Immediate Release
Aug. 5, 2014
Contact: Dan Miller
202-204-7772
dan@washingtonimprovtheater.com
Performances include the all-Spanish telenovela ¡Sábado Picante!, an homage to Orphan Black, plus returning faves Downton Abbey-prov and Yojimprov (improv with samurai!)
(Washington, DC) Performers in Improvapalooza, Washington Improv Theater’s celebration of experimental improv, will see just how far they can push the craft of improv in the eighth annual celebration. The two weekend marathon, held August 14-23 at Source, showcases emerging and veteran improvisers tackling new formats and challenges as they create exciting new shows and team up with brand new collaborators. A special highlight will be an appearance by Jimmy Carrane, host of the Improv Nerd podcast, who will record an episode during the festival.
Curated from the original submissions of the city’s improvisers, Improvapalooza features creative and daring new shows. A sampling of the spontaneous creativity featured this year:
-
¡Sábado Picante!: A fully improvised telenovela episode — performed completely in Spanish! Who will lie? Who will cheat? Who will suddenly come down with Amnesia? ¡Vamos a ver!
-
Orphan Black Attack Squad: A glimpse inside the #cloneclub of BBC America’s Orphan Black, where everyone may seem the same, but isn’t. Spoiler alert: things are messed up! This show is pre-snubbed by the Emmy nominating commission.
-
Asian Moms: An all East/Southeast Asian team performing improv inspired by true stories of their Asian mothers.
-
Palooza traditions: In its eighth year, Improvapalooza has garnered some popular audience favorites. Hit troupes are back with shows like Downton Abbey-prov, exploring an improvised episode of PBS’s Masterpiece hit, and Yojimprov, a show featuring three itinerant, costumed (faux) samurai improvisers.
Improvapalooza’s opening weekend includes a live taping of Improv Nerd, a podcast hosted by improv teacher and former host of Chicago Public Radio’s Studio 312, Jimmy Carrane. Previously, Improv Nerd has featured comedy icons like Rachel Dratch, Andy Richter and Key & Peele. Carrane will interview Travis Charles Ploeger, director and accompanist of WIT’s veteran ensemble iMusical. Carrane and Ploeger will discuss the creative process of creating an improvised musical, perform with other members of iMusical, and then break down the construction of their scene.
In addition to the live taping and performance, Jimmy Carrane will teach three workshops which are filling up rapidly (one is already sold out).
For a full schedule and a ticket link visit: http://bit.ly/PALOOZA2014 or visit washingtonimprovtheater.com.
PHOTOS :
- Download high-resolution JPG files here.
SCHEDULE/TICKETS
- Improvapalooza runs August 14-23.
- All-Palooza passes are just $25 (price goes up to $35 on Aug. 14)
- Single weekend passes are just $15 (price goes up to $25 on Aug. 14)
- Available for purchase here: http://bit.ly/PALOOZApasses
LOCATION
Performances will take place at Source, located at 1835 14th St. NW.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow WIT and all its shows via:
www.facebook.com/
www.twitter.com/WITimprov (Hashtag: #WITPALOOZA)
ABOUT WIT
For 15 years, Washington Improv Theater (WIT) has dedicated itself to unleashing the creative, collaborative power of improv in DC. WIT is DC’s premier arts organization showcasing and
advancing the art form of improvisational theatre with over 200 artists, 30 instructors, 1,100 students, and 11,000 audience members engaging annually in performances and classes. WIT is a multi-tiered arts organization: a producing organization exploring and forwarding the craft of longform improv in challenging new directions; a presenting organization allowing improvisers from across the country to share their artistry with DC audiences; a community organization serving a rapidly growing family of improv artists. For our students, WIT is an artistic conservatory, a personal-development laboratory, a professional skill-building gymnasium, and a vital social outlet in a tightly “scripted” city. WIT is the place for improv in DC.
“The power of improv is one of listening, of supporting, of daring to explore your raw imagination. It is the power of being present, of empathy and camaraderie, of doing anything in your power to make your partner look good. In our world today these are revolutionary ideas. And yet, vital.” – WIT Artistic/Executive Director Mark Chalfant
# # #