The upcoming Improv ME Festival, set for Nov. 7 and 8 at the Next Generation Theater in Brewer, was organized by Bangor-area improvisational comedy troupe The Focus Group. Improv is a spontaneous craft, but festivals takes a lot of planning — and this festival is no exception.
Rich Kimball, the ringleader of the funny people in The Focus Group, has long wanted to organize a festival showcasing improvisation groups from Maine and New England. After five years together and more than 60 shows, Kimball and The Focus Group felt the fall of 2014 was finally the time to do it.
“We’ve been talking for years about it, and I think a lot of the conversation centered around it being just us and Improv Acadia [in Bar Harbor] getting together to do something,” Kimball said. “But it turned into something much larger. The improv community in New England is a pretty tight knit community.”
The Improv ME Festival this weekend will feature three sessions of comedy, starting at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, with The Focus Group, Improv Acadia and Improv Insanity, a group of University of Maine students. There are two sessions Saturday, including a 5 p.m. showcase featuring western Maine-based group Teachers Lounge Mafia, Portland-based improv troupe Running With Scissors, and Boston group Big Bang Improv.
The festival closes with a showcase at 8 p.m. Saturday, featuring The Focus Group, Rhode Island group Providence Improv Guild and Improv Boston. There will be an after-party at Geaghan’s Brewpub in Bangor.
“[The Focus Group] has always wanted to do more shows in Boston and Providence, but now we get to perform alongside these groups right here at home,” Kimball said. “We look at our role here as being ambassadors for improv in our state. It’s a great art form that’s so fun for us and for the audience. That also makes us better actors and performers in general.”
Kimball hopes the inaugural Improv ME Festival can lay a foundation for future, larger events in eastern Maine for improv comedy and for comedy in general.
“We have very modest expectations for the first time around. But if it’s a success, we’d like to expand into several venues over several nights,” Kimball said. “There’s definitely an audience around here for what we do.”
Tickets are $10 for single showcases at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, or 5 or 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8. A full festival pass is $25. Tickets can be purchased at the door. All shows are at the Next Generation Theater on Center Street in Brewer. For more information, call 207-989-7100 or visit focusgroupimprov.com.
