13th Annual Providence Improv Fest Announces Lineup

By: Sep. 07, 2016
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The 13th Annual Providence Improv FEST, will be taking place at AS220 Black Box at 95 Empire St. and AS220 Main Stage at 115 Empire St., in downtown Providence on September 22-24, 2016.

This year's FEST will feature top improv comedy troupes from New York City, Chicago, Austin, Boston, Hartford, Vermont, North Carolina, New Hampshire, and, of course, Rhode Island.


HEADLINERS:

The Boys (Chicago, IL): The Headliners for this years fest are The Boys, aka Susan Messing and Rachael Mason. Messing and Mason are highly respected improvisers and considered two of the funniest performers in the country. "The Boys" is a resident improv show at The Second City in Chicago. Both Susan Messing and Rachael Mason will be teaching workshops at the FEST, which sold out in under 24 hours.

North Coast (NYC, NY): Another FEST Headliner, North Coast frequently blurs the line between comedy show and concert, drawing audiences from the comedy, hip-hop, and theater communities for an experience that has been hailed as "mind-blowing" and "next level" by critics and audiences alike. Named one of the "Top Ten Best Comedy Shows" by Time Out New York, North Coast has been featured on Vh1, in Slate's Podcast The Gist, The Village Voice, and The New York Times Comedy Listings.

Airwolf (NYC, NY): Airwolf is a favorite of the Providence Improv FEST. They have been performing at P!F for years and have many local ties to Rhode Island. Members of Airwolf have appeared on Comedy Central, The Onion News Network, ESPN, Nickelodeon, and Adult Swim, among many others.

FEATURED ACTS:

As with past FEST improv celebrations, the groups range in variety from the theatrical improvised musical teams Agent Superball (Boston) & The Providence Improv Guild's "Large Mouth Bass" to Stranger Than Fiction(NH)'s Hogwarts Improvised!, a Harry Potter themed show. From a group of sober improvisers trying to keep up with an extremely drunk narrator in History Under The Influence(Austin, TX), to witty hiphop inspired Riot (Durham, NC).

Crisis: An Improvised Comic Book is half improv comedy and half graphic novel. The Raving Jaynes (NYC) combine dance and physical improv as well as basic scenework to create a unique and exciting comedy experience. Naffy Improv (Boston) has been performing their weekly hit free show "Your Terrible Ex!" in Boston, MA to consistently sold out audiences and has been featured and recommended in bostonmagazine.com, boston.com, and Boston University Today Magazine. Bodega (Boston) brings a cohesive group dynamic with varied cultural references that serve as a launch pad for supportive scenes that may be a take on current political issues. Lady Business (Hartford, CT) is an all female trio from Sea Tea Comedy Theater, which just opened in downtown Hartford, CT.

Local Favorites include groups Diner Report, Adult Crushes, & Freezer Basterdz from festival sponsor The Providence Improv Guild. Improv Jones, Bring Your Own Improv, Friday Night Live, The Bit Players, The Contemporary Theater, and Speed of Thought Players all help showcase the improvised talent in RI.

FAMILY FARE:

As with last year's P!F, there will be a Family Friendly Show on Saturday September 24th featuring Warwick's Bring Your Own Improv. The family friendly show will be a Pay-What-You-Can event with all proceeds going to the Manton Avenue Project. Following the family friendly show Eric Fulford, Providence improviser and performance artist, will be offering a free improv workshop for teens.

"We have a fantastic festival organized this year, featuring our widest-ever range of comedic styles and formats! The quality of submissions we received was nothing short of impressive, and we are excited to present shows featuring performers from all walks of life. This festival is perfect for everyone--for those brand new to improv, as well as for people who have been interested in the art form for years!" -Tim Thibodeau, Providence Improv Fest Producer


Tickets: SHOWS $10; FEST PASS $35. For more information, visit the PROVIDENCE IMPROV FEST website at www.providenceimprovfest.com.

PROVIDENCE IMPROV is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public in the art form of improvisation theater through performance, classes, and other community outreach.



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