Improv (No Lines!)

They're making it up as they go.

by Mark Cofta

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Published: Aug 29, 2007

Heebs in the House: Oy, the Drama

Tongue & Groove joins with The Collaborative Artists' Collective for a show in which monologues written and performed by young Jewish actors will inspire improv riffs.

Sept. 9, 5 p.m., $10, Gershwin Y Studio Theatre, 401 S. Broad St.

It may resemble Block's long-form improv, but this show by established Philly troupe The Cabal promises zany comedy, an hourlong adventure built on an audience suggestion.

Sept. 6 and 13, 8:30 p.m.; Sept. 7-8, 14-15, 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; $10, O'Neals Irish Pub, 611 S. Third St.

Tapestry Theatre's Karen Getz and Kelly Jennings (accomplished stage actresses who are also ComedySportz veterans) reprise their popular time-traveling heroines in a long-form improv.

Aug. 31 and Sept. 8, 10 p.m.; Sept. 1, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 2, 6 p.m.; Sept. 7, 9 p.m., $10, 2nd Stage @ the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St.

Matt Holmes, Nathan Edmondson and ComedySportz' Alexis Simpson also promise hilarity in long form, which they've been performing all over the area since 2003.

Aug. 31, Sept. 6, 8 and 15, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., $10, Independence Park Hotel, 235 Chestnut St.

Philadelphia Improv Theatre (PHIT) mounts two fringe shows: Cagematch, a competitive long-form improv tournament with several other local groups competing; and Industrial, PHIT's own take on long form, complete with red jumpsuits and "manifesto-informed world view."

Cagematch, Sept. 13-15, 10 p.m., $10, 2nd Stage @ the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St.; Industrial, Sept. 1-3, 9 and 13, 8 p.m.; Sept. 1-2, 9:30 p.m., $10, Independence Park Hotel, William Penn Room, 235 Chestnut St.

ComedySportz veterans Mary Carpenter and Thomas Fowler are an improv duo who promise risk-taking, unpredictable long-form improv.

Sept. 6-9, 7 p.m.; Sept. 8, 9 p.m., $10, The Actors Center, 257 N. Third St.

Short form is the preferred method in this expanded Fringe edition of The N Crowd's weekly show.

Aug. 31, Sept. 7 and 14, 8 and 10 p.m., $10, The Actors Center, 257 N. Third St.

These two shows combine improv with other forms. Echo by Tribe of Fools fuses movement and music inspired by the ancient Greeks with puppetry and improv, while Religion Is Retarded by Creative Mindworks promises improv mixed with short films and character-based comedy about — well, the title says it all.

Echo, Sept. 12-13, 8 p.m.; Sept. 13-15, 10 p.m., $15, The Fleisher Art Memorial Sanctuary, 719 Catharine St.; Religion Is Retarded, Sept. 4 and 7, 5:30 p.m.; Sept. 5 and 9, 8 p.m.; Sept. 6, 5 p.m.; Sept. 8, 9 p.m., $15, Walking Fish Theatre, 2509 Frankford Ave.

 

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Sticking To It
Global Warming
From Afar
Off Script
Exquisite Corpse
Cooking With Gas
Fest Guesses