Overheard in Pittsburgh

I am a professional improvisational actor, and I wanted to let you know about the current shows you currently can see me in — Evicted and Friday Nite Improvs and Evicted. Additionally, I teach improv workshops.

Starting this week, you can see me performing longform improv as part of a three-person group called, well, Three. We will be performing at the bi-weekly Evicted comedy show at Future Tenant (this week at 937 Liberty Ave, Downtown) with the city’s best improv troupe, Hustlebot.Longform improv is smarter and funnier than what you might have seen on television. It’s not improv games; instead, the group gets a single suggestion and creates a show from that.

Longform is the type of improv that is popular in cities like New York and Chicago, and Evicted is the only place you can see it in the Pittsburgh area. I highly recommend you see the show. Hustlebot was created by gathering some of the best improvisors in the city, and their shows are great. Three is a group with a rotating cast; this first week, you can see Hustlebot Director Ryan Kiessling, who trained in Chicago; Chris Griswold, who trained in New York; and Ben Mayer, who has been performing improv in Pittsburgh longer than he will admit.
Admission is only $7 for adults and $5 for students, and there’s free beer. For real.

For more information, check out the Evicted Web site at http://www.futuretenant.org/evicted/.

Every week, you can find me at Friday Nite Improvs, Pittsburgh’s longest-running theatre show. What makes FNI unique is that host Ben Mayer asks not only for suggestions from the audience, he asks for volunteers to play the games. If you have ever seen an improv show before and thought about playing one of the games, FNI is your best bet. With a supportive atmosphere, new and seasoned performers come together to have fun with improv and make the audience laugh. The show is different every time, but it’s always funny.

Friday Nite Improvs runs from 11 p.m. Friday nights in the Cathedral of Learning’s studio theatre. (5th Ave entrance) Admission is only $3, and that gets you two hours of comedy plus a musical or variety performance.
For more information, please see Friday Nite Improvs’ Web site: www.fridayniteimprovs.com.

As I said, I teach improv workshops. People I have taught improv have gone on to perform in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, as well as write for television. If you or your group are interested in improv classes, please send me an e-mail at ChrisGriswold AT gmail DOT com. I am currently accepting students for a class Friday nights at 8 p.m. before Friday Nite Improvs.