Chicago Improv Festival

09/12/2024

A new improv book was released today written by Matt Fotis. I’m honored to share #24 with the great Susan Messing. We’re part of the chapter called “The Second Wave Luminaries” (along with iO House Teams; Tj & David; Mark Sutton; Joe Bill; Frances Callier; Shaun Landry & Oui Be Negroes).

The thing about lists (Year’s Top 10 Movies; Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Guitarists, ect), everyone has different points of views about them: who’s on there, who’s not, what order, and why, but that’s what creates conversation, criticism, debate and discussion.

What I like about Matt’s book is that he lists everything in 8 distinct chapters: The Icons; The First Groups; The Second Wave Luminaires; Film & Television; The (Further) Expansion Of Improv; The International Powerhouses; The Fourth Wave.

This book goes from Viola Spolin to Zoomprov. In it he lists actors, troupes, schools, theatre, film, and TV. His final sub-chapter is called “The Person You Can’t Believe I Didn’t Include” and he lists many names of people, national and international, and theatres that he could have listed, so he gets it. As he writes in his book’s first sentence, “This list is not definitive.”

He knows any future edition of his book (if there is one) that he may add or subtract names of current or future improvisers. No list is ever complete. Each list ever made by anyone always has different conscious and unconscious preferences contained within.

I also want to point out, in his title, Matt didn’t write “Fifty Best Improv Performers” or “Fifty Most Famous Improv Performers”, but “Fifty Key Improv Performers”, and the use of the word “key” Is key to his insights, his choices, and where he’s coming from.

For me, this book is well written and easy to read. It’s a lovely, shorter, and more academic alternative to Sam Wasson’s book “Improv Nation”, and it fits well in the same genre.

Get the book. It’s a great conversation starter. Plus you get to read about many of the improv artists ranging from the past to the present, and from Chicago to all around the world.

12/18/2020

For Immediate Release: December 18, 2020

23 Years of Chicago Improv Productions’ Archives Donated by Jonathan Pitts to the Chicago Public Library’s Special Collections And Preservation Division

On Monday, December 14, 2020, Jonathan Pitts, founder and former Executive Director of Chicago Improv Productions, donated the entire collection of 23 years worth of Chicago Improv Productions’ archives to Sarah Zimmerman, Chicago Theater Librarian, Special Collections and Preservation Division of the Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago Public Library.

“We’re very excited to accept this artistically important and historically significant collection from Jonathan”, says Sarah Zimmerman. “These Chicago Improv Productions archives become the primary source materials about improv in our ongoing Chicago Theater history collection.”

Chicago Improv Productions’ collection are archived from its many programs including Chicago Improv Festival, College Improv Tournament, Teen Comedy Fest, Chicago Podcast Festival, CIP Touring Co., and Education Outreach. The archival collection is a time capsule that showcases multiple generations of this beloved Chicago art form, while also having a national and international perspective on the work. The archives document improv’s pioneers, world renowned improv theatres, celebrity improvisers, improv artists from 51 US cities, improv artists from 27 countries, as well as student improvisers from 155 colleges and 33 high schools.

Jonathan Pitts says, “I’m very happy that this work, which was made in Chicago, will remain in Chicago, free and available for academic researchers, improvisers, and the public, in perpetuity. I’m very excited that this work becomes its own legacy, and that these lively shows and events can live once more for whoever wants to see them.”

The Chicago Improv Productions’ archival collection includes:

616 Videos (each with 1-3 shows, and/or awards speeches and/or backstage interviews)
286 CDs (photos of shows, backstage candids, workshops, awards, parties)
7 External Hard Drives (8.82 TBs of videos and photos)
61 posters (signed and unsigned)
20 years of Chicago Improv Festival press kits and program books
5 bankers boxes with audio tapes, marketing materials, media interviews, organizational papers, press clippings, and press releases

Once catalogued, the Chicago Improv Productions Records at the Harold Washington Library Center (400 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60605) will be available for viewing by appointment only. For more information contact the Special Collections and Preservation Division at 312.747.4875 or [email protected]

For interviews, contact Jonathan Pitts at 773.875.6616 or [email protected]

09/25/2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 25, 2020

Chicago Improv Productions Says “Yes And” to Cari Maher as Executive Director

CHICAGO, IL – Chicago Improv Productions Founder, Jonathan Pitts announced that Cari Maher will be his replacement effective October 1, 2020. "Cari has been a great improviser and teacher for Chicago Improv Productions (CIP). I spoke with her about taking over back in May, and the timing is right with the start of our new fiscal year. She has the skill set CIP needs in an Executive Director to move the organization onward into the future. I have every confidence that she will do a great job," said Pitts. Cari has been with Chicago Improv Productions since 2018 as a teacher, performer and assistant producer of the yearly College Improv Tournament, one of CIP’s capstone programs. “Working with Jonathan for the past two years has been a great experience. I look forward to growing CIP in the coming seasons, building on the previous work that has given us a solid foundation,” said Maher.


Most people would not be looking to start a new venture amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, but Maher is excited for new opportunities. “Improv has always been about imagination, making something out of nothing. In that way, improvisers have always been a bit nomadic. Now we’re just finding a way to do it all in a virtual space.” Plans for programming include pioneering online-only arts education programs to bring improv not just to the Chicagoland area, but throughout the entire state of Illinois.

Maher has set her sights on setting up the next generation of improvisers to be adaptable in whatever field makes them happy, while continuing to prioritize competitive compensation for teachers and performers, enabling artists to make a living from the stage. “In the past we have focused on live events, such as the Chicago Improv Festival and Chicago Podcast Festival but our main focus moving forward will be education outreach with an emphasis on equity on stage and in the classrooms.”

Currently, CIP is continuing their partnership with Urban Gateways to bring their signature “The Make 'Em Ups” shows to school audiences via Zoom throughout the 2020 school year. Other collaborations include bringing educational workshops to local high schools through Yes And Festival as well as personalized corporate Big Brothers Big Sisters workshops. “The mission of CIP has always included honoring the past and celebrating the moment while looking toward the future. Right now we have to focus on the future in order to stay relevant and it is a challenge I look forward to taking on.

CHICAGO IMPROV PRODUCTIONS has been bringing educational workshops, shows, and more to local schools for over 20 years. This past summer, CIP held the finals of its 13th College Improv Tournament, a production involving 120 college teams across 12 regional cities. A recipient of the Driehaus Grant, CIP provides programming to other nonprofits, including Urban Gateways and Big Brothers Big Sisters, as well as Chicagoland and state wide grammar schools, high schools, community centers, libraries, parks and theatres.

CARI MAHER is an actor, improviser, coach and teacher who has been based in Chicago for over 10 years. Along with her work with CIP she is currently a teaching artist at Chicago DanzTheatre Ensemble, as well as an independent consultant for local improv teams. She has worked as an Associate Artistic Director and Producer specializing in feminist and politically driven work. She has produced and performed her work at The Crowd Theater, The Annoyance Theatre, The Den Theatre, and The Second City.

JONATHAN PITTS is a creator, director, producer, teacher and award-winning international improv theatre artist from Chicago with 40 years experience. The founder/executive director of Chicago Improv Productions, he co-founded/produced Chicago Improv Festival; founded/produced College Improv Tournament; founded/produced Teen Comedy Fest; founded/produced Chicago Podcast Festival; and created CIP's outreach shows including "The Make "Em Ups". He has taught and performed improv in 25 countries and 81 cities.

09/11/2020

CIF's co-founder Jonathan Pitts has put together a GREAT cast of 11 global improv artists from 4 continents and 7 countries to perform a free show Friday, Sept 11, 8pm CST @ Dramatic Improv Festival. The show's focus is on the themes of loss, regret, and discovery.
https://www.facebook.com/events/312189570036025/
The cast: Vero Astala (Chicago), Jon Cancio (Singapore), Stephen Davidson (London), R Kevin Garcia Doyle (Honolulu), Fabian Garza (Mexico City), Sheri L Flanders (Chicago), Orla McGovern (Galway), Amy Moule (Melbourne), Laxmi Priya (Bangalore), Luke Rimmelzwaan (Brisbane), and Kayva Srinivasan (Bangalore). .

07/18/2020

Big congratulations to the 2020 College Improv Tournament National Champions: Pasadena Golf Club!
Whew! That was a super close CIT Nationals! Here's the final scores!
1st place: Pasadena Golf Club (New York University): 350
2nd place: 45Kings (Loyola University Chicago): 338
3rd place: [Tied] The Collective (University of Washington) / Improv Athens (University of Georgia-Athens): 337
4th place: Hypothetical Fistfight (Central Michigan University): 336

07/18/2020

Today’s College Improv Tournament’s Nationals is about to start on Zoom in 3 hours. Last night, we had a “Meet & Greet” so the 8 teams could say hello, relax, and jam together. We had two break out rooms, one for talking and one for improvising. Both went very well. In the improv room they did two Armandos.

07/17/2020

Tomorrow is CIF's 13th annual College Improv Tournament Nationals (2pm-6pm, CST on Zoom). Its also my last time I'm producing or executive producing the CIT. So I put together an international panel of 17 improv judges representing several artistic styles, expressions and cultures of improvisation.

Judges: Liz Allen (Chicago); Marta Borges & Pedro Borges (Lisbon, Portugal); Aryn Cristobal (Manila, Philippines); R Kevin Garcia Doyle (Honolulu); Yuri Kinugawa (Tokyo, Japan); Orla McGovern (Galway, Ireland); Saurabh Pande (Los Angeles); Ed Reggi (St. Louis); Jonald Jude Reyes (Chicago); Clay Robeson (San Francisco); Gosia Róża Różalska (Gdynia, Poland); Marcus Sams (San Francisco); Larz Simms (Chicago); Balasree Viswanathan (Bangalore, India); Yichao (Santa Monica); Estevan J. Chuy Zarate (Austin)

05/16/2020

Fred Willard passed away today. He was a comedy legend. In 2003, we were honored to give Fred a "CIF Lifetime Achievement Award". Besides receiving the award, Fred also performed an improv set with Chicago's improv duo BASSPROV (Mark Sutton & Joe Bill). It was a Sunday night and Fred sold out the 1,000 seat The Athenaeum Theatre - Chicago. In all 20 years of CIF's history, this was the only time we sold out a Sunday night at the Broadway sized theatre. Their show was really great and they got a well deserved standing ovation at the end of the show.

Onstage, Fred was hilarious, smart and a great listener. Off-stage he was very gracious, kind, and quiet. I remember before the show being in the green room with Fred, Joe, and Mark, as we all had a conversation about baseball. He really loved baseball, comedy, The Second City, and his beloved wife Mary. He was equally beloved by all the many international comedy communities that worked with him.

RIP Fred and thank you very much for everything

01/17/2020

Congrats to CIF alumni Abby McEnany on her very fun appearance with Second City alum Stephen Colbert's The Late Show.

The star of Showtime's "Work In Progress," comedian Abby McEnany, catches up with her improv teacher from the good old days at Second City in Chicago and fin...

01/05/2020

If you're looking for a new wonderful comedy show to watch, my current favorite is "Work In Progress", Sunday nights on Showtime. It's created by and features current and former Chicago talent including Abby McEnany (creator and star), Tim Mason (director), and Celeste Pechous (co-star). Also, all 3 performed at the Chicago Improv Festival back in the day.

From Chicago improv mainstays Abby McEnany and Tim Mason comes a funny and uniquely human comedy. WORK IN PROGRESS stars McEnany as a 45-year-old self-identified fat, q***r d**e whose misfortune and despair unexpectedly lead her to a vibrantly transformative relationship.

12/13/2019

Chicago Improv Productions office & archives: 20 years Chicago Improv Festival; 16 years education outreach; 13 years College Improv Tournament; 7 years Teen Comedy Fest; 6 years Illinois All-State High School Improv Team; 6 years CPS Summer Theatre Camp; 4 years CIP Touring Company; 4 years Chicago Podcast Festival; and 3 years Chicago Improv League.

10/16/2019

UCB's Matt Besser's podcast "improv4humans" is appearing live Oct 18, 7pm at Apollo Theatre, as part of the 4th annual Chicago Podcast Festival (which is produced by Chicago Improv Productions, which also produced CIF). Matt's guests are The Action Boys (Jon Gabrus, Ryan Stange & Ben Rogers); Liz Allen, Paul Grondy and Kevin Reome.

Buy Improv4Humans with Matt Besser tickets at the Apollo Theater in Chicago, IL for Oct 18, 2019 07:00 PM at Ticketmaster.