Detroit Improv Festival Opens Tonight

The eighth annual Detroit Improv Festival is set to open TONIGHT at Go Comedy! Improv Theater and continue through Sunday, August 12 with performances at Go Comedy! Improv Theater, The Ringwald Theater, and The Magic Bag, and Affirmations, all in Ferndale.

The week's headliner performance includes Paul F. Tompkins and Spontaneanation Thursday, August 9 at 7:00pm and 10:00pm at The Magic Bag. A live-recorded improvised comedy podcast, each episode of Spontaneanation contains two segments: an interview with a special guest, followed by an improvisational scene that contains elements from the preceding interview, taking place in a setting given by that week's guest. Each interview begins with a question supplied by the previous episode's guest, without revealing their identity. Additionally, Tompkins begins each show with a brief improvised stream of consciousness monologue. The improvisational scene and monologue are scored by Eban Schletter on piano.

Tompkins will stay in Detroit for two additional improv shows at 7:00pm and 10:00pm on Friday, August 10 at the Magic Bag where he will be joined by members of Spontaneanation and former Detroiters Jaime Moyer (Modern Family, KC Undercover, 2 Broke Girls) and Marc Evan Jackson (Jumanji, Brooklyn Nine Nine, The Good Place)

The festival will also include the Los Angeles based improv troupe, Flying Chuck (performing at Go Comedy on Thursday at 10pm) with pro wrestling star John Morrison, hosted by former WWE superstar Damien Sandow (now known as Aron Stevens). A slate of improvised podcasts has also been added to this year's line up including Roach Koach, The Nice Guys, History Made Up, and My Nieghors Are Dead, all recording live episodes.

Tickets for all Detroit Improv Festival performances run from $10- $25 with a full-festival pass available for $120. Tickets for shows at The Magic Bag (8:00pm and 10:00pm on Thursday, August 9 and Friday, August 10) are $25 and available online at www.ticketweb.com Tickets for all other Detroit Improv Festival performances are available online at www.detroitimprovfestival.org.

To post a comment, you must register and login.