Working the laughs with Yo Adrienne! Improv Festival

Yo Adrienne! Improv Festival returns to the Adrienne Theater this summer, meaning that improvisers from across the country will once again descend on Rittenhouse Square for a weekend of nonstop shenanigans. The festival runs July 31 through August 2, with shows, workshops, and jams in celebration of the art of improv comedy. (Editor's note: the contributing writer is one of the producers behind the festival)

Laughing all together

If you’ve ever seen an improv show in Philly, odds are that you’ve probably been to the Adrienne Theater, a longtime informal home for the city’s vibrant improv comedy scene. The festival’s two stages will see some of Philly’s finest indie teams take the stage, including Barko and It Doesn’t Matter, as well as can’t-miss teams from New York, Chicago, Baltimore, Austin, Los Angeles, and more. Headlining the festival is renowned New York City team RaaaatScraps, whose cast members you might recognize from Broad City, Search Party, and The George Lucas Talk Show, in their last ever Philadelphia performance.

“Not only is RaaaatScraps one of the best improv teams around, but they’ve also been a perennial Philly favorite, having performed at ComedySportz over the years,” said Renata Rabinovich, one of the festival’s producers.. “We’re sad to see them officially end their show, but thrilled that they’ll be back for a last hurrah at Yo Adrienne!”

The festival also offers a series of workshops and jams for audiences to join the stage, whether you’re a seasoned improviser or just trying improv for the first time. The workshops range from classic improv topics, such as organic improv and making big choices, to the more unconventional. One workshop gives you the skills to perform solo improv, taught by Philly’s own Mary Carpenter, while another, taught by LA-based clown Jaymie Parkkinen, focuses on the art of clown cardio, for those who want to learn physical theater skills and get their cardio in all at the same time.

Yo Adrienne! is independently produced by Philadelphia improvisers Sam Miller, Dominick Arp, Renata Rabinovich, and Kiran Pandey, in partnership with SideQuest Theater and ComedySportz Philadelphia. Given these local ties, the festival aims to celebrate not only the art of improv comedy, but the community that’s grown around it.

“Philly’s improv scene is as welcoming as it is hysterical (which is to say, a lot), and we’re excited to share that joy with even more audiences,” said Rabinovich. “Whether it’s your first time at an improv show or just your most recent, we hope to see you at Yo Adrienne!”

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