Houston Improv Festival Kicks Off Today at Midtown Arts Center; Runs Through 4/27

By: Apr. 24, 2014
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The Houston Improv Festival is a four ­day festival of live improv comedy performances and workshops. Performers use teamwork and the basic improv tenet of "Yes, and..." to weave completely unscripted 20-­25 minute shows with distinctive characters and unique scenarios, often sharing worlds that only exist in the performers' imaginations. Leading the charge is the hard­hitting national duo Jet Eveleth and Holly Laurent of iO West. Houston's This Infinite Closet performs their entire show in the dark. The Latin flair of the TV novella inspires Austin's Shades of Brown. Chicago's Laser Improv illustrates an improvised tale using light. Houston's Mockumentalists perform an improvised documentary.

Performers include improvisers from Houston, Austin, Chicago and New York, as well as nationally­ renowned improvisers Jet Eveleth and Holly Laurent of iO West and Dianah Dulany of ComedySportz Houston.

Each show features 3­4 improv troupes for a total of 16 performances. Show times are Thursday, April 24 at 8pm? Friday, April 25 at 8pm and 10pm? and Saturday, April 26 at 8pm and 10pm. Workshop times are Saturday, April 26 at 10:00am and 2:00pm. HIF will host a special screening of the movie Closed Quarters on Sunday, April 27 at 2:00pm, featuring a talk­back with veteran improvisers Jet Eveleth and Holly Laurent, both of whom appear in the film.

Improv is a fun, fast­paced, off­the­cuff form of theater that is fun to watch. You never know what might happen!

Yes, and... April is National Humor Month. Who couldn't use more laughter in their life?

Shows and workshops take place at the Midtown Art Center at 3414 LaBranch Street. Tickets to individual shows are $15. Weekend passes are $50. Visit for more information.

The Houston Improv Festival is a unique event that promotes improvisational theatre in collaboration with the growing pool of comedic talent in the Houston arts scene. The Houston Improv Festival produces a week long improv­aganza every spring and hosts smaller showcases throughout the year.



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