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The World's Best Improv
Update: 2/1/10
Thanks to all the teams whom sent in a submission for CIF 2010, but the submission deadline has passed and it now closed. CIF will respond via email to all the acts and ensembles as to their invitational status by 2/15. Update: 1/18/10
Congratulations to CIF's Artistic Director Mark Sutton and CIF's Co-Artistic Director Jet Eveleth for their recent professional accomplishments.
Mark has been cast as Rush Limbaugh in The Second City's new original musical that's opening this February called Rush Limbaugh! The Musical. Jet has been chosen by New City magazine as one Chicago's "Top 50 Players" in Chicago's theatre and performance community for 2010.
To read about Mark's new musical role, please click: Rush Limbaugh
Update: 1/4/10
CIF has extended its submission deadline to 11:59pm (CST) on January 31, 2010. All acts and ensembles who submitted will be made aware of their invitational status via email by 11:59 pm (CST) on February 15, 2010. The complete submission information is located further down this page. Update: 12/31/09
A show from CIF's 2009 festival (Toronto's Impromptu Splendor with special guest SCTV alum Joe Flaherty) made the top 10 comedy shows of 2009 in Time Out Chicago. To read the article, please click: TOC Update: 12/6/09
Attention Chicago Improvisers: Your presence is requested in a Town Hall Meeting for the Chicago Improv Festival. This Wednesday, December 9th from 6-7pm in the iO Cabaret. "Questions and Answers" with the Artistic Directors Mark Sutton and Jet Eveleth. iO Theater, 3541 N. Clark St. Update: 12/12/09
The Compass theatre co-founder David Shepherd was interviewed onstage by Jonathan Pitts, Executive Director of the Chicago Improv Festival, about the origins of The Second City's work at The Compass (1955-1958). The Q&A was part of The Second City's 50th Festival and took place on Saturday, December 12 @ The Second City Skybox. David shared honest and insightful stories about his life and his life's works in improv. In the audience was Compass alumni and stand-up comedy legend Shelley Berman. Shelley also told stories of what it was like to be in The Compass, and what it was like to improvise on-stage with David.
Update: 11/17/09
CIF Productions invites improv ensembles everywhere to make their submissions for the 13th annual Chicago Improv Festival, April 19-25, 2010. The submission time period begins on November 20, 2009 and will end on January 20, 2010. The theme for next year's CIF is "Community: Chicago & The World". To submit your ensemble for CIF, here's a list of what's required for each submission. To email CIF a submission on-line: 1) Email CIF a letter notifying us of your team's name, your theatre affiliation (if any), your city/state and if necessary, your country.
To email CIF your submission/s, please email it to CIF Productions Executive Director, Jonathan Pitts @ jpitts@chicagoimprovfestival.org. To email CIF your submission fee/s, please send it via Paypal and send it to this email address: jpitts@chicagoimprovfestival.org To send CIF a submission via snail mail: 1) Send CIF a letter notifying us of your team's name, your theatre affiliation (if any), your city/state and if necessary, your country.
Please send CIF your submission/s to this address:
CIF Productions will notify all the ensembles of their invitational status via email on January 31, 2010. Update: 10/29/09
The news about the changes made by CIF Productions for CIF 2010 received coverage in both The Onion and the Chicago Tribune. To read The Onion's blog, please click: The Onion/AV Club-Chicago.
Update: 10/27/09
CIF Previews 2010 Fest; Jet Eveleth New Co-Artist Director
Chicago Improv Festival Productions is proud to announce the addition of Jet Eveleth as co-artistic director for the 2010 Chicago Improv Festival, April 19-25. After five years as artistic director, Mark Sutton will be stepping down from his position after this year's festival and usher in Jet Eveleth as the new artistic director for the 2011 Festival.
"I am extremely excited to be working with Jet Eveleth as co-artistic director for this year's Chicago Improv Festival," says Mark Sutton. "Jet has established herself as an outstanding performer, inspiring teacher and an innovative voice for improvisation over the past several years. Her insight, and passion for improvisation will be a welcome addition to the CIF artistic team and her presence will serve to make a great Festival even better."
"It is an honor to be the new co-artistic director of the Chicago Improv Festival", adds Jet Eveleth. "I feel that my experience teaching and performing at many of the city's leading improv institutions will serve as a solid foundation for this position. My vision for improv has developed from my years on The Reckoning, an ensemble that strives to challenge the limits of the work. I identify most as a Chicago improviser and want to promote this evolving art form with emphasis on community inclusion."
Other changes to the 2010 Chicago Improv Festival include the elimination of the main stage to focus and promote local, national and international ensembles within a community setting. This will provide the Chicago Improv Festival a better opportunity to explore the talent within Chicago and showcase how improv is celebrate by ensembles around the world.
Mark Sutton on the changes for the 2010 festival, "Improv is an intimate experience. I really think it works best for both the performer and the audience when they are connected to one another. Moving away from a Mainstage and putting more emphasis on Chicago's improv community and it's venues will further emphasize that connection. It will also continue to bring focus to the notion of ensemble based, collective creation which is what is so exciting about improvisation."
Says Eveleth, "I believe the focus on smaller venues will offer the art more intimacy and this is where improv tends to thrive. Such a decision puts the concentration more on the community and the modest nature of the art form. I look forward to participating in a festival that is willing to adapt, as improv itself is in constant transformation."
CIF 2010 will feature performances in venues with 150 seats or less, with festival programming in 10 venues throughout the city and suburbs.
CIF will accept submissions November 15 through January 15.
-Allison Yates-
Update: 9/1/09
Update: 8/26/09
CIF 2010 Schedule:
If you have any questions regarding CIF 2010, please email CIF's Executive Director Jonathan Pitts: jpitts@chicagoimprovfestival.org
Update: 7/16/09
Update: 6/13/09
Update: 5/18/09
Update: 4/22/09
Update: 4/21/09
CIF 2009 Archives
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