ImprovBoston Presents 2012 College Comedy Festival, 2/23-25

The annual ImprovBoston Beanpot Tournament has grown this year. For the first time ever, ImprovBoston is presenting the College Comedy Festival.  Built upon the success of past Beanpot Tournaments, this year's tournament has expanded into a college comedy festival. The festival runs from Thursday, February 23 to Saturday, February 25. The festival takes place at ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect Street, Cambridge. Tickets cost $12-$16 and are available online at www.improvboston.com.

The 2012 College Comedy Festival is a showcase of the highest quality collegiate comedy New England has to offer. There will be 11 teams performing: Liquid Fun (Boston University), Seriously Bent (Suffolk University), The Sweaty-Toothed Madmen (Gordon College), Committee for Creative Enactments (also known as CCE, Boston College), NU and Improv'd (Northeastern University), Guerilla Improv (Worcester Polytechnic Institute), Shenanigans! (Clark University), Improv on the Rocks (Western New England University), The Unusual Suspects (Mount Holyoke College), The Peapod Squad (Clark University), and Middlebrow (Middlebury College).

"I'm really excited for the expansion of the weekend because it will encourage students, who normally went home after their set, to stick around and bridge the gap between college groups and also between college and ImprovBoston. We really want to create a sense of community among improvisers and not separate groups because of ages. We're all doing the same thing!," said College Comedy Festival co-producer, Emily Holland.

The tournament begins Thursday, February 23 with the preliminary rounds. Teams showcase, Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25 ImprovBoston hosts the semifinals, wildcard, and finals night. During the competition, each team is set up with a comedian from ImprovBoston to serve as their coach. On the first day, each team competes in a round-robin style tournament; there are four time slots with three teams each (the final slot has two teams). Three judges will be evaluating the teams based on their story, their skills, and how entertaining they are. The winner of each round will move on to the semifinals, while the second place team will move to the wildcard round.

On the second day of the tournament, the teams get 20 minutes each to perform for audiences and showcase their talents and perform with a headlining act from ImprovBoston. 

During the final day of the tournament, the four winning teams from the preliminary rounds compete in the semifinals. After the winners are declared, the two finalists will compete for the coveted Beanpot trophy. The second place teams from the preliminary round will compete in a wildcard match during the finals.

This year, the festival also hosts a showcase for seniors, workshops and a panel of experts. Students participating in the festival and attend workshops led by Zach Ward (Managing Director for ImprovBoston), Jeremiah Jordan (founder of ImprovBoston's Harold Night), Rachel Klein (head of ImprovBoston's improv program), nationally renowned improviser Jill Bernard (MTV's Made), Bobby Smithney (ImprovBoston Mainstage performer), Will Luera (ImprovBoston's Artistic Director), and David Marino (ImprovBoston teacher).

Between the workshops, there will be a panel of experts to discuss careers in comedy. The panelists are Ward, Dana Jay Bein (ImprovBoston's Director of Talent Development and performer), Myq Kaplan (Last Comic Standing), and Jill Bernard.

 

College Comedy Festival, Featuring Beanpot Tournament Schedule

Thursday, February 23

7:00 p.m., Main Theater: Liquid Fun, Seriously Bent, The Sweaty-Toothed Madmen

8:00 p.m., Studio Theater: Committee for Creative Enactments, NU and Improv'd, Guerilla Improv

9:00 p.m., Main Theater: Shenanigans!, Improv on the Rocks, The Unusual Suspects

10:00 p.m., Studio Theater: Peapod, Middlebrow

 

Friday, February 24

7:00 p.m., Main Theater: NU and Improv'd, Liquid Fun, ImprovBoston's Touring Company

8:00 p.m., Studio Theater: Improv on the Rocks, The Sweaty-Toothed Madmen, Middlebrow, ImprovBoston Mainstage

9:00 p.m., Main Theater: Committee for Creative Enactments, Seriously Bent, Shenanigans!, Jill Bernard

10:00 p.m., Studio Theater: Guerilla Improv, Peapod, The Unusual Suspects, Maxitor (ImprovBoston's Harold team)

11:30 p.m., Main Theater: Senior Showcase (seniors from every team improvise with each other)

 

Saturday, February 25

6:00 p.m., Main Theater: Semifinals (four teams)

6:15 p.m., Studio Theater: Wildcards (3 teams)

8:00 p.m., Main Theater: Finals (2 teams and a show by the wildcard winner)

 

About ImprovBoston

ImprovBoston is New England's home for comedy. Since 1982, ImprovBoston has used a fresh, funny approach to comedy, showcasing today's best performers and training tomorrow's stars. The premiere place for comedy in New England, ImprovBoston boasts a full calendar of the funniest shows in Boston and nationally-known education and corporate training programs.  ImprovBoston is more than just a great Comedy Club-it's a recognized center for the evolving art of comedy. ImprovBoston is a registered 501(c)(3) and has been the New England region's leading theater and school dedicated to teaching and performing all forms of comedy for 30 years.It was voted "Best of Boston" by The Phoenix for 2009-2010, The Improper Bostonian, and The Weekly Digg. ImprovBoston presents a regular selection of the best improv, sketch, and stand-up for all audiences. Through their acclaimed comedy training program, the theater continues to develop the next generation of comedic talent to ensure that the next generation will keep on laughing.