After seven years away, the Improv Festival of Cincinnati (known as IF Cincy) returns.
Featuring three nights of comedy from performers all around the nation, including troupes from places like Chicago, Portland, Los Angeles and Ann Arbor, the festival takes place from October 15 – 17 at the Know Theatre in Over-the-Rhine.
“Bringing the festival back to Know was an easy choice for us. They’re a great partner and the heart of the theater community in Cincinnati. This festival is bringing these world-class performers to our city and showing off the amazing talent we have locally. We couldn’t be happier than to have Know as our home,” said Festival Producer and Director of OTRimprov Neil Batra.
There are over a dozen local troupes performing, alongside some notable names from out-of-state.
“We wanted to make sure that we had some familiar faces join us,” Batra said. “So we invited performers who have performed at previous IF Cincys like Carla Cackowski, Bob Weick, and (trio) Broke Gravy.”
Kentucky-born, Los Angeles-based writer and comedic improviser Cackowski, whose television credits include PBS Kids, DreamworksTV, and Nickelodeon, has toured and taught improv internationally. Broke Gravy from Portland sees their mission as three Black men living and performing in America to use unscripted comedy and candid dialogue to explore the blurry lines of the daily grind, relationships and humanity. Weick has performed at IF Cincy in the past, along with numerous other festivals and performs and teaches regularly in Detroit.
In addition to the performances, a selection of the visiting artists are offering workshops to share their knowledge and experience with anyone interested in improving their improv skills. The workshops will be held at the Know Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
For more information, visit the festival’s official website.