10/12/2025
October 12, 2025
Dear Friends, Performers, and Volunteers of the festival,
The dust has settled, the theater is quiet once more, and the fifth annual Secret City Improv Comedy Festival is officially in the books. This festival is my passion project, my love letter to the art of improv comedy, and every year, I’m amazed by how many people want to join us here in the mountains of East Tennessee.
This year, we grew again, expanding our lineup from 24 to 28 teams, and welcoming over 100 performers from 14 states and 21 cities. We even had a record-breaking seven teams from the Knoxville area. This incredible mix of talent and energy brought real fire to our stage.
Festival Improvements
We also made some meaningful changes this year. The most requested improvement from our performers has always been longer set times, so we listened. We expanded each performance slot and added a third night of shows. To make it work, we eliminated show blocks, added more intermissions, and adjusted the schedule to give everyone a better balance of stage time and rest.
We also heard your feedback about merchandise and food options. This year, we expanded our merch table to include hats, shirts, and keychains, with shirt styles tailored to what our fans love most. And we were thrilled to welcome back a food vendor. Tray Trays by Dynasti served up delicious eats that were a hit with everyone.
Gratitude to Performers and Guests
To everyone who attended, whether you bought a ticket, came as a guest of a performer, or supported us as a business partner, thank you. You could have spent your weekend anywhere, but you chose to spend it with us, laughing and celebrating this art form.
To our returning performers, Einstein Simplified, Improv Chattanooga, Pretend Friends Improv, Playback Reloaded, Solitaire: The Musical, Cumberland St******se, Hitchhikers and Appetizers, Catbomb, and Hub City Theater, thank you for bringing your continued brilliance.
And to our new teams, Improbob, Jame and L’Orange, Dad Company, Porch Cats, Right Mouse Clique, The Chameleon, The Platonics, Solovela: An Improvised Telenovela, Pandemic! @ The Disco, PATSMASHPROV, Here We Are, The Red Pill Players, and Friends on Facebook, thank you for joining our growing festival family. It’s humbling to see so many performers travel from near and far to be part of this event.
Volunteer Recognition
Our volunteers truly made this year special; they were the largest and most dedicated team we’ve ever had.
Thank you to Brett Pearce, our Technical Director, for his skill and precision in audio and video. To Michael Ray, returning for a second year of musical magic, and to Robyn Helwig, Musical Director at The Backline in Omaha, who joined us Friday night, your talents elevated the show.
Thank you to Stage Manager Taylor Wingerter for her tireless support and to Jessica Newman for her backstage work. To Robert Rupp, our lighting and sound guru, thank you for keeping everything running smoothly. Our front-of-house team, Jamie Hickman, Laiken Whittredge, Stavros Keritsis, and Jake Breeding, handled check-ins, concessions, and merchandise with professionalism and warmth.
A big thanks also goes to announcer Jeffrey Moser and to Caleb Morazi, who traveled all the way from Louisiana to help us wrap up the festival (and whose podcast WigWags is well worth checking out at wigwags.us).
Finally, an extra special thank-you to Tracy Yaste, who kept the whole operation on track as Assistant Director. Her organization and leadership were indispensable; I’m thrilled to announce that she’ll officially serve as AD for our 2026 festival.
Business and Community Support
This year was another record-breaker for community and business support. To our longtime partners, DoubleTree Oak Ridge-Knoxville, Hampton Inn Oak Ridge-Knoxville, Comfort Inn Oak Ridge, Mike Massaglia State Farm, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Jefferson Compounding Pharmacy and Soda Fountain, Oak Ridge Floral, East Tennessee Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists, Brysson’s Closet, Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Café, Calamity’s Coffee, Gaia’s Wisdom, TN Bank, Secret City CDJR, and Food City Oak Ridge, your support sustains this festival year after year.
We were also thrilled to welcome new sponsors: Southeast Termite and Pest Control, Manatee Vanity Improv, WKXV Radio, Trillium Drivers, Joe Shirt, David’s Tire Pros, Carmichael’s Automotive Repair, CorAlign HR, Tennessee Members 1st Federal Credit Union, The Island of Pigeon Forge, Mountain Wolf Tattoo, Crimson Curiosities, Borderland Tees, Apple Healthcare, Smith and Sons Printers, Pro Stitch Embroidery and Digitizing, and Accu Tax.
Feeding the Festival
Our festival quite literally runs on food, and this year we were spoiled. Thanks to Food City for keeping our concession stand stocked, and to Courtney’s Cakes for those beautiful cupcakes. Huge thanks also to The HoneyBaked Ham Company on Washington Pike for generously feeding our volunteers, and to the sponsors who fueled our Slayden Intensives, Duck Donuts for breakfast, Calamity’s Coffee for caffeine, and Marco’s Pizza (1541 Oak Ridge Turnpike) for lunch and our Friday Night Pizza Party.
Our Home at The Grove Theater
Finally, a heartfelt thank-you to our home, the Historic Grove Theater. This space is more than just a venue; it’s the heart of our community and a haven for the arts. From plays to concerts, comedy to ballet, The Grove makes magic possible. Please consider supporting them with a donation at this link. Every dollar is matched through the end of the year, so your gift has double the impact.
The Grove just celebrated its 81st birthday, and with your help, it will keep inspiring artists and audiences for many years to come.
With love to one and all,
Aaron Campbell
Executive Director
