CIF 10: April 23-29, 2007
We are making some big changes for CIF 10. These changes may or may not be permanent. CIF has had a lot of changes (as has the improv community) over the last 10 years, so it is hard for us to imagine that we won't have more changes in the future. After working on the plans for CIF 10 with CIF’s Artistic Director Mark Sutton, we both feel that what we are planning is a good way to wrap up CIF’s first 10 years, while opening up new possibilities for CIF's future. We look forward to booking the acts and ensembles that will appear in CIF 10.
The 10th Annual Chicago Improv Festival, 10 Events for 10 Years:
For CIF 10, we are cutting out almost all of the extra stages and multiple shows. We are going to present a total of 10 events over the course of the festival week. As such CIF 2007 will feature approximately a total of 35 acts and ensembles.
The Schedule for CIF 2007:
Monday, April 23 @ Chicago Cultural Center: Opening Ceremonies, 7pm
Tuesday, April 24 @ Athenaeum Theatre: Main Stage show, 8pm
Wednesday, April 25 @ Athenaeum Theatre: Main Stage show, 8pm
Thursday, April 26 @ Athenaeum Theatre: Main Stage show, 8pm
Friday, April 27 @ Athenaeum Theatre: Main Stage shows, 8pm & 10:30pm
Saturday, April 28 @ Park West: Main Stage shows, 8pm & 10:30pm
Saturday, April 28 @ Venue TBA: Saturday Night Showcase at 7, 8, 9, 10, 11pm & 12am
Sunday, April 29 @ Athenaeum Theatre: Main Stage show, 8pm
On the Main Stage we will schedule Chicago acts/ensembles and acts/ensembles from other countries on Tuesday - Thursday and also on Sunday. We are going to schedule out of town American acts/ensembles on the Main Stage on Friday & Saturday. Saturday night’s two Main Stage shows will take place at the prestigious Park West (750 seats).
For the Saturday Night Showcase, we are going to schedule both Chicago acts/ensembles and out of town acts/ensembles.
The CIF Main Stage shows will feature 3 acts/ensembles per show. The opening and middle acts will have 30 minute slots and the headlining act will have a 45 to 50 minute slot. The only exception to this is the Friday and Saturday night 10:30pm shows, when we will present 2 acts/ensembles per show. The opening act will have a 30 minute slot and the headliner will have a 45 to 50 minute time slot.
The Saturday Night Showcase will feature 2 acts/ensembles per show. Both the opening act and the headliner will have 25 minute slots.
By having less acts/ensembles we are aiming to more strongly highlight all the acts/ensembles. We also want to be of better service for our out-of-town performers with discounted hotels, marketing, publicity, and other CIF related organizational resources.
To Send in a Submission:
CIF will begin accepting submissions on November 15, 2006 and will continue to accept submissions until December 31, 2006. We will then let every submitted act/ensemble know of their invitational status via email on January 15, 2007.
CIF will accept submissions from any improv-related performance style. This includes long-form, short form, mid-form, ensembles, solos, duos, sketch-comedy & original work.
Since we are going to be accepting less acts and ensembles, we are lowering our submission fee to $25. We are also going to make our application process a lot simpler.
To officially submit, we only need the following 3 things*...
1) 30 to 45 minute DVD or video of the act/ensemble’s show in performance.
2) A page of contact information, as well as any other information the act/ensemble would like us to be aware of connected to the DVD or video performance they’ve sent in.
3) $25 submission fee for each submitted act/ensemble/show (this non-refundable submission fee can be paid via check or money order, and it can also be paid via the paypal link on CIF’s website at www.chicagoimprovfestival.org; please note that the CIF paypal link will not be operational until 11/15/06).
*CIF will get any other information from the act/ensemble after they’ve been invited to perform.
Please send the submission packet to the following address:
Chicago Improv Festival 2007 Submissions
C/o Chicago Improv Foundation
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Apprentice Teams:
We are adding a new category for ensembles to consider and that is to be an Apprentice Team. For a single set fee, the ensembles that get selected to be an Apprentice Team will get two 4-hour intensive rehearsals with a CIF designated coach/director. They will have an artistic oriented meeting with Mark, and a producing oriented meeting with me. They will get to see several CIF shows for free. They will also get to perform a 20 minute set during CIF. We will use the resources of CIF as an organization and as a festival to help some ensembles that are a mid-level or beginning level raise their game to a higher place (as well as make some good professional contacts for themselves). If you are interested in finding out more about this, please email me at jpitts@chicagoimprovfestival.org
Final Notes:
a) CIF is now officially a not-for-profit organization with its 501(c)3 status. To help further clarify our organizational identity with funders, media, sponsors, and the public, we have changed our organizational name to the Chicago Improv Foundation. The Chicago Improv Festival is a major part of the improv-related events and programming we will present and produce in 2007.
b) Now that CIF is a not-for-profit organization, our website is no longer at www.cif.com. The festival’s official website is www.chicagoimprovfestival.org.
c) We will soon be adding on an additional website for the overall not-for-profit organization at www.chicagoimprovfoundation.org
d) The dates for the 11th annual Chicago Improv Festival are April 21-27, 2008.
Contact CIF:
For more information, please call the CIF office: 773.935.9810
You can also email me at jpitts@chicagoimprovfestival.org or Mark Sutton at msutton16@hotmail.com
Jonathan Pitts
Executive Director
Chicago Improv Foundation
__________________
CIF's Mission Statement: To celebrate the present, honor the past, and showcase the future of improvisational theatre, in all of its multi-disciplinary expressions; through local, regional, national and international perspectives.
We are making some big changes for CIF 10. These changes may or may not be permanent. CIF has had a lot of changes (as has the improv community) over the last 10 years, so it is hard for us to imagine that we won't have more changes in the future. After working on the plans for CIF 10 with CIF’s Artistic Director Mark Sutton, we both feel that what we are planning is a good way to wrap up CIF’s first 10 years, while opening up new possibilities for CIF's future. We look forward to booking the acts and ensembles that will appear in CIF 10.
The 10th Annual Chicago Improv Festival, 10 Events for 10 Years:
For CIF 10, we are cutting out almost all of the extra stages and multiple shows. We are going to present a total of 10 events over the course of the festival week. As such CIF 2007 will feature approximately a total of 35 acts and ensembles.
The Schedule for CIF 2007:
Monday, April 23 @ Chicago Cultural Center: Opening Ceremonies, 7pm
Tuesday, April 24 @ Athenaeum Theatre: Main Stage show, 8pm
Wednesday, April 25 @ Athenaeum Theatre: Main Stage show, 8pm
Thursday, April 26 @ Athenaeum Theatre: Main Stage show, 8pm
Friday, April 27 @ Athenaeum Theatre: Main Stage shows, 8pm & 10:30pm
Saturday, April 28 @ Park West: Main Stage shows, 8pm & 10:30pm
Saturday, April 28 @ Venue TBA: Saturday Night Showcase at 7, 8, 9, 10, 11pm & 12am
Sunday, April 29 @ Athenaeum Theatre: Main Stage show, 8pm
On the Main Stage we will schedule Chicago acts/ensembles and acts/ensembles from other countries on Tuesday - Thursday and also on Sunday. We are going to schedule out of town American acts/ensembles on the Main Stage on Friday & Saturday. Saturday night’s two Main Stage shows will take place at the prestigious Park West (750 seats).
For the Saturday Night Showcase, we are going to schedule both Chicago acts/ensembles and out of town acts/ensembles.
The CIF Main Stage shows will feature 3 acts/ensembles per show. The opening and middle acts will have 30 minute slots and the headlining act will have a 45 to 50 minute slot. The only exception to this is the Friday and Saturday night 10:30pm shows, when we will present 2 acts/ensembles per show. The opening act will have a 30 minute slot and the headliner will have a 45 to 50 minute time slot.
The Saturday Night Showcase will feature 2 acts/ensembles per show. Both the opening act and the headliner will have 25 minute slots.
By having less acts/ensembles we are aiming to more strongly highlight all the acts/ensembles. We also want to be of better service for our out-of-town performers with discounted hotels, marketing, publicity, and other CIF related organizational resources.
To Send in a Submission:
CIF will begin accepting submissions on November 15, 2006 and will continue to accept submissions until December 31, 2006. We will then let every submitted act/ensemble know of their invitational status via email on January 15, 2007.
CIF will accept submissions from any improv-related performance style. This includes long-form, short form, mid-form, ensembles, solos, duos, sketch-comedy & original work.
Since we are going to be accepting less acts and ensembles, we are lowering our submission fee to $25. We are also going to make our application process a lot simpler.
To officially submit, we only need the following 3 things*...
1) 30 to 45 minute DVD or video of the act/ensemble’s show in performance.
2) A page of contact information, as well as any other information the act/ensemble would like us to be aware of connected to the DVD or video performance they’ve sent in.
3) $25 submission fee for each submitted act/ensemble/show (this non-refundable submission fee can be paid via check or money order, and it can also be paid via the paypal link on CIF’s website at www.chicagoimprovfestival.org; please note that the CIF paypal link will not be operational until 11/15/06).
*CIF will get any other information from the act/ensemble after they’ve been invited to perform.
Please send the submission packet to the following address:
Chicago Improv Festival 2007 Submissions
C/o Chicago Improv Foundation
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Apprentice Teams:
We are adding a new category for ensembles to consider and that is to be an Apprentice Team. For a single set fee, the ensembles that get selected to be an Apprentice Team will get two 4-hour intensive rehearsals with a CIF designated coach/director. They will have an artistic oriented meeting with Mark, and a producing oriented meeting with me. They will get to see several CIF shows for free. They will also get to perform a 20 minute set during CIF. We will use the resources of CIF as an organization and as a festival to help some ensembles that are a mid-level or beginning level raise their game to a higher place (as well as make some good professional contacts for themselves). If you are interested in finding out more about this, please email me at jpitts@chicagoimprovfestival.org
Final Notes:
a) CIF is now officially a not-for-profit organization with its 501(c)3 status. To help further clarify our organizational identity with funders, media, sponsors, and the public, we have changed our organizational name to the Chicago Improv Foundation. The Chicago Improv Festival is a major part of the improv-related events and programming we will present and produce in 2007.
b) Now that CIF is a not-for-profit organization, our website is no longer at www.cif.com. The festival’s official website is www.chicagoimprovfestival.org.
c) We will soon be adding on an additional website for the overall not-for-profit organization at www.chicagoimprovfoundation.org
d) The dates for the 11th annual Chicago Improv Festival are April 21-27, 2008.
Contact CIF:
For more information, please call the CIF office: 773.935.9810
You can also email me at jpitts@chicagoimprovfestival.org or Mark Sutton at msutton16@hotmail.com
Jonathan Pitts
Executive Director
Chicago Improv Foundation
__________________
CIF's Mission Statement: To celebrate the present, honor the past, and showcase the future of improvisational theatre, in all of its multi-disciplinary expressions; through local, regional, national and international perspectives.