is a 5-day festival featuring all forms of improv and sketch groups from around the world, and is hosted by Miami's home for improv and sketch comedy, Just The Funny.

For more information go to:
www.miamiimprovfestival.com

MIF 2005 will take place from Wednesday, February 2 through Sunday, February 6, 2005, at the Miami Museum of Science and Planetarium; at 3280 South Miami Avenue, where US1 and I-95 meet.

The 2005 Miami Improv Festival is currently accepting submissions from both improv and sketch groups. The MIF Team has worked hard to provide for participating groups, and is pleased to announce there is NO REGISTRATION FEE for groups selected to participate at MIF 2005.

Submissions deadlines for The 2005 Miami Improv Festival are:

Monday, November 1, 2004 for a Submission fee of $30.00 US.
Wednesday, December 1, 2004 for a Submission fee of $45.00 US.

MIF 2005 includes:

-2 Performance Slots per Group* (with a 10% split of the door)
-Dinner for Performers prior to their performance(s)
-Tickets to MIF 2005 Performances
-Access to all MIF 2005 Business Seminars
-VIP Passes to all MIF 2005 Parties and Social Events

MIF 2005 also includes pre and post festival parties, discounts on accommodations and excursions, and gifts from sponsors and MIF.

Submissions deadlines for The 2005 Miami Improv Festival are:

Monday, November 1, 2004 for a Submission fee of $30.00 US.
Wednesday, December 1, 2004 for a Submission fee of $45.00 US.

*Local groups and solo acts will receive only 1 performance slot (with a 10% split of the door).

Whether you performed at last year's Miami Improv Festival or not, be sure to check out what MIF 2004 was all about at the MIF 2004 page. You can also check out the MIF 2003 page!

Groups selected to perform at The 2005 Miami Improv Festival will receive a 10% split of the door for their performance(s), in addition to the opportunity to sell their merchandise during the festival.

To apply for The 2005 Miami Improv Festival, groups need to submit the following:

-MIF Group Submission Form (see below)
-A 20 minute unedited NTSC VHS tape of your group performing in front of an audience**
-Press release with picture(s) of your group explaining the type of show you perform**
-A cast and crew list with bios and headshots of performers in your group**
-Any press clippings or reviews**
-$30.00 US Submission Fee by November 1, 2004*
-$45.00 US Submission Fee by December 1, 2004*

Download Group Submission Form (PDF)
Download Group Submission Form (Word)


*Submission fees are not refundable.
**Submission Materials will not be returned.

Please mail submissions via standard mail to:
Miami Improv Festival
P.O. Box 430668
Miami, FL 33143-0668

**If your group is sending in materials to the PO Box, it must be sent via US Mail (first class package, priority mail, or express mail) or standard mail to our PO Box address.**

Posted by Fuzzy at 10:23 AM

August 31, 2004

Paris Improstival

Paris ImprostivalThe Paris Improv Festival will take place October 2-9, 2004 with

Workshops and performances will be in a mixture of French and English.

Posted by Fuzzy at 1:43 PM

August 20, 2004

Toronto Improv Fest coverage

The Toronto Improv Fest, which runs through this weekend, is previewed in an article from Now Toronto: Sutton's Buttons, which focuses on Bassprov.

Unlike a lot of improv acts, Bassprov shows develop with a less-than-maniacal pace. Donny and Earl are slow talkers whose silences communicate as much as their quips.

"The pace gives you time to think and lets you really develop things," says Sutton. "It shows that it's perfectly OK to listen and think, as long as the audience stays with you. A lot of other shows don't have that luxury."

Posted by Fuzzy at 9:53 AM

August 18, 2004

Toronto Improv Festival

Canada.com has a short piece about the Toronto Improv Festival, which runs through this weekend.

Posted by Fuzzy at 4:25 PM

July 29, 2004

Del Close Marathon begins tomorrow

The 6th Del Close Marathon starts tomorrow in New York City, hosted by the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. The marathon features over 100 groups from around the country performing for 55 hours straight. This year, the marathon has expanded to 2 stages.

The Peoples Improv Theater and Juvie Hall (formerly Above Kleptomania) have taken advantage of the influx of out-of-town improvisors with a host of extra shows.

And there are classes: a raft of workshops at Upright Citizens Brigade, a drop-in class at the Peoples Improv Theater, and classes with Joe Bill and Mark Sutton being organized by Ari Voukydis (redsox.nation@verizon.net).

YesAnd.com has provided a helpful color-coded chart (60 KB PDF) to the entire weekend.

Update: The New York Press previews the marathon and the growing New York improv scene in an article called I�m Funny, You're Funny: The supportive and growing community of improv comedy

Posted by Fuzzy at 4:58 PM

July 13, 2004

Memphis Comedy Festival cancelled

Greg Childers, Executive Producer of the Memphis Comedy Festival, writes with the sad news that the festival has been cancelled:

Hello,

We regret to announce that the Memphis Comedy Festival, which had previously been scheduled for September 2-5, 2004, has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. Our goal is to produce the highest quality improvisational & sketch comedy festival that we can, and we are unable to accomplish that goal at this time. We may produce another festival in the future, but it is still too early to determine at this time.

We apologize if we have inconvenienced anyone, and hope that if we do decide to hold another festival in the future that you will apply.

Posted by Fuzzy at 8:26 PM

June 14, 2004

Memphis Comedy Festival

After a one year hiatus, the Memphis Comedy Festival is back, September 2-5, 2004. The deadline for performance appilcations is July 16, 2004.

Posted by Fuzzy at 4:44 PM

June 2, 2004

St. Louis Fringe Festival

The St. Louis Fringe Festival, an evolution and expansion of the St. Louis Improv Festival, opens tonight and runs through the weekend.

Posted by Fuzzy at 9:38 AM

May 9, 2004

CIF 2005

The dates for next year's Chicago Improv Festival will be April 22 - May 1, 2005.

Posted by Fuzzy at 9:17 PM

CIF Digital Archives

One of my jobs as the Chicago Improv Festival multimedia coordinator is to organize an archive of all the pictures and video (mostly digital) that were shot this week. If you were here this week and shot any pictures or video, I'd love to get a copy of it. Them. Whichever. Send me an email (fuzzy@fuzzyco.com).

Posted by Fuzzy at 6:58 PM

May 5, 2004

CIF guide, online version

Or... if you'd like a web version of the schedule, with links to performers webpages and so on, I've whipped this up.

Posted by Fuzzy at 11:46 AM

May 4, 2004

CIF guide

YesAnd.com has filled a noticable gap in the Chicago Improv Festival website by producing a color-coded, downloadable consolidated schedule (55K PDF) of the entire festival.

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:08 PM

April 30, 2004

Good News for Chicago Improv

The Chicago Improv Festival begins tonight and runs through next Sunday.

Posted by Fuzzy at 10:51 AM

April 12, 2004

Philippines Improv Festival report

Ed Reggi reports from the first Philippines Improv Festival.

Posted by Fuzzy at 4:02 PM

March 30, 2004

Gulf Coast Comedy Festival

It's somewhat of a late notice, but the Gulf Coast Comedy Festival will be taking place this weekend, April 1-4, 2004, in Destin, Florida.

Posted by Fuzzy at 4:48 PM

March 19, 2004

Oberlin College Improv Conference

The Oberlin College Improv Conference, taking place April 23-25, 2004, now has a website.

Posted by Fuzzy at 2:27 PM

March 3, 2004

Toronto Fest 2004

The dates for the next Toronto International Improv Festival have been announced -- August 16-22, 2004 and performance submissions are being accepted.

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:15 PM

January 10, 2004

Miami Improv Festival

The Miami Improv Festival writes to remind us that there's less than three weeks until the Miami Improv Festival, Tuesday, January 27 - Sunday, February 1, 2004.

Posted by Fuzzy at 10:53 AM

November 19, 2003

Festival in Argentina

Ricardo Behrens emails with information about what he calls the 1st World Cup of Improvisation in Spanish and 1st International Festival of Improvisation in Spanish. The website seems to indicate that it's the 2nd Festival Internacional de Improvisacion Teatral. Whichever. The festival is already in progress, from November 7 - December 20, 2003 in Buenos Aires, Argentina and features workshops, performances, and TheaterSports matches.

Posted by Fuzzy at 1:22 PM

September 15, 2003

Miami Improv Festival dates, submissions

The Second Annual Miami Improv Festival has been announced for January 28-February 1, 2004. The festival is now accepting submissions from improv and sketch comedy groups.

Posted by Fuzzy at 2:50 PM

2nd LA Improv Fest Announced

The 2nd Annual Los Angeles Improv Comedy Festival has been announced for June 6-13, 2004. The website includes an application for performing groups.

Posted by Fuzzy at 10:52 AM

August 14, 2003

Toronto Fest Coverage

Slap Happy and the Toronto Improv Fest are the cover story of this week's Now Toronto.

Posted by Fuzzy at 11:01 AM

August 1, 2003

35-Hour Improvathon

Sammy writes:

SEASIDE, FL. - Get ready for the longest improvisational show in history, performed by a single improv troupe. On August 13, at 12:00 noon, the Seaside Repertory Theatre's improv troupe, SPF 7 will begin their 35-hour Improvathon under the direction of Sammy Wegent, attempting to break the unofficial 28 hour record now held by a Kentucky-based improv troupe. "Sammy's Kids," as they will be known for the 35-hour period will take the stage to perform improvisational games, long-form scenes, monologues, audience member interviews, and anything else to keep them awake, including on the hour, every hour snippets of "White People Rapping", an SPF 7 signature game and audience favorite.

People all over the globe will be able to tune in and catch pictures and streaming audio of the production at the theatre's website, www.seasiderep.org.

Wegent says that he and the troupe are excited for the opportunity to break the official and unofficial record for longest improv show performed by one troupe and hopes their excitement spreads into the community and that the Improvathon will be well-attended.

"We'll be performing some of the favorite games and formats people have seen before and also some new inventions to keep it interesting," Wegent said.

The purchase of a $10 ticket will guarantee entry to the event for the entire 35-hour period. The Improvathon will begin at noon on Wednesday, August 13 and will end at 11:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 14. Please call 850-231-3033 for more information.

Posted by Fuzzy at 8:34 PM

Improvapalooza IV

Alec Volz writes:

The annual Improv festival � Improvapalooza IV will be held in Louisville, Kentucky on January 29th, 30th, and 31st 2004 at multiple venues. In the last four years, the Festival has grown to be the largest in the Midwest. Past performers include: Bassprov from Chicago, Ed Reggi and Lindsey Patrick from St. Louis, One Hand Clapping from Nashville, ComedySportz Indianapolis and the host group The Louisville Improvisors to name a few.

This year, for the first time, we are seeking submissions from improv groups who would like to come and play in our festival. Lodging and compensation will be provided to all performing groups.

The deadline for submissions is September 1st. If you are interested, or would like more information about Improvapalooza, please e-mail me:

Alec Volz avolz@waldentheatre.org

Please send a 20-minute demo tape and press kit and/or other materials about your troupe to:

Alec Volz
Walden Theatre
1123 Payne Street
Louisville, KY 40204

Posted by Fuzzy at 11:01 AM

June 9, 2003

Amsterdam International Improvisation Festival

Susanne Lens writes:

9th Amsterdam International Improvisation Festival (January 18-25 2004)

Theatersport Vereniging Amsterdam (TVA) is organizing the 9th edition of the Amsterdam International Improvisation Festival. Previous festivals have displayed a vivid exchange of theatre improv experiences and ideas. Again, this year we would like to inspire our guests and we hope to be inspired by
their qualities.

The festival is scheduled for January 18-25 2004 and is currently open for registration (submission deadline: July 6, 2003).

About the festival: The festival will take place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and during the festival week performances will be held each night. Most shows are divided into two parts: before the break a theatresport match (Johnstone-style) will be played between two opposing teams. After the break one team will have the stage to itself. Most teams usually have an improv form in which they excel or which they most enjoy playing. We invite each participating team to demonstrate their specialty in the second part of the show. During the day, free workshops will be organized that can be attended by all visiting teams and TVA actors. We encourage each visiting team to host two of such workshops. Free accommodation will be provided for the participating teams at the private homes of TVA members, an extensive social programme will be organized and Amsterdam's nightlife never sleeps...For impressions of previous festivals, please check out the festival quotes� on www.theatersport.nl/festival.

If you are interested in joining the festival or need additional information about the festival please contact us.

Int. Festival Committee, TVA
c/o Susanne Lens
Kijkduinstraat 97-1
1055 XT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
e-mail : sus_lens@yahoo.com
www.theatersport.nl
tel: +31-20 6817277

Posted by Fuzzy at 3:49 PM

June 3, 2003

Funny Women Fest Postponed

The Funny Women Fest, previously scheduled for July 24-27, 2003 in Chicago, has been postponed.

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:09 PM

April 29, 2003

Memphis Festival Canceled

The Memphis Comedy Festival, tenatively scheduled for September 2003, has been canceled.

Posted by Fuzzy at 11:05 AM

April 15, 2003

CIF tickets now on sale

Tickets are now available for the Chicago Improv Festival Mainstage. Advance tickets will not be available for the other stages of the festival.

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:50 PM

March 25, 2003

Del Close Marathon takes submissions

The UCB Theatre is now seeking submissions for The 5th Annual Del Close Marathon. The Marathon will be held in New York City from 8 pm Friday, July 11 until midnight Sunday, July 13, 2003 at the UCB Theatre in New York City.

The festival features only long form improvisation and out-of-town groups are encouraged to apply. The deadline for application is April 18, 2003.

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:16 PM

February 3, 2003

Coverage of Miami Festival

The Miami Herald has a review of the Miami Improv Festival. Coverage before the festival included an article in the Herald and an interview with Coyote Pretty in The Street.

Posted by Fuzzy at 9:46 AM

January 29, 2003

Phoenix Improv Festival announced

The Pheonix [Arizona] Improv Festival has been announced for April 11-12, 2003.

Posted by Fuzzy at 11:29 AM

January 7, 2003

Toronto Jamboree 2003 announced

The dates for the Toronto Jamboree festival have been announced - August 12-17, 2003, and performance applications are being accepted. New for this year, the festival is also accepting submissions of comedic films and digital videos, either scripted or improvised.

Posted by Fuzzy at 11:23 AM

November 27, 2002

Miami Deadline Extended Again

The Miami Improv Festival deadline for group registration has been extended again, to December 7, 2002.

In addition to the workshop instructors listed in my last post about the MIF, Joe Bill and Mark Sutton of Bassprov will be performin' and instructin'.

Posted by Fuzzy at 3:50 PM

November 5, 2002

Miami Improv Fest submission date extended

David Christopher from the Miami Improv Festival wrote:

The 2003 Miami Improv Festival has extended its submission deadline to November 30, 2002. MIF has also secured airfare discount with both American Airlines and AirTran for festival participants.

MIF is currently accepting submissions from both improv and sketch groups. Registration in MIF includes:



Registration also includes pre and post festival parties, discounts on accommodations and excursions, and gifts from sponsors and MIF.

Groups selected to perform at the 2003 Miami Improv Festival will receive a split of at least 50% of the door for their performance, in addition to the opportunity to sell their merchandise during the festival.

Posted by Fuzzy at 2:05 PM

October 17, 2002

2nd Annual 3-on-3

The 2nd Annual 3-on-3 Tourney will run all through November at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in NYC. Finals will be Nov. 30.

Posted by Fuzzy at 4:50 PM

October 15, 2002

SAK Foolfest dates confirmed

SAK Comedy Lab in Orlando, FL has confirmed dates for the 2003 Foolfest -- March 12-16, 2003. Artist applications for the festival will be accepted from October 11, 2002 - November 22, 2002.

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:09 PM

October 8, 2002

Miami Improv Fest sets dates

The 2003 Miami Improv Festival has announced its dates, Tuesday, January 28 - Sunday, February 2, 2003, and two of its workshop instructors, Andy Eninger and Karen Herr.

Posted by Fuzzy at 5:09 PM

September 18, 2002

Festivals

There are so many new festivals, you'll just have to check out the Festivals page to find out about all of them.

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:00 PM

September 5, 2002

24 live!

Dirty South Improv presents 24 live!, a 24 hour marathon improv performance, inspired by Second City's Until we R.E.S.T., to benefit the Inter-Faith Council's Community House in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, September 20-21, 2002.

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:00 PM

August 14, 2002

South Florida Improv Jam

South Florida Improv Jam - Five South Florida Improv groups are coming together for the 1st South Florida Jam, which will be August 24 in Coral Gables, Florida. The event benefits the Miami Children's Hospital Foundation.

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:00 PM

August 5, 2002

London Improv Festival

The London Improv Festival will be May 17-25, 2003 in London. Steve Thair says, "Shame about the overlap with CIF6, but it's too late now, damn it!!!"

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:00 PM

July 10, 2002

St. Louis Fest

Ed Reggi sent along a note that dates have been set for the Second Annual St. Louis Improv Festival - February 12-16, 2003.

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:01 PM

May 30, 2002

Jamboree 2002

The Jamboree 2002 improv festival (Toronto - Aug 2002) has announced their schedule of performing groups.

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:00 PM

May 3, 2002

Miami Improv Festival

There are now more details and a call for submissions on the Miami Improv Festival web page.

Posted by Fuzzy at 11:59 AM

April 16, 2002

Memphis Comedy Festival

The dates for the Memphis Comedy Festival have been announced: September 6-8, 2002. Submissions are now being accepted.

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:00 PM

March 14, 2002

UCB Del Close Marathon

Kevin Mullaney writes:




The UCB Theatre is seeking submissions for the 4th Annual Del Close Improv Marathon to be held July 5, 6 & 7 at the UCB Theatre. From 8 PM on Friday night until midnight on Sunday, there will be nothing but long-form improv performed on the UCB stage with different groups performing each half hour. Out of town and non-UCB groups are particularly encouraged to submit shows to the marathon. Submissions must be recieved by April 30th. The schedule for the marathon will be released sometime in May.



Submission guidelines are as follows:

- All shows must be improvised (no sketch)


- Shows are long-form improv (no short form)




To submit your show please email the theater at delclosemarathon@aol.com

with the following information:

-Group/show name


-Show description or summary

-Cast info

-Home theater of group or theatre(s) where this show has been performed


(if applicable)


-Contact information (email and phone)



UCB Theatre

delclosemarathon@aol.com

212.366.9176

http://www.ucbtheatre.com

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:00 PM

February 24, 2002

Laugh 2002

Sirens and ComedySportz Chicago are co-hosting Laugh 2002, the third annual 24-hour comedy benefit for Gilda's Club Chicago. The show starts Saturday, March 2, at 3 PM and runs until Sunday, March 3 at 3 PM.

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:00 PM

February 4, 2002

Festivals

A few new festivals have been announced: The St. Louis Mini-Improv Festival, Feb. 14-16 and the Actors Theatre Improv Festival, May 10, 17 & 24 in Louisville, KY. The Laugh/RIOT festival in Columbia, SC has been postponed until at least October. Check out the Festivals page for more information on even more festivals.

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:00 PM

June 28, 2001

2001 CIF

The dates and location for the 2002 Chicago Improv Festival have been announced: April 1-7 at The Atheaneum Theatre.

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:00 PM

April 24, 2001

CIF approaching

The Chicago Improv Fest is almost here and the performance schedule has been finalized. Check it out.

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:00 PM

December 11, 2000

New Orlando Fest

Sak Theatre of Orlando, Florida has just announced the first ever Orlando Comedy Festival - FoolFest 2001 - which will be held February 21-25, 2001. Applications for performance spots are being accepted immediately, with a deadline of January 12.

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:00 PM

March 19, 2000

Funny Women

The Women's Improvisational/Comedic Development Fest has a new name - Funny Women Fest 2000 - and a new web page. The festival will still be August 25-27 in Chicago.

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:00 PM

January 25, 2000

LAUGH

Sirens and ComedySportz Chicago are hosting Laugh, a 24-hour comedy benefit for Gilda's Club of Chicago, February 19 to 20, 2000. More information can be found in the press release.

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:00 PM

November 20, 1999

SIX on the web

The performances from this year's SIX: the US Improvisation Festival can now be viewed online, courtesy of the Westport Coffeehouse. Visit their webpage, click on the "6" logo, and you can see performances by Black Sheep (Chicago), The Conspiracy Theatre (Chicago), Drunk Baby Collective (Minneapolis), The Evente (New York), Funny Outfit (Kansas City), Pavlov's Dogs (Dallas), SAK theatre (Orlando), and Screwpuppies (Chicago).

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:00 PM

September 25, 1999

October Events

Improv Festivals coming up in October:

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:01 PM

September 16, 1999

Misc.

Whose Line Is It Anyway? will be bumping another ABC show and expanding into 1 full hour on October 7, according to an article at Yahoo!News. (Thanks to Brian Peebles Kameoka for caring about TV.)

And speaking of Brian, he informs me that the Brody Theatre is still looking for registrants (both individuals and troupes) for the Brody's 3rd Annual Improv Fest, Oct 15-24.

And speaking of festivals, the performance line-up for SIX: The US Improvisation Festival has been announced: The Screwpuppies, Black Sheep, and The Conspiracy Theater Company (Chicago), Drunk Baby Collective (Minnesota), Pavlov's Dogs (Dallas), SAK (Orlando), and The Eventé (New York).

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:00 PM

July 1, 1999

Roadtrip to Portland

Brian Peebles Kameoka <brian@brodytheater.com> writes:

"There have been rumblings ever since Funny Outfit announced the dates for SIX (October 14-16) of a charter/tour bus to run from Kansas City to the Portland Improv Festival (October 15-24).

"In every conversation I've had with people, there has been unanimous agreement that this is a COOL idea (and it explodes into more and more ideas... get Comedy Central or MTV to sponsor & film it, a la Road Rules/The Real World, create a "festival on wheels" to tour central and western states en route, and so on). Any thoughts? Think you could post something on your Imrov News section? I guess basically someone needs to take charge of organizing it (as fest director for Portland, I can't take it on), and not that it needs to be you, but your site outta have the "eyeballs" as they say."

So... get in touch with Brian if you'd like to organize that beast.

Posted by Fuzzy at 12:00 PM