Third Annual Baton Rouge Improv Festival set to kickoff on 4/20

The Baton Rouge Improv group knows that everyone needs laughter in their lives. The group kicked off their third annual festival Thursday to deliver that laughter and provide what they call a "therapy dupe."

The third annual Baton Rouge Comedy Improv Festival will take place on LSU's campus from April 20-22. Artistic director Brett Duggan said improv is close to one popular genre.

“The way I’d explain it is three days of comedy shows,” Artistic Director of the Baton Rouge Improv Festival Brett Duggan said.

The shows will run at various times. The first show is Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Workshops will also be available to LSU students and the Baton Rouge community. Workshops are free for LSU Theater students and $20 for anyone else. They begin at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 22. 

"If you have no experience or a little experience or if you’re a performer who’s interested in this type of performance, you can come down and check out the workshops,” Duggan said.

Most of the preparation work for the festival has taken place over the last six months for LSU improv students.

LSU improv student Ryan Bailey gives us an inside look into what practices have looked like leading up to the festival.

“It’s a kind of ritual we do of warm-ups where there’s a bunch of different things we do,” LSU improv student Ryan Bailey said. “And then we’ll jump into what we call a form. Forms are usually what we do at shows and so it’s kind of like practicing the formula that we’re going to perform later,” Bailey said.

The mission of the festival is to celebrate improv and comedy through performances, workshops, panels, community outreach and social events. 

“There’s something incredible about just sitting and laughing,” Duggan said. “It’s healing. It feels good, and I just think it’s something that we all need right now."

The festival will be held in the Music and Dramatic Arts on LSU’s campus.

Individuals can visit their website to purchase tickets.