Coup de Comedy 2023 & GII: Evolution of Improvisation: Full Schedule

7:00pm PDT

iRev: The Narrative Show*

UC Irvine’s Improv Revolution explores storytelling with their new narrative show. Evolving a new form and festival with both online and in-person options available - we hope you'll join us!

Please join us live in person or via the Zoom webinar.
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://uci.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3LjkQNvuSyedqQ6LFs8X9g
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

*VIDEO & LIVESTREAM:
This event is live and will also be recorded and live-streamed - link for the livestream is above.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT, YOU CONSENT TO YOUR VOICE, NAME, AND/OR LIKENESS BEING ON VIDEO. DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE ON VIDEO.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

iRev Admin

Improv Revolution generates creativity, comedy, and community at and around UC Irvine.Through a positive approach to improvisation, we construct opportunities for as many people as possible to engage in the creative process and to participate in community. We work on our own and develop... Read More →

Wednesday May 10, 2023 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Winifred Smith Hall

Performance, Long Form

8:15pm PDT

The Found Object Juggling Show

Michael Rayner’s show has been described as “preposterous brilliance” and “whacky jugglement,” a combination of hilarious tricks and stunts with uproarious stand- up. His signature trick is spinning a Burger King cheeseburger on a parasol which garnered him appearances on America’s Got Talent, The Late Late Show with James Corden and The David Letterman Show. He’s also appeared on Sesame Street, The Extreme Gong Show, Thirty Seconds to Fame and Nickelodeon’s What Would You Do. He can also balance shoes on his nose, a wheelbarrow on his chin, along with many other unique found object juggling tricks.

He performs regularly at Southern California venues, Flappers Comedy Club, The Magic Castle, Hermosa Beach Comedy Magic Club, Teatro Martini Cabaret, The Tony Martini Show, The Brookeledge Follies and Downtown Disney,

Michael frequently pops up in TV commercials. He was a weird scientist for IBM and a dork washing a cardboard car for Saturn. He played a hapless gas station attendant who tries to take a photo of Elvis in an Energizer battery commercial and has appeared with Ringo Star, Jane Seymour, and Anthony Quinn promoting other worthwhile products. Maybe his proudest achievement was having Frank Sinatra personally approve him to promote his compilation CD for a Capitol Records commercial.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Michael Rayner

Michael show has been described as “preposterous brilliance” and “whacky jugglement,” a combination of hilarious tricks and stunts with uproarious stand-up and a bounty of improvised fun. You’re never sure what’s coming next! His signature trick is spinning a McDonald’s... Read More →

Wednesday May 10, 2023 8:15pm - 9:15pm PDT
Little Theatre (HH 161)

Performance, Variety

9:45pm PDT

Multimedia Improv  Experimental Performance*

Improvisation evolves into a multimedia exploration. Come see the latest adaptations of improvisation enhanced with technology, including VR, XR, video, and puppetry, featuring Flipside Studio. #MadeInFlipside

Please join us live in person or via the Zoom webinar.
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://uci.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_04yINFcsSDOl4TlA5ot8Ug
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

*VIDEO & LIVESTREAM:
This event is live and will also be recorded and live-streamed - link for the livestream is above.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT, YOU CONSENT TO YOUR VOICE, NAME, AND/OR LIKENESS BEING ON VIDEO. DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE ON VIDEO.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Joel Veenstra

Faculty | Co-Founder/Creative Team, University of California, Irvine | Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

Joel Veenstra teaches improvisation, stage management, and collaborative production at the University of California, Irvine. He is active in the improvisation and applied improvisation world and serves on the Board of AIN and as the co-director of Global Improvisation Initiative... Read More →

Sponsors

Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

The Global Improvisation Initiative (GII) was launched in 2016 by co-founders Theresa Robbins Dudeck and Joel Veenstra as a project to support an ongoing, international exploration of the art and impact of improvisation—appreciating the rich history and diversity of our field—and... Read More →

UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts and Culture Initiative

Building on UCI’s demonstrated excellence in the creative arts and cultural programming, Illuminations aims to ensure that all of our students, regardless of major, have serious and meaningful exposure to the creative arts. In addition, we seek to strengthen the connections between... Read More →

Wednesday May 10, 2023 9:45pm - 10:45pm PDT
Experimental Media Performance Lab (xMPL)

Performance, Improv

4:00pm PDT

Diversity in Entertainment Panel*

A Panel with diverse artists from Brown Bag Theatre Company and BRICK Theatre Company exploring what it means to support diversity in entertainment, theatre, and comedy.

Please join us live in person or via the Zoom webinar.
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://uci.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oJ_u5vKQTkaynpVj2wmC5Q
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

*VIDEO & LIVESTREAM:
This event is live and will also be recorded and live-streamed - link for the livestream is above.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT, YOU CONSENT TO YOUR VOICE, NAME, AND/OR LIKENESS BEING ON VIDEO. DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE ON VIDEO.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Brick Theatre Company

Brick Theatre Company is a collective of theater artists and academics who strive to create inclusive and dynamic work by and for the LGBTQ+ Community.We strive to create new works, educate, and proactively make space for LGBTQ+ Voices in theater. Started in 2018, by queer undergraduate... Read More →

Brown Bag Theatre Company

Mission:Brown Bag Theater Company is an ensemble of artists & scholars who aim to produce equally engaging & captivating artistic work that reflects & empowers the Latinx communities. We create various opportunities for young Latinx individuals, and our allies, within the performing... Read More →

Maia Lucas

Brown Bag Theatre Company, Brick Theatre Company

Maia Lucas is a current undergraduate drama major at UCI. She discovered her love of theatre in middle school, and has been involved in the arts ever since. Originally an actor, she now works within multiple tech disciplines, as well as acting, and is excited to see where a degree... Read More →

Michael Diaz

Brown Bag Theatre Company

Michael Diaz is a well-rounded artist and current 4th year Honors in Drama recipient and Education minor at UCI. His passion for performance began at an early age, partaking in a Ballet Folklorico Dance Company. He was introduced to theatre in high school, where he decided to pursue... Read More →

Mika Umemura

Brick Theatre Company

Mika Umemura is a third-year Musical Theatre BFA student here at UC Irvine. Mika's favorite color is green and she is a Capricorn sun. She is also a co-president for the queer theatre company on campus called Brick Theatre Company. They have been a part of several shows both on stage... Read More →

Thursday May 11, 2023 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
CAC 3201 Colloqium Room & Zoom

Panel, Career Skills

4:00pm PDT

Workshop 2A1: Writing for Neo Futurism

Learn how to write in the style of Neo-Futurism with 30 Plays in 60 Minutes: Scrhodinger https://linktr.ee/schrodingerscast
https://www.facebook.com/SchrodingersCast

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Tea Lee

Improv Revolution

Tristan Lee (they/them she/her) (also goes by Tea) is a third year vocal performance major- this is their fourth quarter as a member of Improv Revolution and their second Coup. If given the chance, they will geek out about music, video games, or any other obscure topic they are encroached... Read More →

Thursday May 11, 2023 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Experimental Media Performance Lab (xMPL)

Workshop, Writing

5:00pm PDT

Workshop 2B1: What Comes Next?: The Evolution of Keith Johnstone’s Impro (a workshop with Theresa Robbins Dudeck)

“What Comes Next?” is a game Keith Johnstone created to train improvisers to develop stories collaboratively, paying attention to the needs of their partner and the audience. It is also the question Theresa Robbins Dudeck asked Keith for years working alongside him as his biographer and literary executor. Now, just a few months after Keith’s death, Dudeck asks “What comes next?” not only in her role as the custodian of his literary archive but as a practitioner-teacher of impro. Keith, more than anyone, understood that improvisation must evolve or else languish. Dudeck believes Keith’s story is not complete: his work will evolve and continue to unleash creativity and innovation in fields within the arts and beyond for years to come. In this improvisation workshop, focusing on key techniques and tenets of Keith’s unique approach to training improvisers, participants will explore the question “What comes next?” together, weaving a fresh narrative of the power of Keith’s impro to influence how we perform in life, onstage and off.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Theresa Robbins Dudeck

Co-Founder/Creative Team, Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

Theresa Robbins Dudeck, PhD, is a theatre scholar-practitioner with expertise in improvisation and applied improvisation. She works globally, in both professional and academic settings, applying the power of impro to pedagogy, leadership, teamwork, collaborative creation, and social... Read More →

Sponsors

Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts and Culture Initiative

Thursday May 11, 2023 5:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
CAC 3100B

Workshop, Improv

5:30pm PDT

Open Mic Party (5 min spots)

Bring your talent! Share your joy! 5 minute sets to bring folks back together after some time apart!
Do you want to bring your talent to the party? Sign up here: https://forms.gle/PxAkUpRTyGMRDDdV6

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

iRev Admin

Thursday May 11, 2023 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Experimental Media Performance Lab (xMPL)

Performance, Variety

7:30pm PDT

Piñata Party

Fernando A. Funes presents…
Piñata Party!
You know what’s the best part of ripping open a piñata? It’s all the goodies inside! You got all types of dulces, like chocolatitos, tamarindo, Skittles, lollipops, and sometimes even loose $1 bills!
Well this show is something like that! We got some of LA’s funniest Latinx comedians for a big Pachanga filled with goodies! And we’re bringing it for one night only to UCI’s Coup de Comedy Festival on Thursday, May 11
We got stand up, poetry, improv, and more!

Featuring:

Clown from Natasha Mercado (HBO, Adult Swim, Hollywood Fringe)
A character from Andres Parada (Nickelodeon, UCB Maude, America’s Got Talent)
Juan + 1 ( Juan Velaco of Improv City + a Special Guest)
The CCCP Show with Diosa and Chuy (KQBH 101.5 in Boyle Heights)
Poetry from Oscar Velasquez (Poetry Reading and Spoken Word at Bookman)
A character from Gavin Vellez (Whoops, Pack Sketch House Team)
Stand up from Rocío Prado (UCB & Groundlings Diversity Scholarship Winner, The Latino Vote)
Stand up from Victor Bryan Olivas
Stand up from Dani Gomez (If You Have Any Information, Please Call, short film, Official Selection 2023 LA International Film Festival)
Machaca Improv:
Frankie Estrella (The Glendale Room, Ka-Blahm-O)
Liam O’Mahoney (Big Selfie, Improv Collective)
Rocío Prado
Dani Gomez
Diosa
Fernando
Hosted by Fernando A. Funes & Diosa (Mars Social Club, Payasos Unlimited, Taco Party)
Produced by Fernando A. Funes (Duo It Again, Moonshot, Nuisance, The Pack Theater, Catsby, Company of Angels, Dazed & Confused Poetry Club, showrunner at The Glendale Room & The Lyric Hyperion)

Piñata Party! is a featured group of The Ledge Theatre in LA.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Fernando Funes

Fernando A. Funes is a writer-performer who produces shows in the LA/OC area including The LA Improv Summit, The Potluck, Dazed & Confused Poetry Club, and Cuñados, Cuñadas, y Carnales, a Latinx panel show. He is on the Pack House Improv team Nuisance and Pack Sketch House team... Read More →

Ledge Theatre

THE LEDGE ARTISTIC STATEMENTTo bring the voice of Black Artists and underrepresented communities in Los Angeles to the performing arts stage. Youth of Color seeing professional instructors of color teach theater, music, dance, writing and art. Bringing performances and events back... Read More →

Thursday May 11, 2023 7:30pm - 9:00pm PDT
Little Theatre (HH 161)

Performance, Variety

9:15pm PDT

Girlrev / Instant Improv / Coffee Break

Join us for a double bill of hilarious improvisation:

Improv Revolution's Girlrev
An all female improv crew from current and past iRev teams.

and

Instant Improv - Veteran improv team takes you for a ride with big characters and playful wit.
Instant Improv serves up hot comedy for the hungry soul.

and

One of Improv City's House Team's Coffee Break!

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Coffee Break

Coffee Break stars Devin Dugan and Jeffrey Hammerstein performing their improvised two-man show that has delighted audiences across the nation. With over 40 years of combined improv experience, these two masters of comedy create a woven story based from a single suggestion, from beginning... Read More →

Devin Dugan

Devin Dugan is the Artistic Director of ImprovCity and also a founding member. With over twenty-seven years of improv experience, Devin has performed, taught and trained with numerous troupes across the country, including The National Comedy Theatre, The Second City Hollywood, ComedySportz... Read More →

Instant Improv

Veteran improv team takes you for a ride with big characters and playful wit.Instant Improv serves up hot comedy for the hungry soul.Instant Improv ensemble members include:Tivoli JensonAustin BennettAfsheen Bazrafkanand Mike Ransom

iRev Admin

Jeffrey Hammerstein

Jeffrey Hammerstein was born and raised in Tustin, California. He had his start with improvisational comedy his freshmen year of high school with the ComedySportz high school program and continued his improv career after graduation as a founding member of ImprovCity in Irvine. He... Read More →

Thursday May 11, 2023 9:15pm - 10:45pm PDT
Little Theatre (HH 161)

Performance, Long Form

11:00pm PDT

Stand-Up at UCI!**

UCI's talents take the stage to share their hilarious stand-up comedy routines.

**VIDEO:
This event will be recorded.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT, YOU CONSENT TO YOUR VOICE, NAME, AND/OR LIKENESS BEING RECORDED. DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE DOCUMENTED.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Eli Simon

Simon is the director of Stand-Up @ UCI! He has directed productions across the country and overseas, specializing in the development of original clown shows and commedias, American classics, Shakespeare, and musicals. Theaters include the National Theater of Romania in Cluj, New... Read More →

Thursday May 11, 2023 11:00pm - 11:59pm PDT
Sculpture & Ceramic Studios / Nixon Theater

Performance, Stand-Up

10:00am PDT

FANDCO VR Improvisation & the Future Panel*

Join us to hear about FANDCO's innovative work as comedic storytellers and artists, pushing the bleeding edge of XR in many forms and special guest Lesley Klassen, co-founder and CEO at Flipside XR. Hear about their research into virtual worlds with actors live on stage, combining motion capture and virtual reality to create sketches and stories in the moment.

FANDCO are Theatre and Technology Award Finalists and participants in the UK Canada Immersive Exchange with multiple XR projects to their name including augmented and virtual reality, tabletop and immersive live theatre and 3D projection using VR technology. FANDCO includes Katy Schutte and Chris Mead from improv’s science fiction duo Project2, technical artist Rob Armstrong and Design Professor and musical legend Fred Deakin.

Please join us live in person or via the Zoom webinar.
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://uci.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_K8xWx-jtSraFPKBRuKFqpQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

*VIDEO & LIVESTREAM:
This event is live and will also be recorded and live-streamed - link for the livestream is above.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT, YOU CONSENT TO YOUR VOICE, NAME, AND/OR LIKENESS BEING ON VIDEO. DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE ON VIDEO.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Chris Mead

FANDCO

Chris Mead is is an improviser, writer and creator. He lives in the Surrey Hills with his wife, Laura and his Cavapoo dog-pal, Radio.He passionately believes that improv can make us better humans as well as better artists. Chris has performed in festivals and shows across the UK and... Read More →

FANDCO

FANDCO love to mess with technology!They are innovative, comedic storytellers and artists, pushing the bleeding edge of XR in many forms.PlayTest combines seasoned players in virtual reality and motion capture with improvisers who are stepping into technology for perhaps the first... Read More →

Fred Deakin

FANDCO

A multidisciplinary artist and musician, Fred Deakin is half of the Mercury/Brit nominated band Lemon Jelly who have sold over half a million albums and headlined stages at many festivals including Glastonbury, Reading and TED. Fred was founder/director of the ground-breaking digital... Read More →

Lesley Klassen

Flipside XR

Lesley Klassen is a co-founder and CEO at Flipside XR. He has worked in virtual reality since 2013 and has co-created and produced over a dozen virtual reality apps and experiences.Lesley's spoken at events including the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), PXR conference... Read More →

Sponsors

Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts and Culture Initiative

Friday May 12, 2023 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
CAC 3201 Colloqium Room & Zoom

Panel, Improv

10:00am PDT

Workshop 3A1: Improvisation from the Source: Viola Spolin's Theater Games**

UPDATED ZOOM ROOM - to join:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://uci.zoom.us/j/9913017522

Meeting ID: 991 301 7522

“Through spontaneity we are re-formed into ourselves." -Viola Spolin

Viola Spolin’s Theater Games launched the American improvisational theater movement and changed the way acting is taught. Her work has influenced generations of improvisors, actors, and educators. In the workshop with side-coach Aretha Sills, we'll explore some of the groundbreaking exercises and theatrical concepts found in Spolin's seminal text Improvisation for the Theater, with an emphasis on the history and philosophies of improvisation innovators Viola Spolin, Paul Sills, and Neva Boyd. We’ll play some of Spolin's major warm-ups to create ensemble and release the intuition through focus, spontaneity, and play.

Please join us for this Zoom workshop.
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://uci.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcsf-yvrzItE9Ee6q880LvxauVzYueHjAoT
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Note: there are only a limited number of spaces and we will only allow that limited number of individuals who signed up on Sched into the virtual workshop space.
Also note: this workshop will be recorded for the GII Academic Archive.

**VIDEO:
This event will be recorded.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT, YOU CONSENT TO YOUR VOICE, NAME, AND/OR LIKENESS BEING RECORDED. DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE DOCUMENTED.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Aretha Sills

Sills/Spolin Theater Works

Aretha Sills is a writer and teacher of improvisational theater and creative writing. The granddaughter of Viola Spolin, she studied theater games for many years with her father, director Paul Sills (creator/director of The Second City and Story Theater), and has conducted workshops... Read More →

Sponsors

Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts and Culture Initiative

Friday May 12, 2023 10:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Zoom

Workshop, Improv

10:00am PDT

Workshop 3A2: Act 1, Scene 1 w/ Ripley Improv

In this narrative workshop students will dive into scene work and learn by doing! Discover techniques to tell unforgettable stories from moment one of your improvised play. We will define and rehearse what it means to “make strong choices”, organically establish the who, what, and where, and deepen the narrative beat.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Jessica Lynn Verdi

Jessica Lynn Verdi (she/her) is an actor, improviser, director, and producer, specializing in longform narrative improv with her all female and non-binary company, Ripley Improv. Jessica has created shows like Heartbeats, an improvised medical dramedy performed live online, X-Files... Read More →

Madi Goff

Ripley Improv

Madi (they/them) is an LA-based actor, writer, & former Texas cowgirl, self-described as Peter Pan meets The Brave Little Toaster. Madi is a member of Ripley Improv, Impro Theatre, an alumna of Groundlings Sunday Company, and recurring performer in Groundlings’ “The Crazy Uncle... Read More →

Friday May 12, 2023 10:00am - 12:00pm PDT
CAC 3100B

Workshop, Improv

12:00pm PDT

Evolution of Improvisation Panel*

Join us online to hear about the evolution of improvisation.

Please join us live in person or via the Zoom webinar.
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://uci.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JEK7DOKLQV6zNSvJ-Xa0_g
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

*VIDEO & LIVESTREAM:
This event is live and will also be recorded and live-streamed - link for the livestream is above.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Aretha Sills

Sills/Spolin Theater Works

Colin Mochrie

Scotland, that craggy, majestic, malt whiskeyed land, has spawned many myths besides the Loch Ness Monster. One such legend is Colin Mochrie (Hilaritycus smoothius). A migratory creature that left his birthplace for the Great White North (Canada), Colin learned his theatrical craft... Read More →

Joel Veenstra

Faculty | Co-Founder/Creative Team, University of California, Irvine | Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

Theresa Robbins Dudeck

Co-Founder/Creative Team, Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

Sponsors

Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts and Culture Initiative

Friday May 12, 2023 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
CAC 3201 Colloqium Room & Zoom

Panel, Improv

12:00pm PDT

Applied Improvisation Network (AIN) Open Space

Come to the Applied Improvisation Network (AIN) open space to play games, meet-up with AIN friends, try something new and receive support, initiate a conversation, or whatever else you'd like to offer and enjoy.

AIN Open Space sessions are community-created, volunteer-run events where you can experiment with new ideas, play games, initiate discussions, ask questions, share things that are working well (or not so well!), collaborate with others, and receive and give support with others in the AIN community.

Anyone can propose a topic! Some of the best sessions are initiated by people who want to learn more about a topic. We use the principles and skills of improv theater to listen and support each other, co-create, take risks, and most importantly, make our partners look brilliant.

Join us to experience the world of the Applied Improvisation Network (AIN). If you are inspired, consider attending ReimAgINE: AIN Global Conference 2023 in Vancouver, Canada this coming July 27-30, 2023.

ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Register for this event here: https://bit.ly/OSRegMay12

Starting on Friday, June 4 at:
12:00 pm Pacific Time (US) PDT UTC-7
1:00 pm Mountain Time (US) MDT UTC-6
2:00 pm Central Time (US) CDT UTC-5
3:00 pm Eastern Time (US) EDT UTC-4
4:00 pm Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -3UTC-3
8:00 pm London, UK BST UTC+1
9:00 pm Berlin, Germany CEST UTC+2
10:00 pm Moscow, Russia MSK UTC+4
11:00 pm Dubai, United Arab Emirates+04 UTC+4
12:30 am (Sat) Mumbai, India IST UTC+5:30
3:00 am (Sat) Beijing, China & Singapore +08 UTC+8
4:00 am (Sat) Tokyo, Japan JST UTC+9
5:00 am (Sat) Sydney, Australia AeST UTC+10

(All events are subject to change.)

Sponsors

Applied Improvisation Network (AIN)

Applied improvisation uses the principles, tools, practices, skills and mind-sets developed in comedy, jazz and theatre and utilises them for non-theatrical or performance purposes.Practitioners of applied improvisation facilitate workshops, for individuals or organisations, introducing... Read More →

Friday May 12, 2023 12:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Zoom

Workshop, Career Skills

1:00pm PDT

Workshop 3B1: The Art of Clowning with Eli Simon!

Learn about clowning from the maestro of clowning! Select individuals will be given an opporutnity to participate in exploring their inner clown.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Eli Simon

Friday May 12, 2023 1:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Studio 4 (Rm 209)

Workshop

1:00pm PDT

Workshop 3B2: How to Play with Emotional Intelligence Workshop

This special improv comedy workshop will show how to use Emotional Intelligence (EQ) to bring a deeper awareness to our relationships and revitalize our improv scenes.
Basically, Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is our ability to read another person's emotional state while being aware of our own, and then responding and adjusting accordingly. EQ is something we use every day in how we interact with each other and how we manage the relationships that are important to us.
I realized that years of doing improv made me pretty good at reading people's emotions and reacting to them in a way that wasn't trying to change them or judge them, but to just accept them as they are and continue to interact from there.
I also gained a lot of insight on how to deal with personal relationships by engaging with the work of Carl Rogers, an American psychologist who coined the idea of Unconditional Positive Regard, the idea of accepting a person as they are (within the context of a therapist-client relationship).
In this workshop will be doing exercises that work on using our emotional intelligence muscles to be aware of our own emotions while reading the emotion of our scene partners, and how to use that relationship dynamic to create engaging scenes for everyone involved, players and audience alike.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Fernando Funes

Ledge Theatre

Sponsors

Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts and Culture Initiative

Friday May 12, 2023 1:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
CAC 3100B

Workshop

3:00pm PDT

Workshop 3C1: Adding MSG to your Sketch - Foundations of Sketch Writing

Shinshin Yuder Tsai and Eric Vue teach you the foundational skills to writing your first sketch, using the tools they developed while running No MSG Added. In this workshop they will go over the concept of comedic game, premise and structure. Come prepared with a writing tool and your imagination.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Eric Vue

No MSG Added

Eric Vue has been performing sketch and improv comedy since 2016. He has played at numerous theaters including UCB LA, Second City LA, Westside Comedy Theater, and The Improv Collective. He co-manages the Asian American Sketch Comedy team, "No MSG Added" who currently has a partnership... Read More →

No MSG Added Comedy

No MSG Added is the first and only all-Asian American Sketch Comedy team in Orange County. Since 2019, NMA has played at numerous theaters like The Improv Collective, STAGEStheater, and Second City LA. Currently, NMA has a partnership with The Chance Theater in Anaheim Hills, where... Read More →

Shinshin Yuder Tsai

No MSG Added

Shinshin Yuder Tsai, he/him, is a dynamic force in the theater world (or so he would like to think), known for his innovative approach to directing and ability to infuse his work with humor. With years of experience directing theater and sketch comedy, Shinshin is excited to share... Read More →

Friday May 12, 2023 3:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
CAC 3100B

Workshop

3:00pm PDT

Workshop 3C2: Puppet Improv Workshop w/ Brian Michael Jones***

Join us for a hybrid exploration of Puppet Improv Comedy!

If possible get a puppet before the workshop (here, here, or here are some good options) or some options will be on site). An arm rod puppet is ideal, but any puppet (even just your hand!) is ok.

Learn about an awareness of your position in the frame of the camera, much like your position on stage and how they are both tools to tell a story. You'll also explore how emotional commitment is key for scene success. Brian will share how to puppeteer a bit with spontaneity in mind because improv doesn't give you much time to set up a particular movement, you just gotta go!

Those who register to participate will be able to try some of the techniques themselves. There will also be a Zoom option to just observe.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Brian Michael Jones

Brian Michael Jones  is from North Little Rock, AR and getting to play in all the various genre styles with this company has been a joy for him since joining in 2004. He can be seen as “Chad” on Disney XD’s A Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything. His most recent film... Read More →

Sponsors

Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts and Culture Initiative

Friday May 12, 2023 3:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
CAC 3201 Colloqium Room & Zoom

Workshop, Improv

5:30pm PDT

Ripley Improv Performance: MAKE ROOM

Ripley Improv presents a genre improv performance - they may presents: MAKE ROOM!

An improvised play that could happen anywhere at any time! With MAKE ROOM, the Ripleys ask the audience a series of suggestions to uncover our play's set design, creating the physical environment that will inspire that evening's play, performed only once, seen by only one audience!

Ripley is: Daring actors improvising artful, long-form narrative about women who save the day, save the world, or save each other. Through bold and playful ensemble storytelling, Ripley seeks to inspire audiences to embrace the hero within.
www.ripleyimprov.com

The cast will include:
- Madi Goff
- Mary Chieffo
- Kelechi Ezie
- Teri Gamble
- Jessica Lynn Verdi

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Jessica Lynn Verdi

Kelechi Ezie

Ripley Improv

Kelechi Ezie is an actress, singer, and writer most known for her work on The Deuce, Book of Mormon, and The Truth About Beauty and Blogs, an official selection of Roger Ebert's Film Festival. The daughter of a Nigerian father and an American mother, Kelechi's performing arts career... Read More →

Madi Goff

Ripley Improv

Mary Chieffo

Ripley Improv

Mary Chieffo (she/her) is a queer actor/producer known internationally as the Klingon Commander turned Chancellor L'Rell on the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Discovery. Chieffo received her BFA from Juilliard in 2015, along with the prestigious Elizabeth Smith Voice and Speech Prize... Read More →

Ripley Improv

Ripley is: Daring actors improvising artful, long-form narrative about women who save the day, save the world, or save each other. Through bold and playful ensemble storytelling, Ripley seeks to inspire audiences to embrace the hero within.www.ripleyimprov.com... Read More →

Teri Gamble

Ripley Improv

Teri Gamble Actor, Writer, Podcaster, Scream Queen! Teri Gamble is an international performing artist and drama coach who has performed on stages from Los Angeles to Moscow, Boston and New York. She has appeared on the hit TV series Dollface, Superstore, Modern Family, ER and has... Read More →

Sponsors

Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts and Culture Initiative

Friday May 12, 2023 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Experimental Media Performance Lab (xMPL)

Performance, Long Form

7:00pm PDT

No MSG Added Sketch Show

No MSG Added brings Asian Americans to the forefront of comedy.

Watch as we dissect the Asian American experience in 50 minutes while still disappointing our parents.

Please note: This show contains adult language and poorly sung songs about rainbows.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Eric Vue

No MSG Added

No MSG Added Comedy

Shinshin Yuder Tsai

No MSG Added

Friday May 12, 2023 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Little Theatre (HH 161)

Performance, Sketch

8:15pm PDT

Minority Reportz Stand-Up Comedy

Minority Reportz, we are the best and most diverse f****** Stand-Up Comedy Show in the country!
“With Minority Reportz, Shaikh hopes to give these up-and-coming comedians one of these alternate spaces.”- LA Times
Minority Reportz, created by stand-up comedian and producer Mona Shaikh, is committed to bringing a diverse AF line-up to major comedy clubs and has featured such comedians as Margaret Cho, Nikki Glaser, Tiffany Haddish, Trae Crowder, Raj Sharma, Finesse Mitchell, Iliza Schlesinger, Mike Yard, Dustin Ybarra. Minority Reportz is proud to announce that it has showcased well over 450 diverse comedians since it’s inception and continues to rapidly grow due to the growing demand of diverse content.
LA Times says “There was so much howling, it sounded like a Magic Show” and Spectrum News LA calls us “groundbreaking”. Minority Reportz has also been featured on Spectrum One LA, Forbes, MSNBC, SiriusXM, IHeartRadio, Kirn Radio, India Abroad, Getty Images, Middle Eastern Broadcasting Networks and Hustler Magazine. Larry Flynt was a huge fan of us when we are fully clothed.
Minority Reportz is a brainchild of Mona Shaikh, a comedian, and producer, who didn’t see people like herself represented on stage so she approached The World Famous Comedy Store September 2015 with the idea for a show that showcases minorities like herself and others. She believes minority voices matter and saw the importance of the role these voices play in our society and the upcoming trend that was about to take Hollywood by storm.
The launch of Minority Reportz Girls Night Out series in 2019 has brought sold-out shows. Minority Reportz also launched GAY AF Comedy Show with a new residency in West Hollywood in June 2019 showcasing all LGBTQIA comedians. It was important for Mona, as a straight Muslim comedian, to be an ally and dedicate a show to the cause. The shows can also be seen at two more residencies, Caspian Restaurant in Irvine and The Cutting Room in New York City. Minority Reportz Desi Girls Night Out made history at the NY Comedy Festival Nov. 2021 with sold out shows and by being the first show of its kind with an all South Asian and Middle Eastern female comedian lineup.
Minority Reportz inspires to be a household name worldwide. Minority Reportz wants to be the Beyonce of Comedy Shows.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Minority Reportz

We are the best and most diverse f****** Stand-Up Comedy Show in the country!Some of our past comedians have been Nikki Glaser, Tiffany Haddish, Trae Crowder, Raj Sharma, Finesse Mitchell, Iliza Schlesinger, Mike Yard, Dustin Ybarra to name a few.We not only give a platform to diverse... Read More →

Mona Shaikh

Mona Shaikh combines a South Asian sensibility with Americanized values cherishing the First Amendment—the right to bear big mouths. And her fresh, fearless, free speech has raised eyebrows. With her offbeat sense of humor Shaikh is a tightrope walker striving to maintain equilibrium... Read More →

Friday May 12, 2023 8:15pm - 9:15pm PDT
Experimental Media Performance Lab (xMPL)

Performance, Stand-Up

9:30pm PDT

The Black Version Performance & Talk Back

"The Black Version is a completely improvised show that was created and performed to all sold out houses at The Groundlings Theatre starting in 2010. Rolling Stone Magazine calls the show "Hot" and the cast "A Comedic A Team", LA Weekly says it's " Red Hot" and "Scores more than it's share of Belly Laughs" and the LA Times calls the show "A Winner"!

The all African American cast of regulars includes show creator Jordan Black along with other comedy veterans Cedric Yarbrough, Gary Anthony Williams, Daniele Gaither, and Phil LaMarr all under the direction of Karen Maruyama. Past special guest performers include Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele of Key & Peele (former original cast members) along with special guest performers such as Wayne Brady, Niecey Nash, Nyima Funk, Jerry Minor and Angela V. Shelton among others who come and perform in the show from time to time.

Along with the Groundlings Theater The Black Version has performed in San Francisco at the SketchFest comedy festival as well as the Louisville Improv Festival.

This talented cast has vast film and television credits ranging from Mad TV and Saturday Night Live to the Boondocks and Reno 911 and dozens more.

The show begins when the director asks the audience to suggest a popular film title and then the cast, right there on the spot, improvise the “black version” of that film.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Black Version, The

Cedric Yarbrough

The Black Version

Cedric Yarbrough is a multi-hyphenate performer who just wrapped production on the new AMC series, LUCKY HANK, starring opposite Bob Odenkirk and Mireille Enos. Cedric stars “Paul Rourke,” a poetry professor at Railton College who self-identifies as the rival to Odenkirk’s “Hank... Read More →

Daniele Gaither

The Black Version

Improvess, Actor, Impressionist, Singer and Dancer. Partial credits: MADtv, The Great North, Bob’s Burgers, American Dad, Family Guy (Fox). Bojack Horseman, Battle Kitty, The Woman Across the Street from The Window (Netflix). The Thundermans (Nick), A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO... Read More →

Gary Anthony Williams

The Black Version

Williams’ film credits include the newly released Block Party, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, The Internship, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, Undercover Brother, Soul Plane and The Factory.On television, Williams recently starred in the sitcom The Crew, Reno... Read More →

Jordan Black

The Black Version

Jordan Black is a former writer for “Saturday Night Live,” “The Last OG,” and a former writer/producer for “Last Man Standing” and the reboot of “Punky Brewster”. He’s currently a writer/producer on the reboot of “The Wonder Years” on ABC. As an actor he has... Read More →

Karen Maruyama

Director, The Black Version

Karen not only enjoys acting and improvising but also teaches all class levels as well as having the privilege of directing Main shows, Sunday shows, Gas Shows, and the Black Version at the Groundlings. She is also currently part of the directing faculty at the American Film Institute... Read More →

Nyima Funk

The Black Version

Nyima Funk joined The Second City Main Stage in Chicago and won a Joseph Jefferson award for Best Actress. Her television credits include Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Key & Peele, Barely Famous, Son Of Zorn, The Soul Man, Wild ‘N Out, The George Lopez Show, Why? With Hannibal Burress... Read More →

Phil LaMarr

The Black Version

A Los Angeles native, Phil is an alumnus of Yale University and The Groundlings Theater and is best known as one of the original cast members of MAD TV, “Hermes” on FUTURAMA, “Marvin” in PULP FICTION, “Green Lantern” on JUSTICE LEAGUE and as the voice of SAMURAI JACK.His... Read More →

Sponsors

Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts and Culture Initiative

Friday May 12, 2023 9:30pm - 10:45pm PDT
Little Theatre (HH 161)

Performance, Long Form

10:00am PDT

Workshop 4A1: Stage Combat for Comedy Workshop

Explore how to safely engage in physical interactions on stage.

Sword fighting is a critical part of story telling in both comedic plays and movies! Get a taste of stage combat in this workshop. Your instructor, Eric Holmgren, has been the head fencing coach at UCI since 1993. Over the years, he has taught thousands of students the Olympic sport of fencing. He has also trained a number of UCI actors in swordplay and helped them choreograph fight scenes for "Hamlet" and "Romeo & Juliet."

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Coach Eric Holmgren

Eric Holmgren has been the head fencing coach at UCI since 1993. Over the years, he has taught thousands of students the Olympic sport of fencing. He has also trained a number of UCI actors in swordplay and helped them choreograph fight scenes for "Hamlet" and "Romeo & Juliet... Read More →

Saturday May 13, 2023 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Little Theatre (Exterior)

Workshop, Skill

10:00am PDT

Workshop 4A2: Sketch Writing w/ Roy Jenkins

Learn how to write comedy like The Groundlings! Bring ideas to consider and workshop (no finished scripts please) and learn about how the world famous sketch comedy theatre makes their magic happen.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Roy Jenkins

Roy was a staff writer for LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O’BRIEN, where he won two Writers’ Guild Awards, and received two Emmy nominations (i.e. he didn’t win). He was also a writer/producer on the Spike TV network’s "MXC." Film credits include A NIGHT AT THE ROXBURY, THANK YOU FOR... Read More →

Saturday May 13, 2023 10:00am - 12:00pm PDT
CAC 3100B

Workshop, Writing

11:00am PDT

Rockin’ Awesome Improv Show (Family-Friendly)

A high energy, family-friendly improv show that will bring joy to your day and a boisterous car ride home. With a promise of laughter, this rotating cast has families yelling out suggestions, and young audience volunteers joining the cast on stage to perform games for a wild rockin’ hour of ridiculousness! We take our silly seriously, come rock some endorphins with the Rockin’ Awesome Improv Show!

CAST: Jose Acain, Matt Acevedo, Chris Bunyi, Oliver Berger, Pepper Berry, Jake Cassman, Jaclynn Cherry, Rachel Crane, Drew Cullinan, Chrystale Davis, John DeFour, Courtney Doyle, Piper Gillin, Elaine Hammel, Matt Hunter, Stephen C James, Jeremy Klein, Nina Marie Kypuros, David Luna, Danny Lutman, Katie McDermott, Kevin Ocampo, Carrie-ann Pishnak, Jamison Scala, Leeann St. John, Jenna Torrisi, Carrie Weisberg, Mike Woodley, and Arielle Zadok. Musical Director: Tiffany Schirz

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Rockin’ Awesome Improv Show

Sponsors

Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts and Culture Initiative

Saturday May 13, 2023 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Little Theatre (HH 161)

Performance, Improv

12:00pm PDT

"Working in Entertainment" Panel***

A panel exploring working in entertainment from the prospective of writers, producers, and directors.

Please join us live in person or via the Zoom webinar.
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://uci.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PNF7U3kkQg6NNKceXHN2Pw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

***LIVESTREAM:
This event will be live-streamed - links will be distributed immediately before the event by Sched.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT, YOU CONSENT TO YOUR VOICE, NAME, AND/OR LIKENESS BEING ON VIDEO. DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE ON VIDEO.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Andra Whipple

Andra Whipple is a UCI alumni and writer who has worked on Adam Ruins Everything, the WGA Awards, and other things you’ve never heard of. She’s a host of the WGA 3rd and Fairfax podcast, the co-chair of the WGA committee of women writers, and a WGA strike captain. She also... Read More →

Aydrea Walden

Aydrea Walden is an Emmy-nominated writer whose credits include: iCarly (Nickelodon/Paramount +), Hip Hop Family Christmas (VH1), A New Diva’s Christmas Carol(VH1), Ada Twist, Scientist (Netflix) and Eureka (Disney, Jr). She also created the Webby-nominated series Black Girl... Read More →

Gary Mann

Veteran comedy development executive and producer Gary Mann is best known for serving as Senior Vice President of Original Programming and Development for Comedy Central. Gary’s narrative, animation, sketch, variety, talk, panel, stand-‐up, and gameshows have reached billions... Read More →

Joy Regullano

Joy Regullano is a writer / actor / comedian based in LA who most recently wrote on the animated show MONSTERS AT WORK (based on Monsters Inc) on Disney Plus. Previously, she wrote on JELLY, BEN, and POGO (a PBS Kids web series),, KUNG FU PANDA: DRAGON KNIGHT (Netflix / Dreamworks... Read More →

Marc Warzecha

Founder, The Sketch School

With two decades at The Second City Comedy Theatre, Marc is an award-‐winning Head Writer and Associate Artistic Director, overseeing the development of dozens of original sketch comedy revues. Internationally, Marc has been a guest instructor for the Comedy Central network in... Read More →

Rich Talarico

Rich Talarico is a Peabody® Award winning and four-‐time Emmy® nominated writer and producer best known for his work on Key & Peele. Rich also wrote and produced on shows like MADtv, Review, Saturday Night Live & The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. As an actor, Rich is an alum... Read More →

Roy Jenkins

Saturday May 13, 2023 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
CAC 3201 Colloqium Room & Zoom

Panel, Career Skills

1:00pm PDT

Workshop 4B1: Musical Improv Workshop

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Max Schafer

teacher, Fenton Primary Center

Max Schafer is the author of “Viola Spolin’s Theater Games for the Classroom CD.” He has studied under Viola Spolin, Paul Sills, Carol Sills, Aretha Sills, Robert Moyer, Allan Arkin, Avery Schrieber, and Dick Schaal. He was a keynote speaker at Edta and leads worldwide intensive... Read More →

Saturday May 13, 2023 1:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
CAC 3002 Studio Y

Workshop, Music

1:00pm PDT

Workshop 4B3: Applying Improv for Presence and Presence (AIN's Kat Koppett)*

“Presence”, whether on stage or in a board room, is a quality much valued, much sought, and much misunderstood. Whether labeling it an innate characteristic that cannot be learned or confusing it with a narrow set of dominant behaviors that can often do more harm than good, people often miss that at the heart of having presence is being present. In this interactive workshop we will explore how improvisation is the gym for exercising our presence, in both senses of the word, and how that can help us be more connected and influential no matter what our context.

Join us to experience the world of the Applied Improvisation Network (AIN). If you are inspired, consider attending ReimAgINE: AIN Global Conference 2023 in Vancouver, Canada this coming July 27-30, 2023.

Register in advance for this Zoom workshop:
https://uci.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYpduqqqD8iHNH5ewr42GUc1O21_oWpd9Yb
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

*VIDEO & LIVESTREAM:
This event is on Zoom only and will also be recorded and live-streamed - link for the livestream is above.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT, YOU CONSENT TO YOUR VOICE, NAME, AND/OR LIKENESS BEING ON VIDEO. DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE ON VIDEO.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Kat Koppett

Koppett.

Kat Koppett (USA) is the Co-director of the Mopco Improv Theatre and the Eponymous Founder of Koppett a consultancy specializing in the use of improv to enhance individual and organizational performance. She is the author of Training to Imagine: Practical Improvisational Theatre... Read More →

Sponsors

Applied Improvisation Network (AIN)

Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts and Culture Initiative

Saturday May 13, 2023 1:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Zoom

Workshop, Improv

1:00pm PDT

Workshop 4B2: Nugget to Network***

From simple ideas to global successes. Two TV comedy producers, whose shows have reached billions of viewers, share how to make something from nothing in television and beyond.
Join veteran network executive Gary Mann (Key & Peele, Tosh.0, @Midnight with Chris Hardwick, Awkwafinais Nora From Queens, The Sarah Silverman Program) and writer/producer Rich Talarico (Key & Peele, MADtv,SNL, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno) as they take you on the journey from the spark of an idea, to the crafting of the pitch, through the maze of development, over the hurdles of production, and Cinally the care and maintenance of a successful series.

Learn how team-‐building, collaboration and innovation were essential to producing some of comedy’s most lauded shows, and are valuable skills applicable to a wide range of businesses and disciplines.
Host Marc Warzecha (The Second City) moderates this behind-‐the-‐scenes event, as Gary and Rich reveal the dynamic of writer and network executive, while sharing stories from the creation and production of the Emmy® winning Key & Peele and many more.

Please submit 3 loglines in advance of the workshop: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfCrtb4Qv_p9C-W2OFbuwlJxMd9IZAyqxGhFS2CiWSx9N5_xg/viewform

Register in advance for this Zoom Workshop:
https://uci.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUpcOuvqjIrG9BhkO3t0CXCAAFn-ZX81eMf
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

***LIVESTREAM:
This event will be live-streamed - links will be distributed immediately before the event by Sched.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT, YOU CONSENT TO YOUR VOICE, NAME, AND/OR LIKENESS BEING ON VIDEO. DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE ON VIDEO.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Gary Mann

Marc Warzecha

Founder, The Sketch School

Marc Warzecha @ The Sketch School

The Sketch School

The Sketch School specializes in sketch and shortform comedy, it's is the only training ground dedicated exclusively to sketch and shortform comedy writing, available onlinefrom anywhere in the world.

Rich Talarico

Saturday May 13, 2023 1:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
CAC 3201 Colloqium Room & Zoom

Workshop, Writing

3:00pm PDT

Workshop 4C1: The Resistance Workshop

Learn about the improvisational approach that the action.improv.comedy. ensemble The Resistance utilizes in their work! Wear clothes that you can move in.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

The Resistance

The Resistance is a completely improvised action movie performed live on stage. The audience picks the genre (which have included Buddy Cop, Give Me Back My Family and Paranormal) and give The Resistance their favorite tropes from the films. Then the men bring to a life a fully-fledged... Read More →

Sponsors

Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts and Culture Initiative

Saturday May 13, 2023 3:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
CAC 3002 Studio Y

Workshop, Improv

3:00pm PDT

Workshop 4C2: Finding Character From Head To Toe Workshop

In Character From Head To Toe, Shulie Cowen will teach a workshop to help you build strong characters in your improv and acting roles. With a focus on point of view and physicality, Shulie will show you how bold choices can help you quickly find characters and express your individual creativity in your scenes.

Shulie Cowen has taught improv to kids, senior citizens, and everyone in between. She is a graduate of Northwestern University, a former member of The Second City National Touring Company, and a member of the original cast of Schoolhouse Rock Live!. Shulie studied improv in Chicago at The Second City Training Center, The Annoyance Theatre, and at iO with Del Close. She has taught at iO West, The Second City Hollywood and has teaches custom classes and workshops across the country and internationally. Shulie currently directs and performs in Los Angeles with Opening Night: The Improvised Musical!® and her team EST.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are highly recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Shulie Cowen

SHULIE COWEN teaches improv to kids, senior citizens, and everyone in between. She previously spent 12 years teaching at The Second City Hollywood and iO West, and now travels the USA and the world teaching acting and improv at festivals and schools. She is a graduate of Northwestern... Read More →

Sponsors

Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts and Culture Initiative

Saturday May 13, 2023 3:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
CAC 3100B

Workshop, Improv

4:00pm PDT

Jury Duty Cast Panel*

Join us cast members of Amazon Freevee's Jury Duty, an American docu-comedy television series created by Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, and starring James Marsden. The series chronicles the inner workings of a jury trial in the US through the eyes of juror Ronald Gladden, a solar contractor from San Diego, who is unaware that his jury duty summons was not official, and that everyone on the jury aside from him are improvisers.

Scheduled to join us in person include:

Alan Barinholtz
Susan Berger
Casssandra Blair
Ronald Gladden
Mekki Leeper
Brandon Loeser
Ben Seaward
Ron Song

Scheduled to join us on Zoom:
David Brown
Kirk Fox
Ross Kimball
Trisha LaFache
Edy Modica
Whitney Rice
Maria Russell
Ishmel Sahid
Evan Williams

Please join us live in person or via the Zoom webinar.
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://uci.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JndP7DajTeOf_9xIK-nilw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

*VIDEO & LIVESTREAM:
This event is live and will also be recorded and live-streamed - link for the livestream is above.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT, YOU CONSENT TO YOUR VOICE, NAME, AND/OR LIKENESS BEING ON VIDEO. DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE ON VIDEO.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Ron Song

No Shoes Allowed

Ron Song is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory program in Hollywood. He comes to comedy via a winding path from Korea, to Chicago, to Silicon Valley, and then Irvine, CA. He is a husband to a ceramic artist/Ironman athlete and a father to 2 of the kindest wonder-filled boys... Read More →

Sponsors

Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts and Culture Initiative

Saturday May 13, 2023 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Winifred Smith Hall

Panel, Improv

5:00pm PDT

“Story Games” World Premiere Performance

Experience the world premiere of “Story Games,” which is a new style of improvisational structure which includes scenario, long form, and short form games all wrapped up in a narrative structure.

‘Feel Your Feet’ will be presenting 2 complete but shortened half hour versions of two Story Games. These Story Games will be shown completely at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in June.

The first of Story Games performance is called “Isabella.” It is a musical filled with folk games and traditional games. The second is called “Hollywood Simultaneous Diva Competition.” It is a talent show that gets out of hand. (Note: this second performance style contains profanity.)

Audience members who love to improvise will be invited to join us onstage.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Feel Your Feet

‘Feel Your Feet’ is a troupe of multi-talented players, dancers, musicians, singers, and jugglers. Directed by Max Schaffer.

Max Schafer

teacher, Fenton Primary Center

Sponsors

Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts and Culture Initiative

Saturday May 13, 2023 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Little Theatre (HH 161)

Performance, Variety

6:15pm PDT

TVunscripted's Sketch Duet & Red Door

Two Teams of Two Back-to-Back = EPIC!

TVunscripted's Sketch Duet (Sketch) & Red Door (Long Form Improv)

TVunscripted's Sketch Duet
Peer into the lives and minds of Ryder Tam and Gabe Valdez in this two-man sketch comedy show as they draw on their experience as scientists, BIPOC comedians, and a shared obsession with physical humor and buddy cop drama. They are a Ledge Theatre house team.

AND

Red Door will take you into their wheelhouse of accents, huge characters and crisp space work to show you that anything is possible behind the Red Door. Hitting the stage with high energy, power listening, and seamless editing Red Door is a great example of fast and furious team work.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Gabriel Michael Valdez

TVunscripted's Sketch Duet

Gabriel Michael Valdez is a Colorado native actor, improviser, and writer. He is a playwright with work featured at the Denver Fringe Festival, and has over 50,000 views on his sketch comedy work. Gabe has performed internationally at the Auckland Improv Marathon (New Zealand), Ireland... Read More →

Justin Michael Terry

Actor - Writer - Awesome@justimpro

Ledge Theatre

Red Door

Red Door is Justin Michael Terry and Ryan Marsico. They met at ComedySportz in Los Angeles doing short-form improv and quickly clicked, going on to perform together in Drunkards & Dragons, an improvised role-playing/drinking show, The Resistance, improvised action/adventure movies... Read More →

Ryan Marsico

Actor - Writer - Awesome@ryanmarsico

Ryder Tam

TVunscripted's Sketch Duet

Ryder Tam is a Chinese-American improviser, actor, comedian and occasional aerospace engineer from Honolulu, Hawaii. He is the co-artistic director of Pack Theater in Hollywood, a former improv instructor for Rise Comedy Denver, and currently teaches for Ledge Theater in Los Angeles... Read More →

TVunscripted's Sketch Duet

Based out of Los Angeles, TVunscripted has been featured at numerous theaters and festivals around the world, including as a headlining act at Trill Comedy Festival, at Ireland Improv Fest, Improfest Sweden, and dozens of others. They currently perform sketch and genre improv for... Read More →

Sponsors

Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts and Culture Initiative

Saturday May 13, 2023 6:15pm - 7:45pm PDT
Experimental Media Performance Lab (xMPL)

Performance, Sketch

8:00pm PDT

Opening Night: The Improvised Musical!

OPENING NIGHT: THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL!® is exactly that: a Broadway-style musical that is made up on the spot, based on audience suggestion. So every night is the ‘Opening Night’ of a musical that has never been seen! Now in its 25th year, Opening Night: The Improvised Musical!® is thrilled to continue as the show LAWeekly called, “almost too slick to be completely improvised”. It is, by the way—completely improvised.

Led by Director Shulie Cowen, Opening Night: The Improvised Musical!®’s cast combines the Chicago-style improvisation of the iO and The Second City with the Broadway stylings of Rodgers & Hammerstein, Gilbert & Sullivan, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Bob Fosse, and many more. Occasionally, they even borrow the 76 trombones from The Music Man. They usually give them back.

Cast film and television credits include; Whose Line Is It Anyway?, UJokes, That 80s Show, How I Met Your Mother, Let’s Make A Deal, Reno 911!, You Don’t Mess With The Zohan, Mad TV, and World Cup Comedy.

The Coup de Comedy Cast:
Shulie Cowen (director)
Jonathan Mangum
Nicole Parker
Hilary Rowe
and Norm Thoeming
Music by Branson NeJame (Piano)

“Come back again and again — you’ll laugh every time.” (LA Weekly Best of 2010)

Visit their website at: www.improvisedmusical.com

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are highly recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists

Opening Night: The Improvised Musical!

OPENING NIGHT: THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL!® is led by Director Shulie Cowen.Cast film and television credits include; The Wedding Band, The Superego Podcast, How I Met Your Mother, Desperate Housewives, My Secret Girlfriend, Reno 911!, You Don’t Mess With The Zohan, and World Cup... Read More →

Shulie Cowen

Sponsors

Global Improvisation Initiative (GII)

UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts and Culture Initiative

Saturday May 13, 2023 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Winifred Smith Hall

Performance, Music

9:30pm PDT

The Resistance

The Resistance hails from Los Angeles. We are an elite underground of comic soldiers dedicated to liberating your laughter and freeing you from the mundane. Based on tropes, cliches, iconic sequences and whatever else we can get from the audience, we perform a full length, fully scored and lit Action/Adventure movie right before your eyes, and it's completely improvised! The Resistance wants you to let go and have fun. It's not our playground, it's OUR playground. We're on the swings...push us.

RESERVATIONS:
Limited seating available: reservations via Sched registration are highly encouraged. Just add the event (click next to the event title) to your schedule and your reservation is set. If the event is full, you will be on the waitlist and will be encouraged to show up and if there is space, we will get you into the event.

DETAILS:
Face coverings (masks) are recommended (regardless of vaccination status) per UCI policy.

(All events are subject to change.)

Artists