Impro Theatre Presents 1966 HOLIDAY VARIETY EXTRAVAGANZA and JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED

LA's own Impro Theatre will perform this holiday season from the Valley to the ocean with two of their highly-acclaimed shows: 1966 Holiday Variety Extravaganza at Garry Marshall Theatre (November 30 - December 9) and Jane Austen UnScripted at The Edye at The Broad Stage (December 14 - 22). Impro Theatre incorporates audience suggestions to create completely improvised, full-length shows in each style.

In 1966 Holiday Variety Extravaganza, the audience travels back to the swingin' Sixties for a night of holiday hilarity. Using audience suggestions, the award-winning Impro Theatre performs their unscripted, totally improvised LIVE variety show that delights in the comedy and music stylings of "Holiday Special" icons Andy Williams, Perry Como and Judy Garland. The show premiered in 2016 at The Broad Stage and will have its second production at the Garry Marshall Theatre.

Dan O'Connor, Impro Theatre's Producing Artistic Director explains in an interview with the LA Daily News: "We looked at a bunch of shows from the Hollywood Palace in the late '60s some of which Bing Crosby hosted, and they're really random. For example, there was a 'Hogan's Heroes"' Christmas sketch featuring Liza Minnelli, who did a dance with her boyfriend for her mother Judy Garland followed by dancing Santas. The idea that you could have a juggling act, an Italian tenor or a '60s pop group gives us the opportunity to play with any number of ideas."

1966 Holiday Variety Extravaganza plays November 30 - December 9 at Garry Marshall Theatre. For tickets and information, visit www.GarryMarshallTheatre.org. For more information on the show, visit https://improtheatre.com/1966-holiday-variety-extravaganza/.

Jane Austen wrote only six novels, but her wit and wisdom left readers pining for more. Impro Theatre's Ovation Award-recommended Jane Austen UnScripted gives audiences a chance to imagine the other books she might have written. The company starts with audience suggestions and deftly creates a world of love-struck girls, brooding noblemen and charming cads, and although hearts are sure to be broken, true love will win out in the end.

LA Weekly said, "GO! Oh, what fun to see Impro Theatre create a two-act drama in the style of a Jane Austen novel...Aside from its breathtaking wit, the show reveals the codes of behavior that accrue into an acting style, and even a social style." The Los Angeles Times calls Jane Austen UnScripted, "a stunning feat of performance and literary wizardry."

Jane Austen UnScripted plays December 14 - 22 at The Edye at The Broad Stage. For tickets and information, visit www.thebroadstage.org. For more information on the show, visit https://improtheatre.com/jane-austen-unscripted/.

In December 2017, the Los Angeles Times said, "Impro Theatre has evolved into a powerhouse improvisational company in full-length shows that are off-the-cuff and consistently hilarious. An indigenous Los Angeles treasure, the company should be seen - and reseen!"

Impro Theatre received two 2016 Ovation Award nominations: "Best Presented Production" for Jane Austen UnScripted at The Broad Stage and "Best Featured Actress in a Musical" for Michele Spears' performance in Sondheim UnScripted. The Los Angeles Times calls Impro Theatre, "One of the funniest evenings in town...an amazing comedy troupe spins an entire play into comedy gold right before your eyes."

Founded as Los Angeles Theatresports, Impro Theatre has evolved from a successful short form improv troupe into a critically acclaimed theatre company.

Impro Theatre creates completely improvised, full-length plays in the styles of the world's greatest writers. With no pre-planning or prepared scenarios, the performers start with audience suggestions and then write theatre as they perform it, combining verbal dexterity and dynamic physicality to bring character and plot to life in an instant. Impro Theatre's performances are unique; there are no repeated characters and no set story structure. Each performance offers an exploration into the process of spontaneous creation while encouraging a profound level of engagement between performers and audience, who are all united in discovering what happens in the moment on that particular night.

In Southern California, Impro has performed sold-out shows at South Coast Repertory, The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, The Pasadena Playhouse, North Coast Repertory in San Diego, The Falcon Theatre in Burbank, and many more. Venues around the world include the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Athenaeum Theatre in Chicago, Evans Auditorium at Texas State University, The Melbourne Fringe in Australia, and Theatre Adyar in Paris.

Impro has received multiple Ovation Recommended honors and Critics' Picks in Los Angeles Times, Backstage and L.A. Weekly.