BY JASON ROBERT CHIN
The Chicago Improv Fest (CIF) hosts some of improvdom’s brightest lights. Alumni retreat from movie and television studios to pay homage to the craft and art that made them famous–not to mention to show the new kids how it’s done. But one place the kids do it on their own is at CIF’s Improv 'Til Dawn marathon.
Improv 'Til Dawn–featuring ensembles from Chicago and around the U.S.–allots 15 minute time slots to various troupes to fill a five-hour time span. The show this year, hosted at the Turnaround Theater on Belmont and Halsted, ran Friday and Saturday (April 28 & 29th) from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Last year, Improv 'Til Dawn festivities were operated by CIF staff at the ImprovOlympic Del Close Theater. This year, however, the show was organized by the creators of Improv 'Til Dawn, The Noble Fool Theater. Originally called Zeitgeist Theater, the Noble Fool made its mark on Chicago’s theatrical landscape with its long-running production and interactive comedy, Flanagan’s Wake. Although the troupe originated Improv 'Til Dawn–several years before CIF asked to use the name and format–this is the first year they headed it up at the festival.
ImprovOlympic’s Prefontaine opened the show followed by appearances from several other Chicago troupes. But what makes Improv 'Til Dawn so fascinating is the variety of groups from across the nation that pilgrimage here to Chicago to perform. Groups like Plastic Shatners (Columbus, OH), Knock Your Socks Off (Salt Lake City, UT) and Wink And A Gun (Jackson, MS) demonstrate the drawing power of the self-proclaimed capitol of improvisation–Chicago.
"There’s a variety of forms being performed," said the assistant producer of the event Don Hall. "It’s great for the students from the (CIF) workshops to be able to get up on a stage."
Hall not only performed his duties as assistant producer, but he also offered his apartment (located directly across the street) as a green room to teams who were called down to the theater via walkie-talkie.
"Seeing the other groups and then sharing a stage with them, it’s a great sense of camaraderie," said Diane Herrera of the Chicago-based group Salsation.
Molly Erdman, from Sirens, enjoyed the "very supportive crowd with a packed house," while fellow Siren Jackie Stone thought it was a great opportunity to "experiment with a new form with new team members."
The move from ImprovOlympic to the much smaller Turnaround Theater felt like somewhat of a demotion to a few of the returning players. Bemoaning the change of venue, some players saw the shift as a negative one.
"Last year there was a bigger emphasis on the Improv 'Til Dawn," said Erica Reid of Wink and a Gun. "This year it was kind of shoved in a closet and it wasn’t mentioned as much. Ultimately, though, performing was a great experience."
Jonathan Pitts, co-producer of CIF, says that the Improv 'Til Dawn shows served their purpose. "It gave students a chance to play and whatever else they might remember from the Fest, they’ll remember that they got a chance to play in Chicago."
When asked about the venue Pitts said, "It would be better if teams could stay and watch each other. I would prefer that. The Improv 'Til Dawn should be more of a campfire than an elevator ride. It’s the future of improv. It has to be in a bigger venue, maybe a 200 seat place next year."
Another change in this year’s Improv 'Til Dawn was the creation of the "Insta-teams." Last year, a few teams were either short of players or just complete "no shows" and loitering performers were eagerly drafted into filling the open slots. Formalizing this effort was Shaun Himmerick, who made sure the show kept rolling by ensuring that there were no blank slots in the two five-hour late night shows.
"Fuzzy" Gerdes, who played on several Insta-teams said, "It all went off terrifically well. It was fun and playful and for 1 a.m. it was a great audience."
The energy of playing in a city not your own, the excitement of performing in front of your peers and the jolt of starting a show when others are long since done all make up the fun of Improv 'Til Dawn. The other venues have the agents and flashy alumni. The other venues have TV stars and 1,000 seat theatres. But Improv 'Til Dawn is where people–who are just beginning their love affair with improvisation–perform for no money and little recognition. Without the cynicism or battle-weariness that sometimes permeates other shows, people–who have paid their own travel expenses and are sleeping crammed into one tiny hotel room or camped out on someone’s studio apartment floor–take the stage and do what they love.
Forget short-form or long-form, playing without judgment or criticism in the world capitol of improvisation is just plain good form.
Jason R. Chin performed in one of the first "insta-teams" last year with the short-staffed Capitol City Improv. It changed his life. No, really.
11 Questions with Callier & Pitts