Seattle's Annual Improv Comedy Festival Set for 2/13-17

The best improv comedy groups in North America descend upon Seattle for a five-day festival over Valentine's Day weekend. What's not to love about kung fu, pimps, slashers and David Mamet all performed without a script?

The 11th Annual Seattle Festival of Improv Theater (SFIT) is February 13 - 17 and features 22 groups from across North America. Local favorites like Super Mega Art Show, Blood Squad, The Temporary People and Cat Pack will appear alongside nationally and internationally renowned groups like Pimprov (Chicago), The Five Deadly Improvisers (San Francisco), Confidence Men: Improvised Mamet (Austin), Twinprov (Oklahoma City), Ghost Jail Theater (Vancouver, BC) and many more.

The festival has grown over the last eleven years from a two-night affair in 2001, to a five-night bonanza at multiple venues reaching over 900 patrons each February. "The name of the game is quality and variety, and we keep uncovering more of each," said Andrew McMasters, the executive director of the festival. "Improv is growing and finding brand new ways to make people laugh. We've worked very hard to pick the best groups in the country to show off what improv can do; and love showing off our local talent to groups from the rest of the country so they can see why Seattle is one of the top improv cities in the country."

Performances take place at 8pm and 10:30pm at both Jet City Improv (5510 University Way NE) and the SFIT Second Stage (3940 Brooklyn Ave NE). Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students and military with ID. There is also a $50 festival pass that is valid for all shows, Wednesday through Sunday. Tickets and a full schedule and lineup can be found by visiting www.seattleimprov.com.

SFIT is hosted by Jet City Improv with additional support from Unexpected Productions and ComedySportz Seattle and sponsors Pike Brewing Company and Seattle Weekly.