The producers of the Philadelphia Improv Festival have announced the stellar line-up for their fourth annual festival that continues to highlight the ever-growing improv comedy scene. This year's festival, running November 13-15 at Plays and Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Street, will include performances by some of the best improv groups in Philadelphia and from around the nation. The festival showcases long and short form improv groups, along with workshops to help performers discover and hone their craft.

Single tickets are for a block of three group shows and are $10. Day Passes are also available for $20 and Weekend Passes for $50. More information on the festival is available at www.phif.org.

The festival gives audiences a chance to see spontaneous long and short form comedy happen before their eyes. Sometimes with the suggestion of one word, a funny and sometimes shocking piece of original theatre is created.

Along with the best of Philadelphia's scene, several groups from around the country are performing at the festival. The groups include: Unexpected Company (Rhode Island); Safeword, Mr. Licorice (Baltimore, MD); iMusical, Jackie, Dr. Fantastic (Washington, DC); Galapagos (Phoenix, AZ); Marjean (Cambridge, MA); Vacation Island, Self Image, Sidecar SidViscous!, Junior Varsity , 4 Track, Tybrus, Surf 'n Turf, Bombardo , Hello Laser (New York, NY); Horse & House (New York, NY & Washington, DC),; BillyHawk (Los Angeles); YARNS (Austin, TX); KPR's PHIF Allstars (Toronto, ON); Dirty Water, Beatbox (Chicago, IL); Mister Diplomat and Elaine (Carrboro, NC).

The local contingent performing includes: Illegal Refill, Angry People Building Things, The N Crowd, Tongue & Groove, Cubed, Industrial, Whipsuit, ComedySportz Philly, BWP, LunchLady Doris, Men About Town, and Rare Bird Show.

"It's really exciting to see the alt-comedy renaissance that Philly's experiencing right now. We've had some big names in standup coming through here for years... but recently we've seen an incredible surge; not only the nationally-recognized improv and sketch acts coming in, but also some remarkable comedy being developed locally," said Matt Nelson, Executive Producer of the Philadelphia Improv Festival.

Improv companies participating in the festival include comedians who represent renowned improv theatres such as the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater (NYC), iO West (LA), the DSI Comedy Theater (NC), the Magnet Theater (NYC), Washington Improv Theater (DC) and the People's Improv Theater (NYC).

"One of the primary objectives of our festival is to help brand Philadelphia as a destination for comedy fans - and I think the quality of improvisation at our festival just keeps rising to the occasion," added Nelson. "We've got interest from international acts and some big names in the improv world... and we're seeing our own locals groups take the stage and likewise respond with vigor. We're positioned to entertain and educate both audiences and performers alike, and that's just a great thing to be a part of."

Performance Schedule

Thursday, November 13
6:30 p.m.: Illegal Refill, Angry People Building Things, Unexpected Company
8:00 p.m.: Safeword, Vacation Island, Galapagos
9:30 p.m.: The N Crowd, Tongue & Groove, Marjean
11:00 p.m.: Cubed, Mr. Licorice, Self Image, Sidecar

Friday, November 14
6:30 p.m.: Industrial, SidViscous!, Whipsuit
8:00 p.m.: ComedySportz Philly Presents: Improv Battle of the Network Stars, Junior Varsity, BWP
9:30 p.m.: 30,000 kHz of Sound, BillyHawk, YARNS
11:00 p.m.: Jackie, 4 Track, LunchLady Doris, KPR's PHIF Allstars

Saturday, November 15
6:30 p.m.: Dirty Water, Elaine, Men About Town
8:00 p.m.: Tybrus, Surf 'n Turf, iMusical
9:30 p.m.: Bombardo, Horse & House, Rare Bird Show
11:00 p.m.: Hello Laser, Dr. Fantastic, Beatbox, Mister Diplomat

About the Philadelphia Improv Festival
The Philadelphia Improv Festival (PHIF) is an annual three-day festival taking place each fall; dedicated to the celebration of improvisational comedy both locally and across the country.