Apparently, November is Comedy Month in Philadelphia. That’s funny!
Kicking off the festivities is the tenth annual Philadelphia Improv Festival (PHIF) November 4-8, 2014, at Figment Theater in Chinatown. The festival features commissioned and curated acts from across North America, as well as a large representation of local talent. Most shows will take place in Figment Theater’s studio space on the second floor of the Asian Arts Initiative, with bigger shows on Friday and Saturday evenings being held in the larger first floor theater.
“Over the years, we’ve been fortunate enough to welcome some amazing talent,” says Matt Nelson, executive producer of PHIF. “Many acts return to us year after year, and have become a big part of the festivals identity.” BillyHawk, a comedy duo from Los Angeles, will be making their ninth cross-country trek to delight Philadelphia audiences at PHIF. And local favorites The N Crowd are the one group with the distinction of having played the festival each and every year.
Other notable returns include the ladies of Wicked City (NYC), the improvised musical powerhouse Vox Pop (Brooklyn & DC), and last year’s winner of the Audience Prize for Best in Fest: Ranger Danger and the Danger Ranger, heralding from LA. Nelson says the excitement for Ranger Danger both preceded their Philadelphia debut, and remained long after they’d left. “Drew and Luis came in and blew people away with this stylistic comedy that was full of power and energy, but also patient and grounded. Most of all, they were tear-inducingly funny… so after they won the audience vote, we invited them back and gave them twice the stage time.”
Nearly half the festival is also comprised of local groups from across the Greater Philadelphia area. This marks a large increase from past years. “Comedy in Philly has expanded at such an incredible rate. We now have Philly Improv Theater and Figment Theater in dedicated spaces, featuring improv multiple nights a week. ComedySportz and the N Crowd are two long-running and wildly popular weekly shows, and the indie scene is bursting with shows playing everywhere from lounges to dance parlors to corners of bars,” explains Nelson. “We really wanted our programming to reflect that growth.”
Tickets are $10 for a single show block and $75 for a full all-access pass. [Figment Theater, 1219 Vine St, Studio C] November 4-8, 2014; information on PHIF and all Comedy Month events can be found at phlcomedy.com.
PHILADELPHIA IMPROV FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
TUESDAY, November 4
7:00PM – 2ND FLOOR, STUDIO C
Witch Academy | Philadelphia, PA
Lighted Fools | Haverford, PA
Hoffman | Philadelphia, PA
8:30PM – 2ND FLOOR, STUDIO C
Derrick Wooters Presents Drunk History | Philadelphia, PA
Skeletons, Etc | Philadelphia, PA
Royal Baby | Philadelphia, PA
WEDNESDAY, November 5
7:00PM – 2ND FLOOR, STUDIO C
Bill Parks | Philadelphia, PA
Axis of Evil | Philadelphia, PA
The Advice Panel | Philadelphia, PA
8:30PM – 2ND FLOOR, STUDIO C
From Justin to Kelly | New York, NY
Hell on Wheels | Philadelphia, PA
IRTE | New York, NY
Dr. Sleepover | Philadelphia, PA
THURSDAY, November 6
7:00PM – 2ND FLOOR, STUDIO C
Something Simple with Frank & Alex | Philadelphia, PA
Bed Savage | Philadelphia, PA
Mr. & Mrs. | Philadelphia, PA
8:30PM – 2ND FLOOR, STUDIO C
The N Crowd | Philadelphia, PA
Mr. Beaver | Chicago, IL
Max & Maggy | Philadelphia, PA
10:00PM – 2ND FLOOR, STUDIO C
Death By Improv | Sayreville, NJ
The Five Four Three | Philadelphia, PA
Origin Story | Philadelphia, PA
Outside Voices | Philadelphia, PA
FRIDAY, November 7
6:30PM – 2ND FLOOR, STUDIO C
Demonikus Rex | Philadelphia, PA
Icebox | New York, NY / Los Angeles, CA
7:30PM – 2ND FLOOR, STUDIO C
Great Lakes | Boston, MA
Chaperone | Philadelphia, PA
8:30PM – 1ST FLOOR, AAI THEATER
Lekker | Baltimore, MD
Rizzo | New York, NY
Ranger Danger & The Danger Ranger | Los Angeles, CA
10:00PM – 1ST FLOOR, AAI THEATER
Hot Dog | New York, NY / Los Angeles, CA
Wicked City | New York, NY
Choopy & Me | Philadelphia, PA
Junior Varsity | New York, NY
SATURDAY, November 8
6:30PM – 2ND FLOOR, STUDIO C
Face Off | Boston, MA
Popular Science | Los Angeles, CA
7:30PM – 2ND FLOOR, STUDIO C
Sea Tea Improv | Hartford, CT
Wisdom Teeth | Philadelphia, PA
8:30PM – 1ST FLOOR, AAI THEATER
Commonwealth | Washington, DC
Davenger | Philadelphia, PA
Ranger Danger & The Danger Ranger | Los Angeles, CA
10:00PM – 1ST FLOOR, AAI THEATER
PHIF All-Stars | Various Cities
BillyHawk | Los Angeles, CA
Triple Double | Philadelphia, PA
Vox Pop | Brooklyn, NY / Washington, DC