This Week in Bay Area Improv from The San Francisco Improv Alliance
Category: Parties and Nightlife

ONGOING IMPROV PERFORMANCES

Something People Like
Ongoing Every Wednesday: Hosts Chad Lehrman (Last Comic Standing) and Justin Lamb (SPF7)  bring a mix of comedy, short films, and music to San Francisco's  favorite comedy venue.8pm, $8 @ http://www.sfstandup.com/venues/purple-onion 140 Columbus Ave, San Francisco. For more information, go to http://www.SFstandup.com

Big City Improv
Ongoing Every Fridays: Big City Improv shows are unscripted, un-edited and created on the spot, using audience suggestions, participation and their dark and sordid lies. Every Friday night at 10:00pmThe Shelton Theater, San Francisco 533 Sutter Street in Union Square. Tickets $20.00 For more information go to http://www.bigcityimprov.com   

ComedySportz San Jose
Ongoing Fridays and Saturdays: The National Comedy Theatre is proud to be the home of ComedySportz, competitive, team improvisational comedy every Friday and Saturday night in beautiful San Jose! Also,check out its late night show made especially for adults! For Tickets go to http://www.comedysportzsanjose.com

Secret Improv Society
Every Saturdays Edge-of-your-seat improv theater; uniquely San Francisco, completely hilarious shhhh. Don't tell anyone. June 7th will feature special guest performers Lisa Rowland from BATS Improv and Jen Chou from Impro Theater Los Angeles! 10PMThe Shelton Theater 533 Sutter Street San Francisco. $15.00. For tickets go to http://www.secretimprovsociety.com

Stone Soup Improv
First Saturday of every month starting June 7th (no Show in July): Improv is live theater at its most unpredictable! Each show is different, created on-the-spot using suggestions from the audience! Oakland's Stone Soup Improv cast members are: Adriana Russell, Dan Rosenthal, Emily Duffy, Jennifer Simmons, Jonathan Stern, and Ryan Fuller. They have performed with many local improvisational groups, including; East Bay Improv,  BATS Improv and Pan Theater. Temescal Art Center, 511 48th Street (at Telegraph Avenue) in Oakland, CA Doors open at 7:30PM, Show starts at 8:00PM Admission: $9.00 General ($6.00 for students with ID and seniors) http://www.stonesoupimprov.com or info@stonesoupimprov.com for online reservations or call 415-430-5698

Blue Blanket Improv presents: "Coastside Comedy Improv"
Second Saturday of every month: A la ugh-out-loud, high-energy, affordable,fun-for-the-whole-family  comedy theater experience unparalleled on the coast! Blue Blanket  Improv presents a new comedy improv show on the second Saturday of each  month. Bring a friend or several and enjoy a night of laughs. Doors  open at 7:30 PM.Time:8:00   pm (Doors open at 7:30pm) Location:  Enso 131   Kelly Avenue, Half Moon Bay Phone:(650)   726-1409. For additional information  please visit us at:  http://www.BlueBlanketImprov.com

Rats In the Alley
First and Third Thursdays: The Rats in the Alley continue to bring their own aggressive style of "trial by fire" improv to the North Bay. Uncle Bongs Pizzeria' 203Main Street, SuiSun City, CA, 94585 Street,SuiSun City CA. FREE. http://www.ratsinthealley.com for more information and tickets.

BATS Improv
Performance Schedule THROUGH AUGUST 2008: BATS Improv's Main Stage Theatre Company, BATS "Sunday Stage" and Student Performing Groups  Thurs-Sat Shows 8Pm. Sunday Shows 7PM. Go to http://www.improv.org for more  information, prices and tickets. Performances include:

• Battle  of the Bay Theatresports Every Friday and Saturday  Through Aug.2: BATS' Main Stage Company presents this year's  "Battle-of-the-Bay"Theatresports tournament, pitting teams of improvisers representing the"typical" characters who live in various San Francisco  neighborhoods and suburbs.
  

IMPROV PERFORMANCES

Rover Hendrix
Monday and Tuesday starting June 23rd through July 1st Kurt Bodden and Michael Michalske are the physical team duo Rover Hendrix. Seen at The Garage and The Darkroom, Rover Hendrix is back for a two week run of the unexplainable style of improvisation! For more information go to http://www.roverhendrix.com or http://www.kurtbodden.com

The San Francisco Improv Festival  2008
July 10 - August 23rd The  San Francisco Improv Festival is back for its fifth year of  improvisational comedy including special celebrity guests, two stages  (The Union Square Stage at the SF Playhouse Stage 2 hosted by Un-Scripted Theater) with our North Beach Stage at the prestigious and legendary Purple Onion!

Opening Weekend July 10-12

The Purple Onion
ImprovBoston (Boston, MA) & ComedySportz (San Jose, CA)

The SF Playhouse Stage 2Sponsored by http://www.un-scripted.com
Un-Scripted Theater (San Francisco) & YARNS (Austin, Texas)

Long Form Weekend July 17-19

The Purple Onion
IOwest Trophy Wife (Los Angeles, CA) & Revolving Madness (SF)

The SF Playhouse Stage 2 Sponsored by http://www.un-scripted.com
Un-Scripted Theater (San Francisco) Storytellers Unplugged (SF)

Musical Improv July 24-26

The Purple Onion
The Uncle Ukulele Show (Minneapolis, MN) & Improv Cabaret (Orlando, Florida)               

The SF Playhouse Stage 2Sponsored by http://www.un-scripted.com
Un-Scripted Theater (San Francisco)& Second Nature (University of Southern CA)

Two Person Improv

The Purple Onion
Cathcart & Olson (Chicago. Il) & Aye Diego (Boston/Los Angeles)

Genre Improv August 7th – 9th

The Purple Onion
The Election Show (Seattle, WA) & Get Up (Austin, Texas)

Battle of Sexes August 14 – 16

The Purple Onion
Silver City Pink (Los Angeles, CA) & SPF7 (San Francisco)

Race and Improv August 21st –23rd

The Purple Onion
Pale Irish Bastards and (Los Angeles, CA) & Oui Be Negroes (San Francisco)

All shows Start at 8PM
The Purple Onion is located at 140 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco (map)

The SF Playhouse Stage 2 is located 533 Sutter Avenue San Francisco 2nd Floor (map)

http://www.sfimprovfestival for the full line up and to by tickets! For Phone Reservations call (415)863-1076

Sponsored by The San Francisco Improv Alliance, Un-Scripted Theater, The Purple Onion,Extreme Tix, Theater Bay Area, Joive De Virve Hotels, Pyramid Beer and The Santa Cruz Improv Festival.

IMPROV ON THE AIR IN THEBAY

Improvised Movies from barewitness films! Barewitness is the longest San Francisco Improv Company doing completely improvised movies! Check out all of their award winning films at http://www.barewitness.com,or go to http://www.youtube.com/user/barewitnessfilms

Cassandra Call Productions: Cassandra Call brings you  Radio Star Podcasts (Where every show is completely improvised and recorded in a single take and podcast every Wednesday)!To hear Radiostar Podcasts go to http://www.radiostarnetwork.com/

IMPROV BOOKS

The Improv Playbook A must have for everyone who performers improv. Over 370 Improv Games collected over 20 years of improv play from the one of the Founders of BATS Improv, San Francisco, William Hall. This is the book you've been waiting for. For a table of contents and to purchase this book, please to http://www.fratellibologna.com/NewPages/The_Playbook.html

How to Improvise a Full-Length Play Forget the script and get on the stage! In How to Improvise a Full-Length Play, actors, playwrights, directors, theater-group leaders, and teachers  will find everything they need to know to create comedy, tragedy, melodrama, and farce, with no scripts, no scenarios, and no  preconceived characters. Author Kenn Adams (SF Synergy Theater)presents a step-by-step  method for long-form improvisation, covering plot structure, storytelling, character development,symbolism, and advanced scene  work. For more information on this improvisational book or to purchase, go to http://www.amazon.com!

IMPROV CLASSES

Improv to Sketch Comedy with Nick Leonard
Thursdays, June 12 through July 3: This class gives the basics on creating sketch comedy using  improvisation techniques. Based on the sketch/improve Revue Theatre  style pioneered by such schools as Second City, Groundlings and Brave  New Workshop this class will get you creating comedy from day one,  You'll generate sketch ideas from your everyday life, create memorable characters and situations, build scenes with improvisation, write with partners, find great endings and edit for the maximum funny. And have fun doing it! 6-8pm Showcase at SFCC on Sunday July 6 at 7pm $250 414 Mason St. 705 between Post and Geary, San Francisco To register: call the SFCC at (415)921-2051.

Interplay Improv Classes
Ongoing Classes: These classes are a great way to access improvisational movement,voice and story. No experience required,all ages and abilities welcome! It's easy to  learn the simple forms of InterPlay. If you are new you can catch on as you go. Anyone can do it! Engage mind,   body, heart, and spirit in an affirming, fun-loving practice with great   teachers. There are six opportunities each week to drop-in to an InterPlay   class.

    
• Mondays 10:30 am-12:00 pm InterPlay Women's Group with Penny Mann and  Susan Main    
• Tuesdays 6-7:30 pm with Elizabeth Mendana
• Wednesdays 10:30 am-12:00 pm with Michelle Jordan
• Wednesdays 7:30-9:00 pm with Cynthia Winton-Henry and Soyinka   Rahim
• Thursdays 7-8:30 pm InterPlay for Men with Theron Shaw
• Fridays 10:30-12:00 pm with Cynthia Winton-Henry

Classes are $15 single/$48 for 4/ $90 for 10 All classes happen at Interplay: 2273 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, 94612(just   a few blocks from 19th Street BART)For more information check out http://www.interplay.org or call 510-465-2797. 

Saturday Drop In Improv Class 
Ongoing Saturdays: This Drop-in improvise a really fun class and a very welcoming group. It's not clique-y. Newcomers are always welcome. If you come to class, you have to participate.  Sorry, no voyeurs! The class is made up of comics, actors,improvisers, and just generally people who like to play. The laugh quotient is high! All ages welcome. This class was taught by Jim Cranna for 25 years!   1-4pm Fort Mason Bldg C, either Room 230 or 235 (depending on the week). Check the board outside each room's door to see which room the class will be in. http://www.fortmason.org/directions/index.shtml! Fee (per class): $10

Saturday Afternoons Workshops   1:00 - 3:30 p.m. Workshops held at S.F.'s CPMC Davies campus Gazebo Room.

These free 'comedy' classes open to the above, their care partners/intimates as well as those working/volunteering for organizations in this health care services area. Free garage parking. The Gazebo is wheelchair accessible. MUNI N street car to Noe Street; 24 or 37 bus lines to Castro & 14th Streets. Free snacks and beverages provided courtesy of BATS IMPROV Board of Directors. Wear loose,comfortable clothes for movement.

BATS Improv School:
Whether you're an actor working to enhance your performance skills or someone who thinks that improv just looks like fun, BATS Improv has a class for you. New workshops,designed for a variety of skill levels, start each month,year-round. For more information on class schedule go to http://improv.org/school/index.htm

Synergy Theater Classes
Check Synergy Theater's Round of eight week classes each month with teacher and improviser Kenn Adams! For more information and pricing go to http://www.synergy-theater.com/Classes/class.htm

Workshops with  Joya Cory
A unique approach that unlocks your larger self, enabling you to access the unfettered,daring self-of-all-possibilities. Taught in a supportive atmosphere, this training releases powerful creative energy, imagination and natural spontaneity. Beyond comedy "Improv", Full  Spectrum training activates full emotional and physical range to create Improvisational Theatre of authenticity and substance, as well as joyful, intoxicating play. You'll strengthen your presence, learn to trust your intuition and develop confidence and ease. Includes expressive movement and voice, theatre games,storytelling, acting technique and taming the inner critic.  Deep Fun!

Ongoing classes in San Francisco:    

• (Intermediate/ Advanced) Shotwell Studio, 3252  19th St. Saturdays  2-4:30 p.m Four classes $120. Try your first class for$20.
• (Beginner/ Intermediate)St John's Church , Arguello and Lake Streets Wednesdays, 7- 9:30 p.m.  Resumes MARCH 19Four classes $120. Try your first class for$20.

For more information on classes go to http://www.joyacory.com or 415-564-4115

Next Stage Theater Marcia Kimmell Classes:
Director, Marcia Kimmell founded The Next Stage in 1979. She was a student of Viola Spolin at the Second City in Chicago. Spolin created "Theater Games" and  was mother of the improvisational theater movement in the US. The Next Stage Theater 1620 Gough Street (at Bush) San Francisco Call415-826-6505 or email marciakimmell@sbcglobal.net For more info online go to http://www.sillyzen.com

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