Summer Improv Festival

BATS Improv presents its 12th annual Summer Improv Festival. SF’s longest-running Improv Festival features legendary Theatresports founder Keith Johnstone.

The festival kicks off with a special fundraiser for BATS’ community service program, “Laughing Stock,” which offers free improvisation classes to people living with HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis C, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses. Laughing Stock’s performing troupe, The Mirth Brokers, presents Merry Tales and Nursery Lines on Thursday, August 3.

Following the Laughing Stock benefit, one night each week of the festival is dedicated to a performance of each of BATS’ four most exciting and popular Theatresports formats: The championship match of BATS’ Battle of the Bay Theatresports tournament, an “Aussie Rules” set of games between eight different teams, a “home stage” edition of the BATS vs. Stanford Improvisers (“SIMPS”) competition, and the annual (and fierce) competition between BATS and LATS (Los Angeles Theatresports).

The festival also features several performances in the long-form improvisational format — the signature style created by BATS and, as a result, now generally referred to as “San Francisco-style improv.” Long-form performances during August include Warp Speed: An Improvised Trek, Spontaneous Broadway, The News Show, Double Feature and a brand new three act play entirely dependent on an audience member’s suggestion.

Additional highlights of the festival include guest performances from two of the top traveling improvisational troupes, both of which have generated fans from around the world: True Fiction Magazine and 3 For All.