San Francisco Improv Festival
From IRC Improv Wiki
Contents
Website
http://www.sfimprovfestival.com
History
Started in 2003 by Shaun Landry and Sam Shaw, the SFIF has had thousands of audience members attend improvisational theater and learn from master class teachers including Mick Napier, David Razowsky, and Ian Roberts. It is one of the few improvisational Theater Festivals that pays its ensembles to perform. Starting as a 12 week event, The festival now runs over a seven week span, making it "The Longest Running Improv Festival in the Country".
Sam Shaw left the San Francisco Improv Festival in June 2005. The Festival was then produced by Landry with Associate Producers Clay Robeson and Hans Summers.
Starting in 2009, Jamie Wright took over as Executive Producer of the San Francisco Improv Festival.
SFIF Timeline
2026
Silk Road Bar
- Night One (Thursday, August 13): Party Onward (SF Bay Area) & Big Bang Improv (FL & Boston); SCRIPT///NOT/FOUND (SF Bay Area) & Afrofuturistix (SF Bay Area); When Doves Fly's "Delete This App" (Reno, NV) & Endgames' "The Ritual" (San Francisco)
- Night Two (Friday, August 14): But of Mind (from EVERYWHERE) & The Right Now (SF Bay Area); Speechless (San Francisco) & Oil in the Alley's "ReAlley Tour" (Hawaii); BATS Improv's "Guilty Pleasures" (San Francisco) & Stranger Danger (Denver, LA, San Diego); The Oracle (from EVERYWHERE)
- Night Three (Saturday, August 15): Leela's "Him Its" (SF Bay Area) & Phasers on Stun (SF Bay Area); The Intensive Ensemble (SFIF) & The 5 Deadly Improvisers (SF Bay Area); RagTag Improv's "SuperScene!" (SF Bay Area) & The Cutting Room (Chicago & SF Bay Area)
2019
PianoFight
- Night One: Brick House, Jurassic Pope, The Perennials, Creatures of Impulse, Phasers on Stun, Emergency Contact, The Moment Players, Secret Improv Society
- Night Two: NES, BATS Improv's The Bechdel Test, Un-Scripted's Shakesqueer, Janice, We Digress, Magic, Chicken Scratch, I Am The Show
- Night Three: Adsit & Eveleth, The Right Now, Famke Roumstead, SHREW Improvised Shakespeare, Liss 'n Sams, But of Mind, Red Pill Players, The Trifecta, Luxury Cruise Singles Mixer, Freedom Snatch
- Night Four: The Sound of Musical, The SFIF 2019 Invitational Player Ensemble, In Process with Chad Damiani, The Purdy Twins, Adsit & Eveleth, Betse & Burns, Murder Murder, The Nancy Boys
- Workshop Teachers: Nicole Marcks, Chad Damiani, Brendan McCay & Becky Sanders, Chris George, Nick Condon, The Women of Shrew
2018
"100% Improv(ed)"
PianoFight
- September 19, 2018: Community Theater 3000, Leela's Dream Sequence, So You Want a Job, Andrew & Mithra, Solid Gold Duets, American Immigrants, Odell & DeJong, History Made Up
- September 20, 2018: RagTag Improv, Hardy Boys, Bingewatch, Extreme Championship Improv, Chesterfield, Landry & Summers, Endgames Improv's The Recchia
- September 21, 2018: The Trifecta, Razowsky & Hamilton, Sad Boys, Chivalry Club, JETZO, The Purdy Twins, The Nancy Boys, Dystopia! the Musical, Speechless
- September 22, 2018: Red Door, B&B, Rollin' In Riches, Un-Scripted Theater Company's Swipe Right, CAMP, Liss 'N' Sams, Eightball, Harlequin
2017
"Making S#it Up for 13 Years"
PianoFight
- August 16, 2017: Flash Mob Musical, Odell & DeJong, Euro Trash, AIT Players, ComedySportz San Jose, Un-Scripted Theater Company's Swipe Right, Danger:us
- August 17, 2017: The Right Now, BATS Improv, Pura Pocha, Buddy Puzzle, #SorryNotSorry, Liss 'N' Sams, San Francisco Tonight, Improv Lab
- August 18, 2017: The Next Generation Gap, JETZO, Bingewatch, Pockets, 850 FICO, Orange Tuxedo, The Trifecta, Rusty Nails, History Under the Influence
- August 19, 2017: Orange Tuxedo, American Immigrants, The Revengers, Landry & Summers, Hamilton & MacLean, Robot Teammate & The Accidental Party, FOX, B&B
2016
"Celebrating 50 Years of San Francisco Improv"
Eureka Theater
- September 8, 2016: ComedySportz San Jose, Death & Taxes, Will Durst, BATS Improv's Improvised Game of Thrones
- September 9, 2016: The Right Now, The Wrasslers, Messing with a Friend, HUGE
- September 10, 2016: Chicken Scratch, PUMPS, Messing with Friends, Robot Teammate & The Accidental Party
- September 11, 2016: SLAM, O'Brien & Bolt
- September 14, 2016: Improv Lab, Hustle Sprouts, SImps, Off One Letter, Endgames Improv's The Recchia
- September 15, 2016: Shades of Grey, Lula & Juicy's Farewell Tour, Vagina Jones, AIT Players
- September 16, 2016: Improvised 80's Teen Movie, Un-Scripted Theater Company, Liss 'N' Sams, Mortified: After Dark
- September 17, 2016: Elephants Gerald, Smooth Pluto, Speechless Template:Small, Razowsky & Hamilton, Musical! The Musical!, Game Island with Ron West
2015
"This One Goes to 11"
Eureka Theater
- September 10, 2015: Chicken Scratch, HUGE, BATS Improv, The Imaginary Radio Program
- September 11, 2015: JETZO, KING TEN, Shades of Grey, The Utility Players
- September 12, 2015: Honey, Hamilton & MacLean, Hot Again, Five Play
- September 13, 2015: Chick Flick, Five Deadly Improvisors, All Girl Revue, Awkward Dinner Party
- September 15, 2015: Off One Letter, The Letters, Euro Trash, Cat Dance, Stage 4 Improv
- September 16, 2015: Vagina Jones, Endgames Improv's The Recchia, The Unwritten Bedroom, Chardonnay
- September 17, 2015: Sketchy Alley, Liss 'N' Sams, Un-Scripted Theater Company's DASH, The Double Improv Rainbows
- September 18, 2015: Damaged Goods, The Right Now, Pilgrim, Messing with a Friend, Speechless
- September 19, 2015: CROWD
2014
"Ten Years of Funny"
Eureka Theater
- September 11, 2014: Chardonnay, White Women, Endgames Improv's The Recchia, Melissa
- September 12, 2014: The Vendetta, Armando Diaz, Kind Strangers, Boom Chicago
- September 13, 2014: Duvall, Five Play
- September 14, 2014: KanYay! West, BATS Improv, Un-Scripted Theater Company, The Utility Players
- September 16, 2014: Speechless, SImps, Vagina Jones, Dr. Robert and Mr. Smith, Shut Up and Kiss Me
- September 17, 2014: Chicken Scratch, Shades of Grey, Chick Flick, Wing It
- September 18, 2014: Tall Grande Venti, HUGE, Fancy Football, The Right Now
- September 19, 2014: Adsit & Eveleth, Red Door, Razowsky & Hamilton, Glassworks Improv, Classy Pants
- September 20, 2014: Messing with a Friend, Greasy Lake, Game Island with Ron West
2013
PianoFight
- September 12, 2013: Chick Flick, PianoFight's ForePlays, Cherry, HUGE
- September 13, 2013: Five Play, Eux, Villain, Razowsky & Hamilton
- September 14, 2013: BATS Improv, Endgames Improv's The Recchia, Greasy Lake
- September 15, 2013: The Younger Statesmen, Classy Pants, Narcissists Anonymous, Shades of Grey
- September 17, 2013: Speechless
- September 18, 2013: Illusionoid, Chinese Ballroom, Ace of Hobos, Big City Improv
- September 19, 2013: RadioStar, Mannerhouse Manor, Un-Scripted Theater Company, Ranger Danger and the Danger Ranger
- September 20, 2013: Chicken Scratch Improv, Elephants Gerald, Jet Eveleth & Paul Brittain, Boom Chicago
- September 21, 2013: The Super Dupers, Adrian & Adrien, Game Island with Ron West, Leela, Mortified, Neo-Futurists
2012
"Comedy Saves the Day (Again)"
Eureka Theater
- August 16, 2012: BATS Improv, Big City Improv, Rintersplit
- August 17, 2012: True Fiction Magazine, Dr. God, Chicken Scratch, Five Play, Killing My Lobster
- August 18, 2012: Kyle & Drew, WeirDass, 15 Minutes, Mortified: After Dark
- August 19, 2012: Sabercats, Leela, Endgames, PianoFight
- August 20, 2012: The Shout – Life's True Stories
- August 21, 2012: Radiostar, The Armando Company
- August 22, 2012: SImps, Awkward Silence, Shades of Grey, Chick Flick
- August 23, 2012: NBA Hall of Famer, Un-Scripted Theater Company, Moosehead, The Five Deadly Improvisors
- August 24, 2012: Bootsy, Razowsky & Hamilton, Kind Strangers, Improv Jones
- August 25, 2012: Ranger Danger and the Danger Ranger, KING TEN, Messing with a Friend, The Freeze, Game Island with Ron West
2011
Eureka Theater
- August 18, 2011: The Super Dupers, PianoFight, Crisis Hopkins, BATS Improv's Warp Speed!
- August 19, 2011: 15 Minutes, Dr. God, Made Up Theatre, Happy Karaoke Fun Time
- August 20, 2011: Leela, Local Honey, Serious V-Neck
- August 24, 2011: The Simps, Tiny Godzilla, The AfTers, Awkward Silence, Dragon Viper Cobra
- August 25, 2011: EndGames Improv, Bobby Hot Stuff, Big City Improv, The Freeze, Chick Flick, Late Night ImprovLuv
- August 26, 2011: Chicken Scratch, Improv Boston, New England, Kind Strangers
- August 27, 2011: Uncle's Brother, Messing with a Friend, Game Island with Ron West
2010
Eureka Theater
- August 14, 2010: Uncle's Brother, Revolving Madness, Slave Leia, Crisis Hopkins, The Committee, Shenanigan's Pie, Norfleet, Lawlor & Gray
- August 15, 2010: SPF7, Un-Scripted Theater Company, Kim "Howard" Johnson's My Life with Python
- August 18, 2010: Awkward Face, Chicken Scratch, Hobofish, Thursprov, The SImps
- August 19, 2010: The Freeze, How We First Met, The Super Dupers' Doo-Wop-ner
- August 20, 2010: Five Play, USS Rock 'N' Roll
- August 21, 2010: Game Island with Ron West, StoryBox, OJ in a Sippy Cup, The Podcast with Rachel Miller, ComedySportz San Jose
2009
"The Temporary Improv Festival" — a stop-gap event produced by Jamie Wright (with fellow members of Crisis Hopkins), taking over with Shaun Landry's blessing
Eureka Theater
- August 14, 2009: Revolving Madness, PianoFight
- August 15, 2009: Crisis Hopkins, Big City Improv, SPF7
2008
North Beach Purple Onion Stage
- Week One: ComedySportz San Jose and ImprovBoston
- Week Two: Trophy Wife Improv (ioWest, LA) and Revolving Madness (SF)
- Week Three: Mark Baratelli Improv Cabaret(Orlando, FL) and The Uncle Ukulele Show (Minneapolis, MN)
- Week Four: Cathcart and Olson (Chicago) and Aye Diego (LA/Boston)
- Week Five: The Election Show (Seattle, WA) and Get Up (Austin, TX)
- Week Six: Silver City Pink (LA) and SPF7 (SF)
- Week Seven: Oui Be Negroes (SF) and Pale Irish Bastards (LA)
Union Square SF Playhouse Stage: Hosted by Un-Scripted Theater
- Week One: Asaf Ronen's YARNS (Austin, TX)
- Week Two: Storytellers Unplugged (SF)
- Week Three: Second Nature (L.A.) with Armando Guest Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler)
2007
- Week One: Bassprov with Emo Philips (Chicago/LA) and 3 For All (SF)
- Week Two: SF Gay Pride Weekend with Me Likey (Toronto), Mark Baratelli's Improv Cabaret (Florida) and Host/Improv Rapper Julie "Fucking" Potter
- Week Three: Oui Be Negroes (SF) The Short Show (SF) and Messing with Ike (Chicago/LA)
- Week Four: Storytellers Unplugged (SF), Comedy Jesus (LA) and host "Velvet" Tom Farnan (LA)
- Week Five: Imp (NY) and Revolving Madness (SF)
- Week Six: Big Yellow Bus (Chicago) 4 in 1 (SF) and String Theory: SCIENCE (Vancouver, Canada)
- Week Seven: Razowsky and Clifford (LA) and Un-Scripted Theater (SF)
2006
- Week One: Aye Diego (boston/L.A) and True Fiction Magazine (San Francisco)
- Week Two: Massive Creativity (Houston, TX) and 15-Minutes (San Jose)
- Week Three: Jokyr and Jesster (Salt Like CIty UT) and Un-Scripted Theater (San Francisco) with Special Guest Todd Stashwick/Jill Bernard and The Mayfly
- Week Four: Razowsky and Clifford (L.A), Revolving Madness (San Francisco) and Second City's Los Angeles The Group
- Week Five: I Eat Pandas (NY) and Dad's Garage (Atlanta, GA)
- Week Six: Waiting For Ennis Cotter (Boston, MA), Warth & Todd (NY) and Catholic School Girl Giddy with Asaf Ronen(NY/SF)
- Week Seven: Oui Be Negroes (SF) and Nation of Improv (Los Angeles)
2004
Festival ran April 15 – June 26, 2004
- April 15–17: The Annoyance Theatre (Chicago) — The Next Stage Theater
- April 22–24: The Next Stage Ensemble (SF), The Sam Shaw Show (SF), The Kickercast Project (NY) — The Next Stage Theater
- April 29 – May 1: The Delmonic Interviews (Chicago) and The Monday Night Improv Jam (SF) — The Climate Theater; Lucky Dog Theatre (SF) — Venue 9
- May 6–8: Bare Witness Productions (SF) — Climate Theatre
- May 13–22: Pharmarsupial (SF) and The Babcocks (SF) — The Next Stage Theater
- May 27–29: Muy Fuerte (SF), Black and Tan Improv (SF), Defiant Thomas Brothers (Chicago) — The Next Stage Theater
- June 3–12: New Humor Group (Oakland) and Oui Be Negroes (SF/LA) — The Next Stage Theater
- June 4–5: BATS Improv (SF) — Bayfront Theater
- June 17–26: True Fiction Magazine (SF) — The Next Stage Theater
