Ocean State Black and Funny Improv Festival

09/27/2025

Great workshops today for Ocean State Black & Funny Improv Festival! Join us tonight at 7 pm and 9:30 pm for shows!

09/26/2025

Join us tonight at 7 pm for some great performances from Mike & Justin, Black Magnets, Wakanda vs Everybody, and our headliners Brothered Toast! Stick around after for our Stand-Up Comedy/Improv Mash-Up Mixer!

We had a great time last night, and we'd love to see you in the crowd tonight!

07/25/2025

Black & Funny is BACK! Can you believe that we're getting ready for our 5th Annual Ocean State Black & Funny Improv Festival?? Mark your calendars for September 25-28!

Submissions for troupes are open on our website now! Don't have a troupe? Don't worry - Black & Funny Ensemble submissions are open too! The OSBAFIF Ensemble trains together at the festival and performs their own show that they create together!

Check our website for submissions! Get them in by August 17, and we hope to see you there!

09/29/2024

Black & Funny is HERE! We have shows starting Thursday night, and we have 6 incredible workshops lined up! Sign up to learn from the best and get new perspectives on your improv!

Head to the Contemporary Theater Company website for details and registration!

09/26/2024

The Festival is NEXT WEEK! We can't wait! Join us in welcoming back beloved troupes as well as new to the fest troupes like Flava Flavor Flavour from Chicago, IL!

Tickets are available on our website now!

Today we're excited to spotlight Flava Flavor Flavour, our Ocean State Black and Funny Improv Festival Headliners! Our snippet today comes from Festival Director Stephanie Rae!

"This hilarious trio from Chicago brings a whole lot of “seasoning” to improv with their fast-paced, one-of-a-kind performances. From their unforgettable Denzel Washington advice panel to their hysterical R&B puns, Flava Flavor Flavour knows how to keep the laughs coming!

Festival Director Stephanie Rae says, 'After I saw Flava Flavor Flavour at the Black & Funny Improv Festival in Minneapolis last year, I knew we had to bring them to Ocean State and the Contemporary Theater Company. Their comedy is fresh, funny, and fast, and I was laughing and quoting their set for days. You do NOT wanna miss these guys!'

Catch them in action during the festival, and don’t miss your chance to learn from the best by signing up for their Saturday afternoon workshop! Watch them play, then jump in and play with them!"

Join us from Oct 3-6 to watch Flava Flavor Flavour and many other talented Black Improvisers!

09/16/2024

We're just a few weeks away from our 4th Annual Ocean State Black & Funny Improv Festival, and we need your support!

We have more troupes and ensemble members attending than ever before! This is super exciting, but it also means that we need more of everything to make it happen!

What does my donation do for the festival?

$10 - Spread joy and love!

$25 - Give a free ticket to someone who needs it

$50 - Get some food for the welcome cookout

$100 - Give a travel stipend to a Black & Funny Ensemble member to help them attend the festival

$250 - Support our workshop scholarships to ensure everyone can take workshops from these incredible artists

$500 - Bring top-notch Black troupes to headline the festival and teach workshops

$1,000 - You are the festival angel helping make it all happen!

What do you get for supporting the fest aside from joy and the satisfaction of supporting Black artists?

At $25, we'll say your name during the festival onstage as a festival supporter!

At $50, you'll get a chair dedicated to you for the festival where we'll have whatever message you want (within reason) displayed! Write your message in the Notes section here!

At $100, we'll read a message from you (again, don't be a jerk!) live onstage at the festival, plus you get a chair dedicated! Write your message in the Notes section here!

At $250, we'll read your message, dedicate a chair, and send you a vintage OSBAFIF t-shirt!

At $500, we'll read your message, dedicate a chair, send you a vintage OSBAFIF t-shirt, and Stephanie Rae will send you your very own original freestyle thank you message!

At $1,000, you can have all of the above plus a pair of festival passes! And our undying love and appreciation!

09/14/2024

We're getting ready for our biggest Ocean State Black and Funny Improv Festival yet, October 3-6! We can't wait to share the lineup with you soon!

This festival is important to so many performers, and we want to help them make the trip possible. If you have the ability to make a donation to help us make the trip a little easier for them, we greatly appreciate it. Every donation helps!

What does my donation do for the festival?
$10 - Spread joy and love!
$25 - Give a free ticket to someone who needs it
$50 - Get some food for the welcome cookout
$100 - Give a travel stipend to a Black & Funny Ensemble member to help them attend the festival
$250 - Support our workshop scholarships to ensure everyone can take workshops from these incredible artists
$500 - Bring top-notch Black troupes to headline the festival and teach workshops
$1,000 - You are the festival angel helping make it all happen!

What do I get for supporting the fest aside from joy and the satisfaction of supporting Black artists?

At $25, we'll say your name during the festival onstage as a festival supporter!

At $50, you'll get a chair dedicated to you for the festival where we'll have whatever message you want (within reason) displayed! Write your message in the Notes section here!

At $100, we'll read a message from you (again, don't be a jerk!) live onstage at the festival, plus you get a chair dedicated! Write your message in the Notes section here!

At $250, we'll read your message, dedicate a chair, and send you a vintage OSBAFIF t-shirt!

At $500, we'll read your message, dedicate a chair, send you a vintage OSBAFIF t-shirt, and Stephanie Rae will send you your very own original freestyle thank you message!

At $1,000, you can have all of the above plus a pair of festival passes! And our undying love and appreciation!

07/29/2024

The Ocean State Black & Funny Improv Festival is back this October! Have a troupe you want to submit? Want to come as an individual and be part of the Black & Funny Ensemble? Applications for troupes and individuals are live on our website!

https://www.contemporarytheatercompany.com/black-and-funny-improv

08/30/2023

We've made a few changes to the Thursday and Friday schedules of the 3rd Annual Ocean State Black and Funny Improv Festival! Take note (but we still think you should get a pass for the whole weekend)!
Tickets and workshops available here: https://www.contemporarytheatercompany.com/black-and-funny-improv