Improvising Laughs at 8th annual Sarasota Improv Festival
By Jay Handelman , Herald-Tribune
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
By Jay Handelman , Herald-Tribune
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
The improv troupe Parallelogramophonograph, better known as PGraph, from Austin, Texas, is among the new acts at the 2016 Sarasota Improv Festival. group features, from left, Kaci Beeler, Kareem Badr, Roy Janik and Valerie Ward. PHOTO PROVIDED BY FST
Since it started eight years ago, the Sarasota Improv Festival has made it clear that there’s a lot more to improv comedy than the quick-paced theater games that are the bread and butter of many companies.
It has featured large groups and small who take audience ideas and spin them into wildly divergent tales. Some focus on creating one extended story, while others turn those ideas into musical sequences or create full-length plays in the style of William Shakespeare.
New twists get added to the mix this year, with an original French farce, improvised episodes of “The Twilight Zone” and one international troupe that performs without words.
The eighth annual festival at Florida Studio Theatre comes at a time of growing interest in improv nationwide.
“The industry as a whole continues to evolve and grow,” said Rebecca Hopkins, the theater’s managing director who launched the FST Improv troupe and the festival. “There are so many more performers and companies out there now.”
It has featured large groups and small who take audience ideas and spin them into wildly divergent tales. Some focus on creating one extended story, while others turn those ideas into musical sequences or create full-length plays in the style of William Shakespeare.
New twists get added to the mix this year, with an original French farce, improvised episodes of “The Twilight Zone” and one international troupe that performs without words.
The eighth annual festival at Florida Studio Theatre comes at a time of growing interest in improv nationwide.
“The industry as a whole continues to evolve and grow,” said Rebecca Hopkins, the theater’s managing director who launched the FST Improv troupe and the festival. “There are so many more performers and companies out there now.”
The Los Angeles-based Impro Theatre will present its Improvised Twilight Zone shows during the 2016 Sarasota Improv Festival. PHOTO PROVIDED BY FST
That makes picking troupes to feature at the festival more of a challenge each year for Hopkins and Will Luera, the former Boston-based performer who was hired two years ago as FST’s first director of improvisation.
“Bringing in three new groups is a pretty high percentage,” Hopkins said. “We’re making sure that they’re of the right caliber because everybody on the schedule gets compared to everybody else on the schedule, so the new slots are coveted for that.”
This year’s new groups are the headliner Impro Theatre, which will present its “Twilight Zone UnScripted” show; Speechless, featuring two improv artists from Colombia and a Canadian DJ who perform without words; and Parallelogramophonograph (or P-Graph), a mostly touring team from Austin Texas that will be improvising a French farce, with makeup and costumes.
“Bringing in three new groups is a pretty high percentage,” Hopkins said. “We’re making sure that they’re of the right caliber because everybody on the schedule gets compared to everybody else on the schedule, so the new slots are coveted for that.”
This year’s new groups are the headliner Impro Theatre, which will present its “Twilight Zone UnScripted” show; Speechless, featuring two improv artists from Colombia and a Canadian DJ who perform without words; and Parallelogramophonograph (or P-Graph), a mostly touring team from Austin Texas that will be improvising a French farce, with makeup and costumes.
The New York-based North Coast Improv created a story with a circus theme and elephants in love during the 2015 Sarasota Improv Festival at Florida Studio Theatre. (July 11, 2015) STAFF PHOTO/JAY HANDELMAN
They join 15 returning favorites, some of which have been involved from the beginning, including SAK Comedy Lab from Orlando and Dad’s Garage from Atlanta.
The festival opens with an evening of Florida-based troupes performing roughly 20-minute slots divided into two performance sets, followed by the Florida All Star King of the Hill Competition. Friday and Saturday will feature all the other troupes (including three performances by FST improv artists), capped by an All-Play free-for-all to close the event at 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
Here’s a look at the troupes performing this year:
The Eighth Annual Sarasota Improv Festival
Runs July 14-16 at Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. Tickets are $10 for individual shows ($25 for Impro Theatre); $20 for Thursday night, $49 for all Friday or Saturday shows; $59 for two days and $69 for all three days. For more information: 366-9000; floridastudiotheatre.org
The festival opens with an evening of Florida-based troupes performing roughly 20-minute slots divided into two performance sets, followed by the Florida All Star King of the Hill Competition. Friday and Saturday will feature all the other troupes (including three performances by FST improv artists), capped by an All-Play free-for-all to close the event at 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
Here’s a look at the troupes performing this year:
The Eighth Annual Sarasota Improv Festival
Runs July 14-16 at Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. Tickets are $10 for individual shows ($25 for Impro Theatre); $20 for Thursday night, $49 for all Friday or Saturday shows; $59 for two days and $69 for all three days. For more information: 366-9000; floridastudiotheatre.org
Available Cupholders, 9 p.m. July 15; 7 p.m. July 16 (Keating Theatre) — The Austin, Texas performs long-form shows built around audience suggestions. Some members also will lead a workshop at 12:30 p.m. July 16. facebook.com/availablecupholders
Big Bang Improv, 6 p.m. July 16 (Keating Theatre) — This Boston troupe, including ImprovBoston alumni, presents fast-paced free-form shows with constantly changing scenarios. facebook.com/BigBangImprov
Big Bang Improv, 6 p.m. July 16 (Keating Theatre) — This Boston troupe, including ImprovBoston alumni, presents fast-paced free-form shows with constantly changing scenarios. facebook.com/BigBangImprov
Members of Austin's Available Cupholders tell a story of a princess in a Shakespearean style during the 2015 Sarasota Improv Festival. From left, Ace Manning, Bill Stern, Kaci Beeler and Michael Joplin. (July 10, 2015) STAFF PHOTO/JAY HANDELMAN
Dad’s Garage, 8 p.m. July 15, 5 p.m. July 16 (Keating Theatre) — The Atlanta-based Dad’s Garage performs in a variety of styles from improv games to soap operas and other sketches in their varied shows. dadsgarage.com
Dear Aunt Gertrude, 7 p.m. July 15 (Bowne’s Lab) — The Tampa troupe, founded in 2009 and featuring a 10-member team, creates themed show in short and long-form styless. Dear Aunt Gertrude
FST Improv, 6 p.m. July 15 (Keating Theatre) -- Marking its 15th year, FST Improv has been building a growing following and expanding its performance style with new games and shows in the last few years. floridastudiotheatre.org/fst-improv
Impro Theatre 8 p.m. July 15 and 9 p.m. July 16 (Gompertz Theatre) — This year’s headlining act presents “The Twilight Zone UnScripted,” taking audience ideas to create new-styled episodes of the classic series. Improtheatre.com
ImprovBoston, 7 p.m. July 15, 8 p.m. July 11 (Goldstein Cabaret) — This troupe has been performing and teaching theater and comedy for more than 30 years creating varied styles from long-form storytelling to spontaneous games. ImprovBoston.com
Dear Aunt Gertrude, 7 p.m. July 15 (Bowne’s Lab) — The Tampa troupe, founded in 2009 and featuring a 10-member team, creates themed show in short and long-form styless. Dear Aunt Gertrude
FST Improv, 6 p.m. July 15 (Keating Theatre) -- Marking its 15th year, FST Improv has been building a growing following and expanding its performance style with new games and shows in the last few years. floridastudiotheatre.org/fst-improv
Impro Theatre 8 p.m. July 15 and 9 p.m. July 16 (Gompertz Theatre) — This year’s headlining act presents “The Twilight Zone UnScripted,” taking audience ideas to create new-styled episodes of the classic series. Improtheatre.com
ImprovBoston, 7 p.m. July 15, 8 p.m. July 11 (Goldstein Cabaret) — This troupe has been performing and teaching theater and comedy for more than 30 years creating varied styles from long-form storytelling to spontaneous games. ImprovBoston.com
From left, David Christopher, Katie Jopson and Kasey Soska from Miami's Just the Funny improv and comedy group perform on the opening night of the 2015 Sarasota Improv Festival at Florida Studio Theatre. STAFF PHOTO/JAY HANDELMAN
Just the Funny, 7 p.m. July 14 (Bowne’s Lab) -- The Miami troupe, founded in 1999, presents its show Fever Pitch, a mix of drama and comedy in which the performers push the limits, both their own and the audience’s. justthefunny.com
North Coast Improv, 10 p.m. July 15 (Keating Theatre) — This New York City troupe returns to create more energetic shows built around improvised hip hop music. Northcoastnyc.com
Parallelogramophonograph 7 p.m. July 15 (Keating Theatre), 6 p.m. July 16 (Goldstein Cabaret) — Known as PGraph, this 11-year-old Austin-based troupe presents a French farce in original styles that the performers have been developing and refining since the start. Pgraph.com
Post Dinner Conversation, 8:30 p.m. July 14 (Bowne’s Lab) — A Tampa-based troupe that performs in a Flashform style featuring narrative, game play and scene work. facebook.com/postdinnerconversation
SAK Comedy Lab, 8 p.m. July 16 -- This Orlando-based troupe, part of the Sarasota Improv Festival since the beginning, combines rock ‘n’ roll and musical theater and performs “Lights Up: The Improvised Rock Opera.” Sakcomedylab.com
Sick Puppies Comedy 7 p.m. July 14 (Bowne’s Lab)-- The Boca Raton-based group performs a French Harold, a type of longform improv show in which everything happens in one location. sickpuppiescomedy.com
Speechless 8 p.m. July 15 (Goldstein Cabaret) — Colombian improv performers Felipe Ortiz and Daniel Orrantia perform without words but to a soundtrack created by Canadian DJ Mama Cutsworth in this long-form storytelling show. facebook.com/WeAreSpeechless
STACKED, 9 p.m. July 15, 7 p.m. July 16 (Goldstein Cabaret) — Four women and one pianist from Chicago create musical improv in four-part harmony. The troupe also will return for two workshops July 19-20 and two performances July 22-23. facebook.com/stackedmusic
North Coast Improv, 10 p.m. July 15 (Keating Theatre) — This New York City troupe returns to create more energetic shows built around improvised hip hop music. Northcoastnyc.com
Parallelogramophonograph 7 p.m. July 15 (Keating Theatre), 6 p.m. July 16 (Goldstein Cabaret) — Known as PGraph, this 11-year-old Austin-based troupe presents a French farce in original styles that the performers have been developing and refining since the start. Pgraph.com
Post Dinner Conversation, 8:30 p.m. July 14 (Bowne’s Lab) — A Tampa-based troupe that performs in a Flashform style featuring narrative, game play and scene work. facebook.com/postdinnerconversation
SAK Comedy Lab, 8 p.m. July 16 -- This Orlando-based troupe, part of the Sarasota Improv Festival since the beginning, combines rock ‘n’ roll and musical theater and performs “Lights Up: The Improvised Rock Opera.” Sakcomedylab.com
Sick Puppies Comedy 7 p.m. July 14 (Bowne’s Lab)-- The Boca Raton-based group performs a French Harold, a type of longform improv show in which everything happens in one location. sickpuppiescomedy.com
Speechless 8 p.m. July 15 (Goldstein Cabaret) — Colombian improv performers Felipe Ortiz and Daniel Orrantia perform without words but to a soundtrack created by Canadian DJ Mama Cutsworth in this long-form storytelling show. facebook.com/WeAreSpeechless
STACKED, 9 p.m. July 15, 7 p.m. July 16 (Goldstein Cabaret) — Four women and one pianist from Chicago create musical improv in four-part harmony. The troupe also will return for two workshops July 19-20 and two performances July 22-23. facebook.com/stackedmusic
The all-female Chicago troupe STACKED creates musical improv during their performances. They have become regulars at the Sarasota Improv Festival. STAFF PHOTO/JAY HANDELMAN
The Third Thought, 8:30 p.m. July 14 (Bowne’s Lab)— The longest-running weekly long-form improv troupe in the Tampa Bay area, the group started in late 2010 performs around the state and at improv festivals..thethirdthought.com
Villain Improv, 8:30 p.m. July 14 (Bowne’s Lab) — This Miami troupe is dedicated to the Chicago style of long form improvisation. Villaintheater.com
When X Meets Y 5 p.m. July 16 (Goldstein Cabaret) — Featuring members of FST Improv and other performers, an improvised romantic musical comedy inspired by a location and three random notes on the keyboard.
Zap! Bang! Pow! 11 a.m. July 16 (Bowne’s Lab) — Florida Studio Theatre’s original superhero improv show for family audiences in which kids get to help the hero bring down the villains. floridastudiotheatre.org/zap-bang-pow
Workshops take place on July 16
10 a.m. – Scenes without Words by Speechless
10 a.m. – Group Improvisation Made Easy with Jeff Quintana by Villain Theater
10 a.m. – The Shabaang! An Improvised Graphic Novel with Nicholas Riggs by Post Dinner Conversation
10 a.m. – Intro to Musical Improv by STACKED
10 a.m. – Finding the Funny in the Details with Patrick McInnis by The Third Thought
12:30 p.m. – Reinventing ShortForm with Deana Criess by ImprovBoston
12:30 p.m. – Getting Physical with Kaci, Bill, and Jeremy by Available Cupholders
12:30 p.m. – Intro To Hip Hop Improv North Coast
12:30 p.m. – Instant Committed Characters by Jay Hopkins of SAK Comedy Lab & Jester Theater
12:30 p.m. – Genre, Narrative and what playwrights can teach you about improvising by Impro Theater
3 p.m. – Kiss or Kill by Parallelogramophonograph
3 p.m. – Making It Personal: Putting the "I" in Improv by SAK Comedy Lab
3 p.m. – Advanced Music Improv: Finding the Game by Mike Descoteaux of ImprovBoston (three-hour class, $39)
3 p.m. – Love the One You're With, with the improv duo Justin and Kelly
Villain Improv, 8:30 p.m. July 14 (Bowne’s Lab) — This Miami troupe is dedicated to the Chicago style of long form improvisation. Villaintheater.com
When X Meets Y 5 p.m. July 16 (Goldstein Cabaret) — Featuring members of FST Improv and other performers, an improvised romantic musical comedy inspired by a location and three random notes on the keyboard.
Zap! Bang! Pow! 11 a.m. July 16 (Bowne’s Lab) — Florida Studio Theatre’s original superhero improv show for family audiences in which kids get to help the hero bring down the villains. floridastudiotheatre.org/zap-bang-pow
Workshops take place on July 16
10 a.m. – Scenes without Words by Speechless
10 a.m. – Group Improvisation Made Easy with Jeff Quintana by Villain Theater
10 a.m. – The Shabaang! An Improvised Graphic Novel with Nicholas Riggs by Post Dinner Conversation
10 a.m. – Intro to Musical Improv by STACKED
10 a.m. – Finding the Funny in the Details with Patrick McInnis by The Third Thought
12:30 p.m. – Reinventing ShortForm with Deana Criess by ImprovBoston
12:30 p.m. – Getting Physical with Kaci, Bill, and Jeremy by Available Cupholders
12:30 p.m. – Intro To Hip Hop Improv North Coast
12:30 p.m. – Instant Committed Characters by Jay Hopkins of SAK Comedy Lab & Jester Theater
12:30 p.m. – Genre, Narrative and what playwrights can teach you about improvising by Impro Theater
3 p.m. – Kiss or Kill by Parallelogramophonograph
3 p.m. – Making It Personal: Putting the "I" in Improv by SAK Comedy Lab
3 p.m. – Advanced Music Improv: Finding the Game by Mike Descoteaux of ImprovBoston (three-hour class, $39)
3 p.m. – Love the One You're With, with the improv duo Justin and Kelly
Copyright © 2016, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Jay Handelman is the theater and television critic for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, where he has worked since 1984. He also is President of the Foundation of the American Theatre Critics Association and a two-time past chairman of the association's executive committee. He can be reached by email or call (941) 361-4931. Follow him at @jayhandelman on Twitter. Make sure to "Like" Arts Sarasota on Facebook for news and reviews of the arts.
Jay Handelman is the theater and television critic for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, where he has worked since 1984. He also is President of the Foundation of the American Theatre Critics Association and a two-time past chairman of the association's executive committee. He can be reached by email or call (941) 361-4931. Follow him at @jayhandelman on Twitter. Make sure to "Like" Arts Sarasota on Facebook for news and reviews of the arts.