GUIDE TO SHOWS AT THE 2012 KC IMPROV FESTIVAL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 8/26/2012
For more information, including interviews
with featured performers, contact Tim Marks
at festival@kcimprov.com or 913-486-6861

2 FILM & TV STARS, 4 HEADLINERS, 17 COMEDY TROUPES:
HOW TO DECIDE WHO TO SEE AT THE 2012 KC IMPROV
FESTIVAL

There's a lot of funny coming to Kansas City September 7-
15...that's the whole point of a comedy festival, right? The
good news about the KC Improv Festival is that if you want
to, you can see and do everything and still fit in eating and
sleeping. And you can feel good about it—because every
ticket you buy benefits Gilda's Club Kansas City.

But if you want to tiptoe in, we get it. So we present this,
the Official Guide to Shows:

THE STARS
Paul F. Tompkins is a busy guy. With dozens of film (There
Will Be Blood, Anchorman) and TV (Best Week Ever, Mr.
Show) credits, half a dozen comedy albums, regular live
shows in LA, and several top-rated podcasts to his credit,
he's equally comfortable with standup and improv, drama
and comedy, and every media known to fans. Rolling Stone
rated his Pod F. Tompkast first in their "10 Best Comedy
Podcasts of the moment last year. In September, he joins
his friends in the popular Superego podcast as they return
to KCiF for the second year.

Turns out Superego has lots of famous friends...they'll also
be performing with Colin Hanks, known for films like
Orange County and King Kong and TV shows like Band of
Brothers, Dexter and Mad Men. (His dad has a few movies
under his belt, too.)

THE HEADLINERS
Superego (Sept. 7-8) got connected with KCiF through
member Jeremy Carter, who got his start with local troupe
ComedyCity (also performing at the festival). Their
improvised podcast debuted in 2006, with Carter and Matt
Gourley presenting case studies of characters with
personality disorders. KCiF is one of the few events where
fans get a chance to see them perform live.

Bassprov (Sept. 14-15) is one of the best-known acts on
the comedy festival circuit, and another encore
performance for KCiF. Joe Bill and Mark Sutton portray Earl
and Donny, two guys from Indiana who fish and talk. The
New York Times describes their work as "wordplay,
character quirks and quicksilver wit."

Don Tremendous (Sept. 14-15) is KC native Tim Mason,
who just "retired" from The Second City, with his two
Mainstage buddies Tom Flannigan and Andy St. Clair. At
"the temple of satire,” the majority of their work winds up
scripted; at KCiF, they'll show off their improv roots.

Twinprov (Sept. 13-14) is a pair of upbeat, Oklahoma City
natives who look like anything but freestyle rappers...but
their shows have blown minds in arena concerts, on Last
Call with Carson Daly, at TEDxOU, and all over YouTube.


THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS
Der Monkenpickel (Sept. 8) reunites Superego's Jeremy
Carter with his ComedyCity troupe, including LA
screenwriter Ed Goodman and Second City "BoatCo"
member Corey Rittmaster.

Confidence Men (Sept. 8) comes out of Austin, TX, with a
completely improvised play in the style of David Mamet.

ShawnMikeal (Sept. 14), a duo from DC, populates scenes
with multiple characters and jumps through time and
space.

ImprovBoston (Sept. 15) blends skillful storytelling,
memorable music and audience participation into joyful
chaos.


And, of course, every show features favorite local acts:
Festival producers, The KC Improv Company
KC's original improv troupe, ComedyCity
Long-running groups Babel Fish and Tantrum
Up-and-coming talents Chess with Death, Little Bear and
Holy Cow

For the first time, we're happy to announce 15 percent of
all proceeds benefit Gilda's Club, which provides a free
support community for adults and children diagnosed with
cancer, along with their families and caring friends. Named
for Gilda Radner—an improviser best known as one of
Saturday Night Live's original "Not Ready for Prime Time
Players"—it's a cause close to all of our hearts.

Tickets range in price from $5-$20 and are available at
http://kcimprovfestival.com, where you'll also a full show
schedule and news about special events and classes taught
by guest artists.

------------------

The KC Improv Company puts on shows and classes at the
Kick Comedy Theater in Westport every week, and has
performed at comedy festivals in New York, Chicago, and
around the country. Their actor-comedians also perform
the Kick Comedy show monthly at the world-famous
Improv Comedy Club in Zona Rosa, and at dozens of private
events every year.
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