Calling all comedy lovers! The Sarasota Improv Festival produced by Florida Studio Theatre is a can’t-miss festival for anyone who is a fan of a good laugh and great talent. This year’s Fest will serve up 3 days of comedy with 20 troupes, 80 artists, 29 performances and 16 workshops. Whether you’re looking for a hip and fun date idea, a fun night out with friends, or are looking to inspire your own creative side, the Sarasota Improv Fest has you covered. Sarasota Magazine has the scoop on this year’s lineup. Here are our top 7 reasons why you don’t want to miss this one.

#7 You’ll see the best of the best.

Often called “The Festival of Headliners,” the Sarasota Improv Festival features the top talent in improv comedy today. Seriously. Any number of these troupes could, and have, headlined other festivals. Each year, right here in Sarasota, you get to see them ALL IN ONE PLACE.

#6 Travel the world…without leaving paradise

This year’s Festival features troupes from all over the country - from Los Angeles and New York City to Austin, Boston, Atlanta, and all over Florida. Plus! This year’s lineup brings groups from as far as the United Kingdom (Cheers, mate!) and our neighbors to the north, Canada, (You betcha, eh?). 

#5 Predictable =  boring.

Life is full of plans and obligations. It’s time to treat yourself to a weekend of freedom and spontaneity! You deserve it. So, put down your checklist of chores, and head on down to Florida Studio Theatre on July 20, 21, and 22. We don’t know exactly what will happen…but isn’t that part of the fun?

#4 Laughter is the best medicine

Stressed at work? Got some aches and pains? Sunburn? Allergies? Whatever ails you, there’s probably a treatment for that. But sometimes a little bit of laughter is just what the doctor ordered. So, put that insurance card away. With 29 performances over the course of just 72 hours, FST is serving up over two dozen reasons to laugh.

#3 Learn from the Masters

Do you have a writer’s block or want to give yourself an edge during your next sales pitch? Do your friends call you funny, but you have no idea what they’re talking about? Give one of the Festival’s 16 different workshops a try. Dive into your own comedic creativity under the guidance of some of Improv’s top teachers. Whether you’re an improv virgin or a seasoned member of the community, there are workshops to challenge and surprise you.

#2 Laughs for everyone!

What makes you laugh? Think all improv looks like Whose Line is it Anyway? Think again. From improv games to physical comedy to musical improv, and more, this year’s Festival features a wide range of improvisational and comedic styles.

Groups like HERE: The (Improvised) Musical (Columbus, OH), North Coast (NYC, NY), and Festival headliner MC Hammersmith (United Kingdom) feature real musical artists performing songs they completely make up on the spot. 2-MAN NO-SHOW (Toronto, Canada) uses physical comedy, clowning, sketch comedy, and buffoonery to take audiences on a rollercoaster ride of wild characters, bizarre scenarios, and comedic lunacy. Big Bang Improv(Boston, MA) is known for their signature style of long-form improv, which builds upon itself to create an uninterrupted, fully improvised story. There’s even a family show, kiddos, proving that comedy isn’t just for adults.

#1 The Finale Favorite

All good things must come to an end, but the annual Sarasota improv Festival cannot close without the audience and performer favorite, All Play. This year, FST will SQUISH over 80 artists onto one stage for an epic finale of raucous improvisational games, skill, and style. A beloved Festival tradition, artists from varying groups go head-to-head in friendly comedy competitions that highlight the unique styles and strengths of the Festival’s full lineup. 

The 13^th Annual Sarasota Improv Festival takes over Florida Studio Theatre’s downtown theatre campus July 20, 21, and 22. Don’t wait! Tickets and passes are going fast. Grab yours online at sarasotaimprovfestival.comor by calling 941.366.9000.