Troupe improv-ment

  • Enterprise staff
  • Tuesday, March 16, 2010 9:46pm

For two nights only, March 19 and 20, ten improv troupes from across Western Washington will converge for 14 showcases of improv comedy and theatre in the Edmonds Improv Extravaganza.

Hosted by Breakout, the resident improv troupe of the The Phoenix Theatre, this first ever improv festival offers four shows of unscripted theatre, where actors “make it up” on the spot from suggestions provided by the audience.

Ten improv troupes take the stage, including Breakout, which will perform their acclaimed show “Girl Meets Boy” in a new evolution of format.

The Dead Parrots Society from Western Washington University makes its triumphant return to local stages after a great showing in the northwest regionals of the Chicago College Improv festival. The Edge, the resident group of the Bainbridge Center for the Performing Arts and one of the most established groups in the region, bring more than 15 years of experience to the festival.

Jet City Improv, Seattle’s leading improv company, is the comedic wellspring that spawned several of the festival’s other featured troupes. West Seattle’s independent improv group KRAM debuts a new format to follow their hit “Crime Scene Improv.”

Seattle’s longest-titled improv troupe, The Ministry of Exuberance, presents a special showing of their show, “The Bitter Taste of Others’ Thoughts,” currently running at Seattle’s Odd Duck Theatre.

Split Second Improv, the resident group of Second Story Rep, performs their programs in association with Seattle’s Unexpected Productions. Bellingham’s home for improv, The Upfront Theatre, comes south to perform with a cast of house players established by founder Ryan Stiles, of “Whose Line is it Anyway?” fame.

In addition, specialty acts will perform, including new groups making their premiere at EIE including the All Girl Duo, the SheSpot and Breakout’s own clique, Improv a Trois. A “free4all” at the end of the 10:30 p.m. shows will feature performers from all that night’s shows.

All Shows take place at Edmonds’ Phoenix Theatre. The 94-seat theatre is home to Breakout, which opened their 2010 season with a nearly sold out show of “Girl Meets Boy” in January.

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