Help! I Can’t Decide What to See at the Sarasota Improv Festival
Ana Eligio, Emily Fonato, and Chris Dinger of SAK Comedy Lab at the 2018 Sarasota Improv Festival.
Image: FST
Listen up, comedy fans! In case you haven’t heard, the Sarasota Improv Festival is BACK this year, playing July 20, 21, and 22.
Here’s what you need to know: The Sarasota Improv Festival brings together the top improv comedy artists from around the world to Florida Studio Theatre for one week only. This year’s 13th annual Festival will feature more than 20 troupes, 80 artists, and 29 performances over the course of just three days. Woah – that’s a whole lot to see in a short amount of time.
Not sure which to pick? Sarasota Magazine has got you covered. Here’s our round up of the shows and troupes we’re most excited to catch.
Tara DeFrancisco and Rance Rizzutto of HERE: The (Improvised) Musical. Photo courtesy of the artists.
5. HERE: The (Improvised) Musical (Columbus, OH)
This one’s for all you musical lovers. If you’re a fan of theatre, musicals, storytelling, or spontaneously breaking out in song in your shower, HERE: The (Improvised) Musical is our pick for you. With just one suggestion from the audience, this artistic duo spins up a never-before-seen musical on the spot – complete with an opening number, characters, and storylines. Called “Nothing Short of Genius” by NPR, HERE is sure to make you say, “Did they really just make all that up?” And the answer is yes. Always yes at Improv Fest.
When to catch HERE: The (Improvised) Musical: Friday, July 21 @ 7PM and Saturday, July 22 @ 7PM
Craig Cackowski and Carla Cackowski of Orange Tuxedo. Photo courtesy of the artists.
4. Orange Tuxedo (Los Angeles, CA)
Marriage can provide an abundance of comedic fodder on its own. But when your life partner is also your improv scene partner, that takes the comedy to the next level. Orange Tuxedo is a two-person improv show from real-life husband and wife team Carla and Craig. Watch as the couple takes a suggestion from the audience and spins that prompt into a full-length story, right before your eyes. Craig’s credits include the hit TV shows Veep, Community, and Drunk History. Orange Tuxedo has traveled and performed at improv festivals across the nation and internationally as far as London, Vancouver, Copenhagen, and Warsaw.
When to catch Orange Tuxedo: Friday, July 21 @ 7PM and Saturday, July 22 @ 5PM
Katy Berry, Douglas Widick, and Geoff Grimwood of North Coast at the 2017 Sarasota Improv Fesitval.
Image: FST
3. North Coast (NYC, NY)
Love concerts? Love comedy? You can have both with North Coast, New York’s premier hip hop improv comedy team. North Coast will take a single prompt from the audience and then will use that prompt to improvise scenes that escalate into full-blown hip-hop numbers. Even the troupe’s own beatboxer is making it up as he goes. And together, they somehow make it sound 100% rehearsed.
When to catch North Coast: Friday, July 21 @ 9PM and Saturday, July 22 @ 7PM
Isaac Kessler and Ken Hall of 2-MAN NO-SHOW. Photo courtesy of the artists.
2. 2-Man No-Show (Toronto, Canada)
Improv meets comedy meets clowning meets “what the heck did I just watch?” with 2-Man No-Show. Known for their hyperphysical and fourth-wall breaking “ClownProv”-style comedy, this lunacy-spinning two-person improv show has been nominated for three Canadian Comedy Awards as well as Best Improv Troupe by Toronto’s Now Magazine. 2-Man No-Show will have you asking yourself, “Did they really just do that live on stage?” You betcha, eh!
When to catch 2-Man No-Show: Friday, July 21 @ 8PM and Saturday, July 22 @ 6PM
Festival headliner MC Hammersmith.
Image: Lance Fuller
1. MC Hammersmith (United Kingdom)
Our number one pick has to be Festival headliner multi-award-winning hip hop comedian MC Hammersmith, coming all the way from the UK. A self-described “posh British boy,” MC Hammersmith doesn’t exactly carry the swagger, style, or cool factor that you’re used to seeing from the hottest rappers in music today. Instead, MC Hammersmith resembles more of a nerdy, Harry Potter type. Despite appearances, when it comes to laughter-inducing freestyle rap, MC Hammersmith can slay. Hip hop music not your cup of high tea? Don’t worry. As long as you’re a fan of fun, you’re in for a good time with “the world’s leading freestyle rapper ever to emerge from the ghetto of middleclass west London.”
When to catch MC Hammersmith: Friday, July 21 @ 10PM as part of “Musical All-Stars” and Saturday, July 22 @ 9PM
There you have it – our top 5 list of can’t-miss Sarasota Improv Festival experiences. But remember, if you really want to make the most of this year’s fest, the best bet is to snag a Festival pass. A Festival pass doesn’t just make you feel like a Festival VIP, it also lets you see the most shows for the lowest price.
So, go ahead and just clear your weekend plans right now for July 20, 21, and 22. No one knows exactly what will happen at this year’s Sarasota Improv Festival. But that’s half the fun. That’s the whole point.
The 13th Annual Sarasota Improv Festival is presented by Florida Studio Theatre July 20, 21, and 22, 2023. Tickets are on sale at sarasotaimprovfestival.com or call 941.366.9000.