Incredible Week. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it.
The 16th Annual Chicago Improv Festival was by far the largest to date, with 154 shows, over 165 improvisers on 94 teams from 10 different countries performing on 20 stages across Chicago. This truly was an incredible event and I’m so grateful that I was able to be a part of it. A huge thank you goes out to Jonathan Pitts and Aren Zolninger from Chicago Improv Productions for allowing me to be a part of this event. The entire Chicago Improv Productions team should be incredibly proud. Every aspect of the festival was a great success due to the hard work and diligence these individuals put forth, so thank you for everything you did to make this event happen
I personally attended nine shows and saw 18 teams on seven different stages during CIF. It was quite a whirlwind of a week. A lot of notes. A lot of pictures. So much talent. So little time. Too many nights I stayed up too late. But I’ve taken it upon myself to write up a few reviews of some of my favorite shows from the festival. In case you haven’t seen them yet, here they are again:
- Holy F*ck Comedy Hour
- Cook County Social Club
- Adsit & Eveleth
- Hitch*Cocktails
- Mannerhouse Manor
- Jimmy Jet Johnnie
- Adsit and Lutz’s Super Secret Show
Since I’m only one person and can only be in one place at a time, with all these shows happening simultaneously all over the city, there are a few shows I was unable to attend, but wished I could have seen.
- One World, One Stage
- WILDCARD and Mullaney Chain (with Craig Cackowski)
- It’s a Party!, LIAM, and Sophomore Album
- Stacked: All-female Musical Improv and Wünderstudies
- Kate and Mike: The Musical & Vox Pop
Again, thank you to everyone who worked to put this event together. Thank you to all the improvisers that traveled near and far to be here. Thank you to everyone for believing in this artform and loving it with a passion. Here are a few lasting images to hold you over until next year…
