The window is getting narrow for you to submit your group to be apart of the 7th Annual PHILADELPHIA IMPROV FESTIVAL, taking place October 3-9 at the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre. PHIF once again is teaming up with Philadelphia Comedy Collective partner Philly Sketchfest and local comedians to put on Comedy Month, running through October.
Submitted groups will be considered for performance slots Wed – Sun of that week. All submissions are processed via the online form. I recommend you review the submission guidelines so you can make sure you’ve got everything together. If you still have questions after reviewing the guidelines, they can be directed to submissions@phif.org
Tonight marks the start of the first annual F. HAROLD FESTIVAL at the Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5. Created and produced by RICK HORNER, the event features six days of local comedy, including improv, sketch and standup. The idea behind the event is to create a showcase exposition where audiences can delight in a cross section of talent, discovering new up-and-comers as well as reconnecting with old favorites.
TUESDAY, JUNE 7TH
6:00 John Kensil
6:30 The Hendersons
7:00 Rosen & Milkshake
7:30 Carolyn Busa
8:00 Grimmachio
8:30 Ryan Carey
9:00 Really Big Show
9:30 Aaron Hertzog
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8TH
6:00 Luke Giordano
6:30 Shannon’s (Not Really) Standing Up
7:00 Better Than Bacon
7:30 Atomic Love
8:00 Saving Lupin
8:30 Ebony & Ivory
9:00 Alex Grubard
9:30 Becca Trabin
THURSDAY, JUNE 9TH
6:00 Dum, Dum, Stupid & Dum
6:30 Rick Adams
7:00 Rintersplit
7:30 The Averagazzi Present: Zanni Which Way You Can
8:00 Camp Woods
8:30 Whipsuit
9:00 Dave Terruso
9:30 The Feeko Brothers
10:00 Hate Speech Committee
FRIDAY, JUNE 10TH
6:00 Miniboss
6:30 Pasionés de Pasionés
7:00 Iron Lung
7:30 Jessica Tandy
8:00 King Friday
8:30 Mayor Karen
9:00 CUBED
9:30 Asteroid!
10:00 Fletcher
SATURDAY, JUNE 11TH
6:00 The Dream Machine
6:30 Rookie Card
7:00 Horner & Davis
7:30 Adrift
8:00 The Amie & Kristen Show
8:30 MattAnd
9:00 Jess Carpenter
9:30 Brick
10:00 Medic!!
SUNDAY, JUNE 12TH
6:00 The N Crowd
6:30 Toy Soldiers
7:00 Vorlauf
7:30 Beirdo
8:00 Where’s Hillary?
8:30 Angry People Building Things
9:00 Hans Gruber
Hey there duo fans! The wait is just about over… DÜOFEST kicks off this week, and boy oh boy are there some exciting pairings on board. The producers have put together quite an assortment, including local talent like Grimmacchio, Jessica Tandy, Matt&, BWP, Kristen & Amie Show, Suggestical and others, along with visitors the likes of Rachel & Dave, The Cascade, Trotsky & Hutch, Red Letters, Hodapp & Rothwell, Banana Breakup and a very exciting Messing w/ a Friend featuring Susan Messing joined by Christina Gausus. There will also be a number of special pairings that are either new, rarely seen, or assembled just for Düofest… like Jadico Fowler and Michael Loves Greg.
Full festival passes are already sold out, and rumor has it that day passes are quite limited at this point. You can find out more details about ticket options at the Düofest website. Now, let’s get to the lineup!!!
THURSDAY, JUNE 2ND
7:02 pm: Rosen & Milkshake + Grandma Hates Technology
8:02 pm: Upstate + Grimmacchio
9:02 pm: Mañez + Dave and Ethan
10:02 pm: Acid Bath + Hans Gruber
FRIDAY, JUNE 3RD
7:02 pm: BWP + Jadico Fowler
8:02 pm: Michael Loves Greg + Jessica Tandy
9:02 pm: The Nathan & Joe Show + Matt&
10:02 pm: Justin Bobby + Trotsky & Hutch
11:02 pm: Evan the Loyal + Listen, Kid!
SATURDAY, JUNE 4TH
6:02 pm: RuBin + OJ in a Sippy Cup
7:02 pm: Red Letters + Suggestical
8:02 pm: The Cascade + Rachel and Dave
9:02 pm: The Kristen & Amie Show + Trike
10:02 pm: Messing with a Friend (feat. Christina Gausus)
11:02 pm: We’re Matt Weir + Banana Breakup
SUNDAY, JUNE 5TH
6:02 pm: Hot and Modest + Kait and Andrew
7:02 pm: Sisser + Horner & Davis
8:02 pm: Manthorne & the Baron + Dictionary Soup
9:02 pm: Hodapp and Rothwell + Dangerous Fools
All shows are at the Shubin Theater, 407 Bainbridge St. Information about individual groups, tickets, planned excursions, parties and workshops can be found at
http://www.duofest.com
– Get tickets for STAGE FRIGHT on the cheap. Tickets will be available through the run of this Hitchcockian tribute, but instead of paying top dollar at the door, get them before March 24th and save 50%.
4 – Get tickets for the N CROWD Anniversary Show. Nearly every show in 2011 has been sold out. The six year celebration at the RUBA Hall on April 22nd shouldn’t be any different. Get them before they’re gone.
3 – Submit to DÜOFEST. March 22nd is the absolute last day to submit to this one-of-a-kind comedy festival. Get your stuff together and get it in. T-minus six days.
2 – Confirm your PHIT house team audition slot. The Philly Improv Theater is looking to expand their ranks with two new teams under the direction of MATT HOLMES and KRISTEN SCHIER. Slots for the open audition on March 27th are still available but limited.
1 – Get tickets for the Roast of MEG FAVREAU. Forget Trump or Hasselhoff… Philly comedians know how to roast their own, and if last year’s roast of Kent Haines was any indicator, then Meg will be taking some big hits and snapping back strong before she departs for LA. This will be packed. Period.
In the short time since its inception, the ladies of the AMIE & KRISTEN SHOW have garnered a nice little following and high praise for their organic, rooted-in-the-now playing style. After cutting their teeth playing around the East Coast, AMIE ROE and KRISTEN SCHIER are now westbound… for the SEATTLE FESTIVAL OF IMPROVISED THEATER (SFIT).
To offset some of the heavy cost burdens associated with doing a trans-continental journey for a comedy show, they are having a fundraiser show tonight at the ACTORS CENTER in Old City. They will be joined by improv friends MEDIC and IRON LUNG for a few hours of laughs, from which the proceeds will appreciatively help them “not be broke.”
L to R: Amie Roe, Kristen Schier
I had a chance to chat with the ladies about tonight’s fundraiser and their impending trip.
PHILLYIMPROV:With both A&KS and MattAnd performing at SFIT, this is the first time Philadelphia has been represented there. What are you looking forward to?
AMIE ROE: Wearing flannel shirts and listening to grunge! They still do that there, right?
KRISTEN SCHIER: We’re proud to be a selection… Mostly looking forward to going to the fest for the first time. I know only a few of the acts, and if they are any indication the festival will be a lot to watch and learn from.
PI:What about your show are you most excited to share with audiences?
KS: I am excited to share knowledge about the talented Philly scene…
AR: …bring a tiny piece of the amazing improv and comedy scene that’s developing here in Philadelphia to another city. It’s an honor whenever you’re selected to appear in any festival, and a real privilege to be an ambassador for Philly comedy.
KS: And have a blast doing our girlish romp of a show!
PI:Anything you can share about tonight’s show?
KS: (Tonight) is about being thankful for anyone who is willing to come and see our show… Any money we raise will be received with much graditude.
AR: We’re going to look really hot. I’ve been running a bunch and exfoliating… plus I got a hair cut two weeks ago, and I know my girl Kristen has been rocking the WiiFit.
KS: It’s about showing of some of Philly’s newest improv acts.
AR: We’ll be joined on stage by Medic, a collection of some of the most talented PHIT house team members, and Iron Lung, a brand new team that formed out of a PHIT level 201 class that I just taught.
KS: Iron Lung and Medic will be fantabulous!
–
The Amie & Kristen Show (Fantabulous) Fun-draiser Show begins tonight (2/11) at 10PM at the Actors Center, 257 N Third St. Tickets are $10 at the door. Additional information available here.
Back in November, the FEEKO BROTHERS took the title of Dirtiest Sketch in Philadelphia during Comedy Month at the PHILLY SKETCHFEST. To be there was to experience an assault to the eyes and nose that is really quite incomparable.
For those that missed the now infamous sketch, it is with warning to the weak-stomached that we’re excited to give you the very NSFW Slow Day at the Dildo Factory:
Keeping you up to date on what’s going on in comedy
The resignation of editor Brian Howard isn’t the only change over at CityPaper… RYAN CAREY of Critical Mass has started a new weekly look at Philadelphia’s comedy scene, LOL With It. And in his inaugural post, he chats with none other than CHIP CHANTRY.
Some exciting news from CHRIS COTTON and the gang at CENTER CITY COMEDY. LLC papers have been filed and they’ve made it official. Congratulations!
How appropriate it’s FF. Because if you haven’t discovered them yet, be sure to check out IT’S ALWAYS FUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA. A new local comedy blog that’s already got some great content. Oh, and check ‘em out on Facebook too.
Last weekend, PJI debuted A VERY SPECIAL LADIES & GENTLEMEN CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. And special it was. I was there for all three shows, and they were fantastic. Phillyist agrees, calling the show “fresh, funny & unexpected.” Just three more chances to catch it this weekend before it closes.
The schedule for NCCAF (North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival) has been posted. Seven Philadelphia improv groups have been slated to perform – Jessica Tandy, Rintersplit, Adrift, The Ones, N Crowd, Cubed & Rookie Card… as well as four sketch groups – Camp Woods, Bare Hug, Emily & Micah McGraw and Meg & Rob (with 2 shows!) and also stand up Aaron Hertzog. My apologies if I missed any locals while scanning the list.
And across the country on the same weekend, more Philly comedians will be tearing it up at SFIT (Seattle Festival of Improv Theater). Making their SFIT debuts will be the Amie & Kristen Show as well as MattAnd.
Be sure to keep up to date on Philly comedy happenings by following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.
Posts have been lacking the last few weeks, as I’ve been otherwise occupied deep in the hilarity of the Philadelphia Comedy Collective’s COMEDY MONTH. Both the PHILADELPHIA IMPROV FESTIVAL and the PHILLY SKETCHFEST enjoyed incredible acts playing to record audiences. Recaps of those weeks will be coming soon.
Last night kicked of the final week of Comedy Month, with selections from the PHILADELPHIA JOKE INITIATIVE entitled These Guys Are Good Vol 1. We saw the comedic illusions and body manipulations of flexible comedian JONATHAN BURNS. THOMAS CHOINACKY gave audiences a taste of his obsession with an excerpt from his show Thomas is Titanic. Finally, UN Ambassador and Nobel Laureate BUDDY FELCH dropped jaws with tales of his experiences with Ghandi, the Dalai Lama and other high profile figures. The evening was hosted by the incredibly funny CHRIS COTTON.
The fun continues next with These Guys Are Good Vol 2. In the hopper for tonight are videos and sketches from I’D RATHER BE HERE PRODUCTIONS, the musical comedy stylings of TODD CHAPPELLE, and variety show comedy from 2 DUDES & A DUDE (featuring former 6th Borough sketchers COREY COHEN & JASON MESSINA).
THURSDAY
8PM: THE N CROWD GOES LONG
10PM: COMEDY GONE BAD
FRIDAY
8PM: PREVIEW – A VERY LADIES & GENTLEMEN CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
10PM: COMEDYSPORTZ PRESENTS GAME, SET, MATCH GAME!
SATURDAY
CIF’S NATIONAL COLLEGE IMPROV TOURNAMENT
12PM, 2PM, 4PM & 6PM: EASTERN REGIONAL PRELIMINARIES
9PM: EASTERN REGIONAL FINALS
All shows are held at the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom St in Center City Philadelphia.
Mixing sketch, stand-up, film, music, education, parody and a healthy dose of competition, this eclectic last week is the perfect topper to what has been an incredible Comedy Month. Come join us as PJI explores the bizarre and surreal corners of today’s comedy.
Tickets and workshops have gone on sale for the 6th annual PHILADELPHIA IMPROV FESTIVAL, kicking off the first week of COMEDY MONTH. This year, the festival will operate on two stages… the Mainstage and bulk of the shows will take place at the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom St. Friday will also include a set of special shows taking place at the Philadelphia Ethical Society, 1906 Rittenhouse Square.
More info on tickets and workshops are below…
Tickets
Tickets are available in a variety of options to suit your needs. You can purchase a ticket for a single block of shows ($10), as well as passes for a whole night ($25), for the run of PHIF ($60), or even for all of Comedy Month ($100)! Tickets are available at:
http://phif.org/tickets.html
Performers get access to all Mainstage shows for free, on a standby basis. For any performers wanting to guarantee seating for any particular show, PHIF is offering block tickets at a 50% discount (discount is not valid for passes).
PHIF also has two sets of shows at the Ethical Society on Friday 11/5… First up, Lekker from Baltimore opens for iO West’s EXTRA-STRENGTH. Then later, comedy duo Dangerous Fools, featuring Philadelphia’s Mary Carpenter and LA’s Thomas Fowler open for the festival’s main act… David Razowsky & Joe Bill. These two old friends and comedy veterans join up for the first time ever on a festival stage! Tickets for these shows are also $10 (passes are not valid – a separate ticket is required), and performers can use their 50% discount for these shows as well.
Also, on Tuesday – Thursday, PHIF is extending the price of a single block ticket to include the whole night. So you can come out and enjoy lots of great comedy for one low price!
This year PHIF is offering eight different workshops from some of the best instructors in the country, including a longer Master Class co-taught by David Razowsky & Joe Bill.
PHIF is also offering a free workshop seminar about getting media attention, hosted by PHIF & NCCAF publicist Carrie Gorn. She’ll have tons of valuable information and there will be a Q&A to help you get the most out of your press efforts. There’s no registration for the seminar… just show up. But keep in mind to arrive early, as space may be limited.
FRIDAY WORKSHOPS Your Power Improv Toolkit
w/ Joe Bill
Friday 11/5 2pm – 5pm $35 Performers / $50 Non-Performers
It’s Funny Because It’s True
w/ Mary Carpenter & Thomas Fowler
Friday 11/5 2pm – 5pm $35 Performers / $50 Non-Performers
Posted by Matt Nelson 
