New improv festival will bring 50 comedy troupes to Ann Arbor

This story is part of a series about arts and culture in Washtenaw County. It is made possible by the Ann Arbor Art Center, Destination Ann Arbor, Larry and Lucie Nisson, the University of Michigan Arts Initiative, and the University Musical Society.

The Yes, Ann Improv Festival will debut in Ann Arbor June 24-27, bringing together more than 50 improv troupes from 12 states for four days of performances, workshops, special events, and afterparties. Organizers say the new festival aims to celebrate the city’s rich comedy tradition while establishing Ann Arbor as a destination for improvisational theater and live comedy.

The festival will feature performances at both the historic Michigan Theater and hear.say Brewing + Theater, offering audiences the opportunity to experience nationally recognized performers alongside local favorites and emerging talent.

“The Yes, Ann Improv Festival is Ann Arbor’s newest summer cultural event,” says Michael Hovitch, the festival’s marketing coordinator. “What makes it unique is the scale and the mix.”

According to Hovitch, the festival combines nationally known comedy acts with a broad cross-section of improv performers from across the country. Audiences can see headlining comedians on the Michigan Theater stage before heading to hear.say for showcase performances, experimental formats, and up-and-coming acts in a more intimate setting.

The event builds on a long history of improvisational comedy in southeast Michigan. Hovitch points to Washtenaw County organizations such as the former Improv Inferno, Pointless Brewery & Theatre, Civic Improv, and Whatabout Theatre, as well as comedy institutions throughout metro Detroit, as part of the foundation that made a festival of this scope possible.  Hovitch and hear.say owner Tony DeRosa envisioned more than a collection of performances. Instead, they sought to create a full-scale festival experience that would bring together performers, students, and audiences while showcasing Ann Arbor’s growing role in the national improv community.

“The idea for Yes, Ann came from dreaming big and looking at both the future of improv in Ann Arbor and its existing history,” Hovitch says. “Ann Arbor has the creative culture, the audiences, and the history to support something like this, and this festival honors that history while building something new that can grow year after year.”

In addition to performances, attendees will have access to more than a dozen workshops and intensive learning opportunities taught primarily by visiting instructors, including several featured performers. Hovitch says the educational component is intended to help improvisers develop new skills, connect with artists from outside their home communities, and bring fresh ideas back to their local scenes.

“The entire festival is a chance to see nationally recognized talent alongside local favorites and visiting teams from across the country,” he says. “The goal is to create space for performers, students, fans, and curious newcomers to meet each other, hang out, and feel part of the larger improv community.”

The festival will also include afterparties and community events designed to foster connections among performers, students, fans, and newcomers. Organizers say those gatherings are an important part of what distinguishes an improv festival from a traditional comedy show. While the festival serves as a major celebration of improv, Hovitch hopes it also encourages attendees to explore the local comedy scene throughout the year.

More information, tickets, schedules, and workshop details are available here.

“Improv has always been about community,” Hovitch says. “We hope people leave feeling like they were part of something bigger than just a show.”