7th Annual Kalamazoo Improv Fest

The Kalamazoo Improv Festival returns, and this year, it’s going to be Epic… quite literally! Thanks to the Greater Kalamazoo Arts Council, The Epic Center, will play host to the 7th Annual Improv Fest November 6 & 7 in its recently renovated Epic Theater. Due to the popularity of last year’s fest, we had to move it to a larger space. Festival goers will still be able to buy alcoholic beverages in the lobby, thanks to Millennium Restaurants’ Central City Tap House. Have a drink while you enjoy top-notch improv from some of the most talented groups in the Midwest. Teams from Chicago, Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Kalamazoo will leave you in stitches by performing scenes made up completely on the spot using suggestions from the audience. Also, be sure to get there early to hear live music before shows from the band Fishlips. If you’ve seen them at previous Improv Fests, you know just how funny they are. The festival activities start at 6pm, Friday, November 6 with a free Art Hop show, followed by shows at 8pm, 10pm, and then a midnight improv jam. The fun continues Saturday, November 7 with improv workshops at 1pm and 4pm, where you can learn valuable improv skills from some of the finest teachers in the business. Saturday night will feature shows at 8pm and 10pm. Shows: Friday, Nov 6, 6pm (FREE Art Hop Shortform Show) Roial Improv Players - From MSU. They improv like Spartans Worklight - WMU's gang of state funded improv performers Crawlspace Eviction - aged and weathered with the funny to show for it Friday, Nov 6, 8:00 PM Your F!@$ed Up Relationship - comedy built around your romantic failures Pop Scholars - young, smart, and sexy longform SHEBEAST - all women, all beast Friday, Nov 6, 10:00 PM AlterBoyz - Strong like dragons and weird like babies Devil’s Daughter - so funny, you’d swear it was evil Aphasia - 3 Chicago improv veterans that will change your world Friday, Nov 6, Midnight (FREE) Free midnight jam. Any performer or audience member is free to jump on stage and improvise. This is your chance to play with some of the most talented people in the business. Saturday, Nov 7, 8pm With The Dark - improv that sounds as good as it sounds Crawlspace Eviction - Kalamazoo’s team Lethal Action Force - an improvised action “movie”, exploding with laughs Saturday, Nov 7, 10pm Man Love - best friends sharing a strange and hilarious history Battle Masters - a ground shaking duo that takes no prisoners Law Dog - funny, and house broken Tickets are $10 general admission for each show unless otherwise noted, or get a $25 fest pass and see as many shows as you want. Workshops: Saturday, Nov 7, 1pm Eric Schinzer & Timmy Reahard of Battle Masters - Always Ready - Improv requires being ready, all the time. Even when you’re not in the scene, you must be present. This workshop will help you stay focussed, all show long. Saturday, Nov 7, 1pm Scott Piebenga & Micah Sterenberg of Your F!@$ed Up Relationship - That Was Inspiring! - Many improv forms use monologues and conversations to inspire and generate scenes. This workshop will focus on pulling ideas from monologues and interviews to create fun, playful scenes. Saturday, Nov 7, 4pm John Patrick Coan, Zack Mast, Alex Nichols, and Luke Null of Law Dog - Follow the Fun - This is a scene work workshop that focuses on giving your scene partner gifts and shifting your scene partner's expectations as to where the scene is going. Participants will embrace their anxiety and uncertainty and channel that chaos to create grounded realities. Saturday, Nov 7, 4pm Brian Lam & Dann Sytsma of Crawlspace Eviction & Improv Effects - Improv At Work - Curious about what an Improv Effects workshop look like? Whether you’re looking to “try before you buy” for your organization, or just want to strengthen your communication skills, check out our open-to-the-public workshop. Admission is $15 per workshop. All shows and workshops will be at the Epic Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. Alcoholic beverage will be available in the Epic Center main floor lobby throughout both nights of comedy. To get more information or to purchase tickets, go to crawlspacetheatre.com. For workshop sign-up, contact us at info@crawlspacetheatre.com. The 7th Annual Kalamazoo Improv Fest is made possible by these generous sponsors: Friday Night Sponsor Fetzer Center Saturday Night Sponsor Millennium Restaurant Group Printing Sponsor Allegra Printing Program Sponsors Arcadia Brewing Company Courtyard Marriott Discover Kalamazoo Improv Effects Lana’s Boutique Nature Connection Milan the Style Shop Schupan & Sons Van Sweden Jewelers Downtown Partners Farmers Alley Theatre Gazelle Sports HappyGraph London Grill Newmind Group Terrapin World Wide Imports