What You Will See Tonight

We are positively giddy around here for the start of the 3rd Baltimore Improv Festival.  The first night has some great acts - so we wanted to give you a little insider information about them.

8:00 show - 

IMUSICAL!!

Maybe one of the best shows on the east coast.  Last year - they truly brought down the house with the Narwhal show.  The audience input was "Narwhal" and they did "Narwhal - the Musical."  We are not sure how - but they created a show stopping song "Ghost of the Ocean, Unicorn of the Sea."  There was a 10 minute standing ovation.  I understand that musicals can be created by formula - but when they are improvised, the just seem - well, better.  Add great music (improvised!) and beautiful voices, and you get a show that I will never miss if I am close enough.

Mr. Licorice
Once upon a time, BIG had an improv troupe.  Then, several members went on to study improv in some of those other cities: New York, Chicago, ......Frederick.  So now they blow the doors off at festivals when they can show up in the same place.  They Did Del Close in NYC, they did Philly.  Luckily - they are coming back here.  They are all really talented, but keep your eyes on Alex Hill (who now lives in NYC).  I think the larger public has not seen the last of this young man.

9:30 Show - 

Population: 6 (Baltimore) -

I have known and loved these guys for a while.  I am really excited about their new format - monoscene - and their new breakout members.

Illegal Refill (Philadelphia) 

These guys played with us at the North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival - which everyone (including me) still calls Dirty South.  They feel very intimate.  I love the conversation/anecdote opening.  I hope they are still doing that.  Oh - and we can't get enough of watching Alexis Simpson.

The Mikael and James Show (Frederick, MD) - 

OK - so I didn't know that Mikael Johnson played with the Comedy Pigs.  Why don't people tell me these things.  I thought he was a WIT player.  That is not to say that there is no crossover, but I don't like to not have my finger on the pulse of DC-MD improv.

Anyway - I don't think anyone will mind me saying that these two have been stars of their own troupes.  When I heard that they were performing a show together - I grew totally excited at the possibility.  They both like the crazier side of character profiles.  I frankly want to see how they handle each other.  I will not miss this show.

Insider info - James is studying to be a nurse.  If I were a nefarious audience member, I would be tempted to give them all nursing related input.