The seventh annual Phoenix Improv Festival is rolling into town, and event producer Bill Binder said this year's event will focus more on local talent than past year's festivals.
One founding member of local improvisation troupe Galapagos, Jose Gonzalez, said there has been increased local interesting in improvisation over the past year.
"People are actually sticking around instead of moving to other cities to pursue their artistic abilities," Gonzalez said.
In past years, the festival focused on diverse improvisation troupes from all over the country, Binder said.
The festival will be held from Friday, April 4 to Sunday, April 6, at Herberger Theater on 222 E. Monroe St., according to the event Web site, PhoenixImprovFestival.com.
Friday's show will be held from 2 to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday's shows will be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15 on Friday and Saturday, while Sunday's tickets cost $10.
About 1,200 audience members are expected this year, which is about the same expectation as past years, Binder said.
A national and local mixture of 14 improvisation troupes will perform Friday and Saturday, Binder said.
Sunday's show will feature the Arizona Showcase, which showcases seven Arizona-based improvisation troupes, Binder said.
There will be a total of about 135 performers, Binder said.
"We try to bring in the more unique shows," Binder said. "Improv has a comedic reputation, but we're trying to show the theatrical aspect of it, too."
Binder said each show will feature a wide variety of improvisation, including comedy, drama and theater.
Galapagos focuses on "long-form" improvisation and takes suggestions from audience members to inspire their performances, according to the event Web site.
Gonzalez said the group will challenge themselves to do something slightly different than the rest of the troupes at the festival.
"We want to be doing the best performance that we can because we want to showcase the best Phoenix Improv has to offer," Gonzalez said. "There's an improv movement here. … Hopefully this will jumpstart people to start coming and seeing improv shows regularly."
Reach the reporter at: megan.pantak@asu.edu.
