We were in the paper. We were on the radio. We were on television. We were on stage. 3/4 of those things couldn’t have happened without our incredible publicists, Lauren Rinker and Matt Harrington. I mean, check out our awesome coverage:

• RICHMOND DOT COM “Richmond Improv Festival Part Deux”
• NBC12 “Funny Comes to Downtown”
• MORE NBC12
• RICHMOND INSIDE OUT “RIF Hijacks Downtown”
• RICHMOND GRID
• RICHMOND BIZ SENSE “Funny Part Deux”

…And that’s not even half of it.

Lauren and Matt are BOTH available FOR HIRE in the River City. They are rockstars and we couldn’t have done this festival without them. Lauren lives in Richmond and is starting her career as a freelance writer and editor (AND rockstar publicist). Matt, too, in addition to being a rockstar publicist, is a freelance writer, media designer, bass guitar novice and long-suffering Bills/Sabres fan. We love them and you will too.

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The RIF has been AWESOME. Improvisers from all over the country are RIGHT HERE in the River City… as we speak! Comedy ROCKED Thursday night at Capital Ale House. So many hilarious bits TORE UP the stage Friday night at CenterStage – Rhythm Hall. Oh, and we even had some GREAT workshops. (Because you can never stop learning, right?)

Well, it’s almost over. But don’t be sad, because we have one more ROCKING night of comedy left. Check the details:

4PM – CenterStage Rhythm Hall -

COMEDYSPORTZ BAILOUT SHOW. $10 for adults. $5 for students. Awesome? We think so.

7PM – CenterStage Rhythm Hall -

Cubed (Philadelphia)
Pound for Pound (Carrboro)
Einstein Meets Elvis (Atlanta)

9PM – CenterStage Rhythm Hall -

Superbest (Washington, DC)
iProv (Richmond)
Fritter Kings (Carrboro/Chicago)

Get your tickets NOW.

But wait, the COMEDY doesn’t stop there. The Richmond Comedy Coalition (@RVAcomedy) will be hosting a MIDNIGHT IMPROV JAM at Capital Ale House downtown. $5 for the general public, but FREE if you present a ticket stub from ANY RIF show. Awesome, right? Get up on stage and JAM with the improvisers… and then do some karaoke.

Improv + Drinks + Karaoke = A real good time.

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No, Not the classic Salt-N-Pepper song. (clip here)

Let’s talk about Heavy Wet Sectional.

Heavy Wet Sectional: an improv group that is neither heavy, nor wet, nor a sectional. But all together, Heavy Wet Sectional is an improv troupe that has been making audiences laugh and having good times for over two years. Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, the Sectional performs a mixture of classic and self-created improv games – and always guarantees the laughs. See them perform LIVE at the RIF.

Tonight, November 5th at 8PM.

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It’s not comedy about sports, it’s comedy played as a sport.

We are excited to present not one, but TWO ComedySportz shows during this year’s Richmond Improv Festival. ComedySportz Improv Theatre (formerly the Comedy Alley) was built in 2001 and has served as Richmond’s ONLY improv theatre. The RIF proudly showcases Richmond’s longest running improv show.

CSz players have been seen on stages all across the country. Players have been featured at the 2009 North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival, 2009 Black Box Improv Festival, 2009 Philadelphia Improv Festival, 2009 ComedySportz Marathon (Buffalo, NY) and the 2009 Toronto International Improv Festival. And now, right here at home.

(come support your favorite CSz players)

FRIDAY 7PM at Center Stage, Rhythm Hall (Jaycees Benefit)

Referee: Tim Sinclair
Players: Zach Arnold, Bryan Dunn, Micah Edwards, Dave Gau, Jenni Goldsby, Matt Newman, Stacey Voorhees-Brown
Mr. Voice: Aaron Grant

SATURDAY 4PM at Center Stage, Rhythm Hall

Referee: Dave Gau
Players: Zach Arnold, Rachel Garmon, Jenni Goldsby, Aaron Grant, Susan Scovill, Stacey Voorhees-Brown, Matt Newman
Mr. Voice: David Pijor

Come see ComedySportz perform LIVE at the RIF at Center Stage.

Get your tickets.

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It’s a secret society. It’s improv. It’s an improvised secret society.

Even Dan Brown couldn’t make this up.

We are humbled to welcome Skull N’ Bones The Lodge to this year’s Richmond Improv Festival. Hailing from Washington D.C., The Lodge is an improvised long form show that took an oath to entertain you.  Founded on an audience suggestion, a secret society is born and the performers create a show exposing the secret rituals of this new society and the unwitting world waiting outside. They are gentlemen of the highest order.

Help be a part of the creation. See them perform LIVE at the RIF at CenterStage.

Friday, November 6th at 9PM.

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Yeah, sure, we have teams traveling from 9 different cities, But Your Richmond Improv Festival also proudly features awesome “Homegrown” improv talent, trained and performing regularly right here in the River City.

For over three years, Full Contact has been entertaining RVA comedy lovers. They are hilarious, witty, and perform bold, edgy improv. Full Contact has been featured at the 2009 North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival (NCCAF) and the 2009 Toronto Improv Festival. They have been seen recently rocking the stage with the Richmond Comedy Coalition. Full Contact: Long-form improv, short-ass tempers.

Made of BEES first pollinated the comedy scene over a year ago and have been blossoming ever since. They were also featured along at the 2009 NCCAF and were honored to Headline a show at the 2009 Black Box Improv Festival. Fast-paced, in your face, aggressive, and always funny… Made of BEES: Improv that stings.

Watch Full Contact and Made of BEES perform LIVE at Capital Ale House.

Thursday, November 5th at 8PM and 10PM.

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Tickets! TICKETS! Get Your Tickets! You can smell the comedy and feel the laughter already. So, you want to see some comedy, do you? Here’s how…

Performances on Thursday, November 5th are scheduled at the Capital Alehouse in Downtown Richmond. Tickets are $10 and admission to the 8pm show grants audience access to the 10pm show. Opening Night party at the Alehouse after shows. Tickets are available ONLY at the door. There is no online purchase for Capital Alehouse tickets. So get there early, grab a drink, and get ready to laugh.

THURSDAY 8PM
Heavy Wet Sectional (Baltimore)
Fusebox (Richmond)
Danny Canoe (Durham/Raleigh)
Full Contact (Richmond)

THURSDAY 10PM
Deuce (Richmond)
Death by Improv (New York)
Made of Bees (Richmond)

Performances on Friday November 6th and Saturday November 7th are scheduled at the newly renovated CenterStage in Downtown Richmond. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door ($2 discount for students). Don’t forget about the SPECIAL BAIL OUT PERFORMANCE: Saturday 4PM tickets are $12 for adults, $6.50 for students. Plus, You can buy tickets for the CenterStage shows ONLINE.

And you probably should.

Click here to purchase tickets IN ADVANCE for shows at CenterStage.

FRIDAY 7PM
ComedySportz, Benefit for Camp Virginia Jaycee
** $5 from every ticket goes to benefit the Camp.

FRIDAY 9PM
The Lodge (Washington, DC)
The N Crowd (Philadelphia)
Road Trip (Carrboro)
Dr Fantastic (Washington, DC)

SATURDAY 4PM
ComedySportz, Bails Out the River City

SATURDAY 7PM
Cubed (Philadelphia)
Pound for Pound (Carrboro)
Einstein Meets Elvis (Altanta)

SATURDAY 9PM
Superbest (Washington, DC)
iProv (Richmond)
Fritter Kings (Carrboro/Chicago)

SATURDAY Midnight
Improv Jam, Hosted by the Richmond Comedy Coalition. PLEASE NOTE: Our Saturday Midnight show is presented at the Capital Alehouse. Tickets are ONLY $5, Fans with a ticket stub from any other festival show will receive FREE admission.

So get excited. Get your CenterStage tickets in advance.

Or get them at the door at Capital Alehouse. Get ready to Laugh Out Loud.

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We’re Famous! We are PUMPED to have had ComedySportz Artistic Director Dave Gau featured on NBC12 this past Friday to give all the juicy details on this year’s Richmond Improv Festival. And it was AWESOME (watch the clip). We want to thank NBC12 and all the other media outlets for supporting and promoting the improv scene in downtown Richmond. There is so much talent in the River City and we are honored to showcase our homegrown comedy alongside talent from all over the country.

The 2009 Richmond Improv Festival runs from Thursday, November 5th through Saturday, November 7th. Come see us. Support Your Local Comedy.

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Have you ever said, “Man! Improv looks like SO MUCH FUN. I wish I could do that!” Guess what? You can! SATURDAY November 7th, The Richmond Improv Festival, presented by ComedySportz Improv Theatre and the Richmond Jaycees, is sponsoring a FREE Public Improv Workshop for Loyal Fans and the people of Richmond.

What?: FREE Improv Comedy Workshop

Who?: ANYONE, No Experience Necessary

Where?: CenterStage, Rhythm Hall (600 E Grace St. Richmond, VA)

When?: Saturday, November 7th

Time: 1pm – 3pm

(Students should arrive by 12:45pm, No entry after we start)

Why?: Improv skills are fundamental to Active Listening, Communication, Team Work and Leadership. Oh yeah, and it helps you Be REAL funny.

What else?: It’s gonna be AWESOME!

Come out. Bring a friend. Bring 10 friends.

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Are you excited for the Danny Canoe Festival Debut? We are.

Danny Canoe (Dan Sipp, Anoushka Broad, Annie Zipper) is a brand new team of players who have improvised together for years. Based in North Carolina, Danny Canoe discovered a mutual love of scenes that swing wildly from silliness to social commentary and from realism to the cartoonish. Shows feature scenes that shift rapidly from character to character, in and out of strange situations, and more.

Dan says, “Our rehearsals are so much fun. We love cracking each other up, and we hope that translates to the audience. We want the audience to have as much fun as we’re having.” The trio have a combined 45 years of improv experience (WOW!) and have trained with The Second City, iO – Chicago, Annoyance Theater, and with improv luminaries Paul Sills and Del Close. Watch Danny Canoe perform LIVE at the RIF.

Thursday November 5th, 8PM at Capital Alehouse.

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