One hundred performances. Five countries. Eleven venues. One hundred and three staffers.

It looks like a passage from the Harper’s Index. But these are stats relating to the fifth annual Chicago Improv Festival (CIF), a wham-bam week of round-town improvisation happenings taking place April 1-7. Jonathan Pitts, the executive producer of CIF, admits that he’s a bit obsessed with counting. But for him, going by numbers is simply a way to keep tabs on the festival’s rapid growth.

"We like to say, 'It’s bigger than you could possibly imagine,’ and we feel that way while working on it," says Pitts. "We’re seeing a huge difference in size from last year."

For starters, there are 25 percent more performances this year. And, along with boasting a slew of new events, CIF has partnered with the City of Chicago for the first time. This means a lot more programming and, inevitably, more laughs.

The CIF Mainstage, located at the Athenaeum Theatre (2936 N. Southport Ave.), is the primary venue for big-name talent. Kicking off the Apr. 4 opening night line-up is The Second City; Israel’s Lo Roim Mimeter; and a reunion performance by Jane, a comedy outfit that features Second City alum/"MADtv" star Stephnie Weir. Every night thereafter features international and national acts, including Tokyo’s Yellow Man Group (Apr. 5), "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" funny man Colin Mochrie with his Canadian All-Stars (Apr. 6), New Zealand’s The Improv Bandits (Apr. 6) and Toronto’s Slap Happy (Apr. 7).

In addition to Mainstage shows, CIF has a lot more funny stuff on the roster; sketch comedy shows, solo and duo performances, "fringe" theatrical events and more are set to draw crowds. "Every year the fest reflects what’s been going on during the past year," says Pitts. "Recently, there’s been a growth in sketch and solo work, so now we have separate venues to support that."

CIF sketch comedy happenings take place at The Playground (3341 N. Lincoln Ave.). Chicago stalwarts, like Stir-Friday Night (Apr. 6), are represented here, as are Barenholtz & Meyers from Los Angeles (Apr. 6). Improv Olympic (3541 N. Clark St.) is home to solo performance events, many of which are being remounted after solid runs around Chicago and beyond. Additionally, WNEP Theatre (3209 N. Halsted St.) is the site of fringe offerings; these avant-garde shows have, in Pitts words, "one foot grounded in performance art and the other in improvisation."

Dexter Bullard, a Chicagoan known for heading up the physically intense Plasticene, knows the importance of bringing other theatrical disciplines into the fold. "Theatrical art is a tool that can take improv so much farther," says Bullard. "It can show the soul…the human condition." On Apr. 5 and 6 at WNEP Theater, Plasticene will demonstrate a wordless form of improv using object work.

While improv acts will be playing out on stages citywide, a more behind-the-scenes look can be captured at the various workshops scheduled. Liz Allen, the training center director at ImprovOlympic, is one teacher that’s planning an ensemble-geared workshop. "I’m focusing on learning to connect as a group and using each other as a source of inspiration," says Allen. "Improvisers [here from out of town] can take what they learned back to their home group and make their ensemble there even stronger."

Giving every budding improviser something to aim for, a number of CIF Awards will be given out over the course of the five Mainstage performances. Lifetime Achievement Awards are being doled out to four late improv pioneers: Martin DeMaat, Del Close, Avery Schreiber and Byrne Piven. The Female Improviser of the Year Award goes to Stephnie Weir, while Male Improviser of the Year acknowledges Colin Mochrie.

Chicago group Schadenfreude is receiving the CIF Festival Award. Justin Kaufmann, a Schadenfreude ensemble member, was surprised to receive the honor, even though his comedy outfit has been cracking people up with its unique brand of socio-political humor for four years. "We’re gonna go big for this show," Kaufmann says of Schadenfreude’s CIF engagement, which takes place on Apr. 5 at the Athenaeum Theatre. "Last year, we brought out a gospel choir and we’ve had bagpipers, too. This year, it’s going to be all about Las Vegas…live band, showgirls, Cirque du Soliel-style acrobats and all."

Also going in with a bang is the first-time Digital Video Night on Apr. 2 at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E Washington St.), which was organized in response to the growing use of video in improvised material. Some 15 short films will be featured, two being world premieres by "Saturday Night Live" writer Adam McKay. A new, one-hour video honoring improv guru Del Close is also set to reel.

As Pitts explains, CIF is "five minutes ahead of the curve." New works–digital videos, off-the-wall sketches, wordless improvisation performances and more–can be witnessed in their raw glory. And up-and-comers can be seen in an intimate setting before they gain massive national attention. Pitts cites Tina Fey’s 2000 CIF engagement, which took place right before she became a "SNL" Weekend Update anchor.

While people like Fey already had their bearings in big-time gigs when they appeared at CIF, the festival has made a few improvisers lives into success stories. Featured "SNL" performer Seth Meyers, for one, was spotted during his engagement last year and was subsequently invited to audition for the show. "I’m thrilled because the fest has become one more portal that’s opening for people to get discovered in Chicago," says Pitts. "It’s important, especially when the performers are doing their own work."

Tina Fey. Seth Meyers. Colin Mochrie. It looks like Pitts is counting again. This time the tally reveals the knock-out number of people seen through the years at CIF that have found their niche on "Saturday Night Live," "MADtv," syndicated sitcoms and more.

Call 773/227-3810 for more information on the Chicago Improv Festival, or log on to www.cif.com. Tickets for Mainstage shows can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 312/902-1500.