Fri 10/5-Sun 10/8
Cleveland’s Mass Hysteria Improv Comedy Fest, now in its fourth year, focuses on a group of comics who 15 years ago were the center of a flap declaring they couldn’t be funny: women.
The festival was created by a pair of women comics, Deena Nyer Mendlowitz and Sam Dee, who were determined to refute this slur with woman-run shows and improv troupes (an area REALLY dominated by men). But despite this focus, the festival is for and about everyone: men are welcome and will be among the performers.
The festival will take place at Imposters Theater in Ohio City for four nights. It kicks off with an evening of “dynamic duos,” including hosts On the Lam (Cam Godfrey and Lauren Tibjash) and four comedic pairs. Friday night, hosted by Mendlowitz, is devoted to storytellers and the three-woman Frankly Scarlet from Pittsburgh doing interactive improv. There’s more improv on Saturday with Hot Goss the Improvised Musical and headliners Gym Rats, the duo of Dana Quercioli and Edgar Blackmon, who met while working with Chicago’s Second City touring company.
Sunday will offer a series of workshops. Festival passes, which include all shows and workshops, are $65. Single tickets are also available. Go to www.imposterstheater.com.