ECT Hosts 4th Annual Comedy Criminals Improv Fest April 1
March 22, 2017 at 6:05 p.m.
By Staff Report-
Five improv troupes from around the region will compete for the title of Comedy Criminals of the Year, plus free stage time at the Bristol Opera House during summer 2017.
Audience members will pick the winning troupe via “American Idol”-style voting with input from four judges. This year’s celebrity judges are Jill Olson of Chicago’s Storytown, entertainment writer Marcia Fulmer, Second City student and jazz vocalist Paula Douglas, and Adrienne Nesbitt, a singer/actress/director/producer from Goshen.
This year’s lineup features the following improv troupes:
• GoProv – Goshen
• Bohemian Grandmas – Edwardsburg, Mich.
• Disposable Theatre – Chesterton
• Same Difference – Chesterton
• Main on Main Improv – Syracuse
Improv is unscripted comedy that incorporates theatre games, audience suggestions and other techniques. The comedy is created in front of the audience, and it’s never the same thing twice. Improv is integral to the comedy of The Second City, “Saturday Night Live” and “Whose Line is it Anyway?” Competitive improv has become popular at venues such as ComedySportz and others where the audience gets involved by voting for their favorite improv team.
According to Dave Dufour, executive director of Elkhart Civic Theatre, “I’m constantly amazed at how inventive the members of these troupes are. They create characters and situations on the spot, and because there’s always the potential for disaster, it keeps audience members on the edge their seats. This is our fourth year for the festival. It’s a great lineup, and we can’t wait to see who wins.”
Jessica Noelle Hardy, creator of the Chicago Comedy Film Festival and former Elkhart Civic Theatre and Second City Actress, will emcee the evening.
Beer, wine and food will be available at Comedy Criminals. Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased online at elkhartcivictheatre.org, or by calling 574-848-4116 Monday through Friday, 1 to 5:30 p.m.
Comedy Criminals comes with a PG-16 rating. Parents should use their discretion to determine if this event is appropriate.
More information can be found at elkhartcivictheatre.org.
Five improv troupes from around the region will compete for the title of Comedy Criminals of the Year, plus free stage time at the Bristol Opera House during summer 2017.
Audience members will pick the winning troupe via “American Idol”-style voting with input from four judges. This year’s celebrity judges are Jill Olson of Chicago’s Storytown, entertainment writer Marcia Fulmer, Second City student and jazz vocalist Paula Douglas, and Adrienne Nesbitt, a singer/actress/director/producer from Goshen.
This year’s lineup features the following improv troupes:
• GoProv – Goshen
• Bohemian Grandmas – Edwardsburg, Mich.
• Disposable Theatre – Chesterton
• Same Difference – Chesterton
• Main on Main Improv – Syracuse
Improv is unscripted comedy that incorporates theatre games, audience suggestions and other techniques. The comedy is created in front of the audience, and it’s never the same thing twice. Improv is integral to the comedy of The Second City, “Saturday Night Live” and “Whose Line is it Anyway?” Competitive improv has become popular at venues such as ComedySportz and others where the audience gets involved by voting for their favorite improv team.
According to Dave Dufour, executive director of Elkhart Civic Theatre, “I’m constantly amazed at how inventive the members of these troupes are. They create characters and situations on the spot, and because there’s always the potential for disaster, it keeps audience members on the edge their seats. This is our fourth year for the festival. It’s a great lineup, and we can’t wait to see who wins.”
Jessica Noelle Hardy, creator of the Chicago Comedy Film Festival and former Elkhart Civic Theatre and Second City Actress, will emcee the evening.
Beer, wine and food will be available at Comedy Criminals. Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased online at elkhartcivictheatre.org, or by calling 574-848-4116 Monday through Friday, 1 to 5:30 p.m.
Comedy Criminals comes with a PG-16 rating. Parents should use their discretion to determine if this event is appropriate.
More information can be found at elkhartcivictheatre.org.
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