Contemporary Theater Company Announces 8th Annual Ocean State Improv Festival

No scripts. No safety net. No idea what's going to happen next — and that's exactly the point. The Ocean State Improv Festival, now in its 8th year, returns to The Contemporary Theater Company in Wakefield, Rhode Island June 3–7, 2026, bringing together some of the best improvisers in the country for five days of performances, workshops, and the kind of spontaneous magic you simply can't plan for.

Thirty-seven troupes from thirteen states performing and every single moment is made up on the spot.

This year's lineup is stacked with returning fan favorites and exciting newcomers. Juliet & Juliet — a duo who have performed at every single OSIF since the festival launched in 2017 — are back to deliver their jaw-dropping improvised Shakespeare. Magical Lying Hour returns with its delightfully unhinged premise: one actor has a script memorized, and the other is making up every single line. Hell Yeah! from New York City brings their renown improvised musicals, and But of Mind performs their eerie, captivating take on improvised Twilight Zone. New to the festival this year, Trash Can Orchestra from Seattle takes inspiration from STOMP and the Blue Man Group, turning household objects into percussion instruments and pure theatrical joy.

"OSIF is one of my favorite festivals worldwide," says Ross Flores, returning this year with his groups The Manny Rodriguez Show and Create the Sound. "Inclusive community, Great Performances from all over the country, hilarious mixer/bit shows, engaging workshops, and tasty ice cream across the street — all with the beach nearby. Whether you do improv or not, if you're in the Northeast or have some extra miles to spare: make the trip!"

The festival runs Wednesday through Saturday night, with shows on Wednesday at 7 pm & 9:30 pm, Thursday at 5 pm, 7 pm, and 9:30 pm, Friday at 5 pm, 7 pm, 9:30, and 11 pm, and Saturday at 2 pm, 5 pm, 7 pm, 9:30 pm, and 11 pm.

But if there's one thing not to miss, it's the mixer shows at 9:30 pm Thursday through Saturday — Pirate Improv, Micetro, and Theatresports — where performers who have never shared a stage together are thrown into the deep end and catching lightning in a bottle.

The festival wraps up Sunday afternoon with the free Duo Bracket Challenge on the CTC's outdoor patio at 1:30 pm: 16 brand-new duos go head to head with 2 minutes onstage. The only rule? The two performers cannot have performed together before this festival. It's one part show, one part send-off party, and one hundred percent chaos in the best possible way.

For those who want to do more than watch, the festival offers over a dozen workshops Thursday through Sunday from teachers who really know their stuff. Want to improvise with puppets? Learn to find courage onstage? Make your scenes feel like a big-budget action film? Tap into your deepest emotions? Tackle death and dying with grace? Play an inanimate object with complete sincerity? There's a workshop for all of that and more. Take nine or more hours of workshops and you'll earn a free All-Access Festival Pass — which, frankly, is a great deal and an even better weekend.

"I've never heard anyone complain that they came to too many shows," says Maggie Cady, General Manager at the theater. "I've only had people tell me how they regret only coming for one show. So I recommend going for it — get some day passes, or better yet a full festival pass, and sit back and enjoy the ride."

Tickets are available now with flexible pricing. Tickets can be purchased on the Contemporary Theater Company's website or by calling the box office at (401) 218-0282.

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