The Chicago Improv Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary with 45 sketch and improv groups from around the world. This is perhaps the best opportunity all year to check out the cutting edge of improvisation, a form that continues to fuel the entertainment industry, from The Daily Show and TV commercials to theater and film. CIF regulars anchor the main-stage shows, while an extensive slate of newcomers reflects the festival’s commitment to emerging talent. The festival runs through Sunday, April 29, at several venues. Admission ranges from free to $37.50. Tickets can be purchased at box offices and in some cases online. See the schedule below for some highlights. For complete ticket, schedule, and venue information, call 773-935-9810 or visit chicagoimprovfestival.org. –Ryan Hubbard
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SATURDAY28
The festival closes with a double bill of Chicago acts (8 PM). Schadenfreude performs with “many special guests and surprises” and promises a “WWF-style wrestling match” between the executive directors of Chicago’s two biggest comedy festivals, CIF’s Jonathan Pitts and SketchFest’s Brian Posen. The three-woman group Switchboard–Second City alums Deb Downing Grosz, Rebecca Sohn, and Jean Villepique–ends the fest with long-form improv.
