UPCOMING SHOWS & WORKSHOPS

THE IRISH HILL IMPROV FESTIVAL INAUGURAL BALL

Irish Holl Improv Festival

Louisville, KY - At the Fox's Den in City Block, the LOUISVILLE IMPROVISORS, Louisville's premiere improv troupe and BACKSEAT SANDBAR (www.backseatsandbar.com), Louisville's premiere music blog, will host the IRISH HILL IMPROV FESTIVAL INAUGURAL BALL featuring Louisville's ownTHE INSTRUCTION and the legendary BODECO. The Irish Hill Improv Festival Inaugural Ball celebrates the return of Los Angeles-based comedic institution THE GROUNDLINGS to Louisville. Though it's not held in Irish Hill, the event will feature the best of Irish Hill Culture. There will be door prizes, a costume contest, where you can dress as your favorite historical Irish Hill figure (past or present), and a dance contest where you can show off your Billy Goat Strut, Nannie Goat Strut, or Irish Hill Crawl, which was developed during the flood of 1937 (it's like the Charleston, but underwater). Put your money where your strut is!
The Instruction formed in 2005 and has been playing shows around town performing with the likes of Your Black Star, as well as national acts MC Chris and Thao Nguyen with the Get Down Stay Down. Currently, the band's songs have been featured on WFPK and they are in the process of completing their debut Failure By Design.
Louisville stalwarts Bodeco rose to prominence in the burgeoning 1990s independent music in scene in Louisville. Bodeco has earned legendary status with their mix of rockabilly, hardcore, and concrete blues. Though they only released two albums, Bodeco broke into WFPK's top 100 albums of all time with Callin' All Dogs, which was better than fugue in F sharp by Mozart. But, Bodeco's power has always been in live performance. Behind the guttural yawlp of Ricky Feather, Bodeco has earned praise from critics and audience's alike. Trouser Press called them "[o]ne of the most underappreciated combos in the early-to-mid-'90s indie roots-rock movement". The New York Times raves: "[t]here's nothing quaint, cute or five-and-dime about Bodeco's brand of rockabilly. Greasy as a truck-stop burger and bumpier than a high-speed ride in the back of a pickup, this band of Louisville wild men eschews retro contrivances in favor of gristle, marrow and the occasional backwoods yowl."

For more information, please contact Chris Anger:  chris@louisvilleimprov.com or visit www.louisvilleimprov.com 

A flyer for the event is available upon request!

ABOUT THE IRISH HILL IMPROV FESTIVAL AND INAUGURAL BALL
The Irish Hill Improv Festival starring The Groundlings and Louisville Improvisors will be performed at 8 pm at Walden Theatre, 1123 Payne Street.
Tickets are $20 per night and will be available at the door.
The Irish Hill Improv Festival Inaugural Ball will take place at the Fox's Den in City Block. Doors open at 10 pm on Friday, September 5. Tickets are $10. 
$25 gets you access to both an improv show and the Inaugural Ball.

THE IRISH HILL IMPROV FESTIVAL

Irish Holl Improv Festival


Louisville, KY -- On September 5th and 6th, 2008, the LOUISVILLE IMPROVISORS, Louisville's premier improv troupe is pleased to announce the return of THE GROUNDLINGS, Los Angeles's comedic institution which gave rise to the careers of Phil Hartman, Paul Reubens, and many others.

Returning from their sold out shows at the Kentucky Center in January, the Louisville Improvisors and The Groundlings will be performing two shows on Friday, September 5th and Saturday, September 6th at 8 pm at Walden Theatre, 1123 Payne Street during the first IRISH HILL IMPROV FESTIVAL. In addition to both shows the Louisville Improvisors, in conjunction with Backseat Sandbar (www.backseatsandbar.com), Louisville's premier music blog, will host the Irish Hill Improv Festival Inaugural Ball featuring some of Louisville's prominent bands.
For more information, please contact Chris Anger: chris@louisvilleimprov.com or visit www.louisvilleimprov.com

ABOUT THE IRISH HILL IMPROV FESTIVAL
The Irish Hill Improv Festival starring The Groundlings and Louisville Improvisors will be performed at 8 pm at Walden Theatre, 1123 Payne Street.

Tickets are $20 per night and will be available at the door.

The Irish Hill Improv Festival Inaugural Ball will take place at the Fox's Den in City Block.

Doors open at 10 pm on Friday, September 5. Tickets are $10.

$25 gets you access to both an improv show and the Inaugural Ball.

10 THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT THE IRISH HILL IMPROV FESTIVAL:
  1. It's the first one!
  2. There actually aren't enough improvisers in Irish Hill to make a "festival" so we had to bring some in from "Los Angeles."
  3. It's annual?
  4. It takes place in Irish Hill. That's in Louisville, Kentucky. That's in the United States. Which is a country on planet Earth. The Earth is in the solar system. Well, the ball won't happen in Irish Hill, but the rest apply.
  5. When the wind blows right, you can smell Butchertown.
  6. The Irish Hill Neighborhood Association won a prolonged bidding war against Deer Park to host the festival. The Upper Highlands dropped out early.
  7. Improv is an artform. Invented by the original inhabitants of Irish Hill: the Swedes.
  8. The Groundlings also performed at the First Annual Toluca Lake Improv Festival.
  9. Andy Dick WILL NOT be attending.
  10. Irish Hill was once known as Billy Goat Hill. The name was changed after a copyright infringement suit was filed by Billy Goat Strut alley downtown. Billy Goat Hill henceforth became known as "Irish Hill"

THE GROUNDLINGS
Born out of countercultural 1960s comedy troupe the Committee, Los Angeles's Groundlings have been practicing their high-octane brand of anything-goes improvisation for three decades. Audiences know the group for their wacky sketch comedy and lightning audience participation rounds. Its alumni include a laundry list of "Saturday Night Live"-ers (Phil Hartman, Julia Sweeney, Will Ferrell, Laraine Newman), Cassandra "Elvira" Peterson and Emmy-winning "Friends" star Lisa Kudrow. www.groundlings.com
 
Current members scheduled to appear:
Kevin Berntson has been seen on TV in "ER", "Monk", and in recurring role on "Reno 911!". He's not an insomniac, but he plays one on TV commercials with a beaver and Abe Lincoln.

Jordan Black has been a series regular on such shows as "Punk'd", "Halfway Home", MTV's "The Lyricist Lounge Show", the WB's "On the Spot" and E!'s "Star Dates". His voice has been heard on "South Park" and he's been seen and heard on "MadTV", "Free Ride", "Significant Others", "Cedric The Entertainer Presents", "The Andy Dick Show", and According to Jim, as well as the Christopher Guest film For Your Consideration. Jordan's writing credits include "Saturday Night Live", Fox's "Stacked", VH1 "ILL-ustrated", VH1 "Big in 2002" Awards, and the WB's "Hype".

A California native, Candace Brown debuted in her Fourth grade production of "Pandora's Box" where she was initially cast as a goblin but was recast as "Hera" when her classmate suspiciously fell ill on performance night. Candace has no comment. Candace has appeared on Comedy Central's, "Sarah Silverman Program", NBC's Windfall, and Universal's "The Cat In The Hat", starring Mike Meyers. She can be seen on The Disney Channel's "Wizard's Of Waverly Place", and will recur on season two Head Case on the Starz Network. She is a Groundlings Sunday Company Alumni, and performs improv and sketch at The Improv Olympic West with her 2007 Harold champion team "Local 132". "The Smith Brown Project", a comedy show written by Candace and her writing partner Colleen Smith has appeared at Improv Olympic, UCB as well as numerous times at The Comedy Central Workspace. In addition the two co-created www.DateGarden.com, a comedy dating website. www.candacebrown.com

Stephanie Courtney is a main company member of The Groundlings who has appeared on the small screen with roles in "Mad Men", "Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job!" and on the big screen in "The Heartbreak Kid" and "Blades of Glory."

Colleen Smith is a correspondent on "The Showbiz Show with David Spade". Her other television credits include "The Office", "World Cup Comedy", "The Singles Table", "Carpoolers", and "King of the Hill". http://www.myspace.com/colleen_smith

LOUISVILLE IMPROVISORS with special guest "Jazz Guru" TODD HILDRETH
Since 1999, the Louisville Improvisors have delighted audiences in The River City. Josh Lane and jazz guru Todd Hildreth join co-founders Chris Anger and Alec Volz to craft hilarious, original material every performance. They have been entertaining audiences across the Midwest at The St. Louis Improv Festival, Chicago Improv Festival, and other festivals and colleges in between. Locally, the Louisville Improvisors have produced 8 Improvapalooza festivals and delighted Louisvillans at the Clifton Arts Center, The Rudyard Kipling, Kentucky Center for the Arts, and now defunct Twice Told Coffee Shop. Co-founder Chris Anger ran for mayor in 2006. The bid was unsuccessful, but he got more votes than Elvis, Jesus, and Phil McCrevice. For more info, visit www.louisvilleimprov.com

 

 

Improv8_poster.jpg

Louisville Improvisors present

Improvapalooza 8

2 Nights of Improv in the round at the MeX Theatre in The Kentucky Center

January 11-12 8:00pm

Tickets: $25.00

Tickets available at the KCA Box office 584-7777 or online at
www.kca.org

Tickets go on sale November 29th at 10 AM.

Featuring: The Groundlings
Born out of countercultural 1960s comedy troupe the Committee, Los Angeles's Groundlings have been practicing their high-octane brand of anything-goes improvisation for three decades. Audiences know the group for their wacky sketch comedy and lightning audience participation rounds. Its alumni include a laundry list of "Saturday Night Live"-ers (Phil Hartman, Julia Sweeney, Will Ferrell, Laraine Newman), Cassandra "Elvira" Peterson and Emmy-winning "Friends" star Lisa Kudrow.
www.groundlings.com

Current members scheduled to appear:
Kevin Berntson has been seen on TV in ER, MONK, and recurring role on RENO 911! He's not an insomniac, but he plays one on TV commercials with a beaver and Abe Lincoln.

Colleen Smith is a correspondent on "The Showbiz Show with David Spade". Her other television credits include "The Office", "World Cup Comedy", "The Singles Table", "Carpoolers", and "King of the Hill". http://www.myspace.com/colleen_smith

Drew Droege's TV credits include RENO 911!, HALFWAY HOME, CAMPUS LADIES, and THE 70's HOUSE.
Drew's also the voice of Feathers on the popular online cartoon PLANET UNICORN and has done videos for Funny Or Die, Channel 101, and Super Deluxe. He's on myspace but not facebook -don't even think about getting him hooked into that racket.

Jordan Black has been a series regular on such shows as Punk'd, Halfway Home, MTV’s The Lyricist Lounge Show, the WB's On the Spot and E!'s Star Dates. His voice has been heard on South Park and he's been seen and heard on MadTV, Free Ride, Significant Others, Cedric The Entertainer Presents, The Andy Dick Show, and According to Jim, as well as the Christopher Guest film For Your Consideration. Jordan's writing credits include Saturday Night Live, Fox's Stacked, VH1 ILL-ustrated, VH1 Big in 2002 Awards, and the WB's Hype.

A California native, Candace Brown debuted in her Fourth grade production of "Pandora's Box" where she was initially cast as a goblin but was recast as "Hera" when her classmate suspiciously fell ill on performance night. Candace has no comment.

Candace has appeared on Comedy Central's, "Sarah Silverman Program", NBC's Windfall, and Universal's "The Cat In The Hat", starring Mike Meyers. She can be seen on The Disney Channel's "Wizard's Of Waverly Place", and will recur on season two Head Case on the Starz Network.

She is a Groundlings Sunday Company Alumni, and performs improv and sketch at The Improv Olympic West with her 2007 Harold champion team "Local 132." "The Smith Brown Project", a comedy show written by Candace and her writing partner Colleen Smith has appeared at Improv Olympic, UCB as well as numerous times at The Comedy Central Workspace. In addition the two co-created www.DateGarden.com, a comedy dating website.
www.candacebrown.com

And

LOUISVILLE IMPROVISORS with special guest "Jazz Guru" TODD HILDRETH

The Louisville Improvisors originated ensemble Improvisation in Louisville nearly ten years ago and continue to explore the unique art form of Theatrical Improvisation. Their concept shows walk the tightrope of unscripted theatre...combining traditional stage work with the unpredictable element of improv. The result is an adrenaline pumping night where anything goes...and usually does.

The Louisville Improvisors are: Chris Anger, Josh Lane, and Alec Volz

www.louisvilleimprov.com



"Seat-of-pants flying is what these guys do best" Cindy Lamb in LEO Weekly


"The Most substantial Group in Town" -Louisville Magazine


"Best Performing Arts Group" -The Readers of the LEO Weekly

 

Louisville Improvisors, Comedy Caravan, and Wild And Woolly Present the return of

INSTANT CINEMA!

Photo included. (Photo credit – Angela Shoemaker)

Louisville Improvisors, Comedy Caravan, and Wild And Woolly, present INSTANT CINEMA with Todd Hildreth, Chris Anger, Josh Lane, and Alec Volz.

Augst 15th and 29th
10:00pm
The Comedy Caravan
Mid City Mall
Admission: $5
Tickets and info available by calling (502) 459-0022
www.louisvilleimprov.com
www.comedycaravan.com

"The same old movie with a brand new soundtrack"

Noted piano man-about-town Todd Hildreth (Java Men, King Kong) joins forces with Louisville Improvisors – Chris Anger, Josh Lane, and Alec Volz – to present the return of INSTANT CINEMA.

These strong artists are going to take a B movie and redub it, adding their own dialogue and music. All completely improvised.
This 30-minute live movie event will be followed by a set of improvised scenes based on audience suggestions accompanied by Todd Hildreth on the piano and organ.

"Nightlife: ‘Instant Cinema’: The movies are B but the talent is A+"
- Cindy Lamb Leo Magazine 4/10/06

The Louisville Improvisors and Todd Hildreth

 

Improvapalooza 7 Master Classes

True Fiction Magazine from San Francisco, the headline group for this year’s Improvapalooza Festival will be leading two different master classes on Saturday January 13th in The MeX Theatre at The Kentucky Center 620 W. Main Street. The Classes on TFM’s trademark style of Long Form Improvisation will be held from 12:30 – 2:30 and 3 – 5. The Cost will be $20.00 for each master class.

The Classes are limited to 20 students in each class to insure maximum participation for all. This is a great opportunity to work with some of the leading improvisors in the country for an amazingly low price. Each class will focus on different aspects of Long Form Improv and are completely different – great for the beginning improvisor and the veteran alike.

To sign up, call Alec Volz @ 589-0084 ex28 or send an email to avolz@waldentheatre.org

True Fiction Magazine continues to push the envelope of improvisation, exploring new and exciting styles of storytelling. A TFM performance is a full evening of spontaneous theatre, as the troupe takes titles suggested by the audience and creates stories, which move forward and backward in time, interweave and intersect, until the final resolution. Of over 6,000 stories told, they've never repeated one. Each show is unique: it has never been seen before and will never be seen again. TFM's inspiration is the hard-bitten, emotion-driven fiction found in the pulp stories of the 30's and 40's, tempered by their own comic sensibilities, resulting in a myriad of unusual characters and the worlds they live in.

Outside of its home base in San Francisco, TFM enjoyed a lengthy, critically-acclaimed run in Los Angeles in 1997 and expanded its scope internationally, participating in a week-long theater festival in Tampere, Finland, performing two shows to capacity crowds at the city theater and conducting workshops in long-form improvisation with improvisors and actors from all over Scandinavia and northern Europe. More info on TFM: http://www.truefictionmagazine.com/index.htm

 

Louisville Improvisors present
Improvapalooza 7
2 Nights of Improv in the round at the MeX Theatre in The Kentucky Center

January 12-13 8:00pm
$15.00 adults
$12.00 Seniors/students
Tickets available at the KCA Box office 584-7777 or online at www.kca.org  
 
Featuring:
True Fiction Magazine
San Francisco's longest running improv show, True Fiction Magazine,
originally inspired by the over-blown passions of the 30s and 40s pulp novels, takes improvised theatre to new heights each year. Pushing the realm of storytelling, TFM takes the audience on a wild ride into unknown territory that titillates the senses and blows the mind. www.truefictionmagazine.com

"Inspired invention!" -San Francisco Chronicle

"Surreal inventive plots!" -Los Angeles Times

"An immensely satisfying theatrical experience!" -Daily Variety

And

LOUISVILLE IMPROVISORS with special guest  “Jazz Guru” TODD HILDRETH

The Louisville Improvisors originated ensemble Improvisation in Louisville nearly seven years ago and continue to explore the unique art form of Theatrical Improvisation. Their concept shows walk the tightrope of unscripted theatre...combining traditional stage work with the unpredictable element of improv. The result is an adrenaline pumping night where anything goes...and usually does. www.louisvilleimprov.com

“Seat-of-pants flying is what these guys do best” Cindy Lamb in LEO Weekly

"The Most substantial Group in Town" -Louisville Magazine

“Best Performing Arts Group” -The Readers of the LEO Weekly

True Fiction Magazine

True Fiction Magazine Image 2

Louisville Improvisors and Todd Hildreth
 
 
Anger Campaign Rally Poster

Improvapalooza 5.5
If you missed seeing Bob Wiltfong at Improvapalooza 5 last September, or saw him and want more of his funky New York-style comedy, some good news: he's coming back. Bob joins host Louisville Improvisors and Rickets & Randy for Improvapalooza 5.5 -- one night of improvisation, sketch comedy and improvisational ventriloquism. Guaranteed laughs in the up-close and personal MEX Theater.Ê

Where: The MEX Theatre, Kentucky Center for the Arts
When: January 14
How much: Tickets $12/ $10 for Seniors & Students. Call the Kentucky Center Box Office at 502.584.7777 or 800.775.7777


 
©2005, Louisville Improvisors