Schedule of Events:

February 14, 2025

7:00pm: Manic Monday from Tempe, AZ

Initially formed in November 2022 as a weekly-meeting shortform practice group, Manic Monday are five local goofballs that developed a taste for longform. By committing hard to bold choices, aggressively supporting each other, and emphasizing energy and ensemble, Manic Monday have become a crowd favorite at their home theater, The Bridge in Tempe, Arizona.

7:15pm: Wine & Weasels from San Francisco, CA

Wine and Weasels are the San Franciscov Duo of Susie Sargent and Jerry Ruoti. Together they have nearly 40 years of improv experience and have performed together at the BATS Improv, Un-Scripted Theater Company and All Out Comedy Theater. Most recently, they performed at the Rise Comedy Festival in Denver

From a few suggestions, Wine and Weasels perform scenes full of big characters, different time periods and a variety of emotions ranging from the hysterical to touching and back again. Also, sometimes they play birds.

7:40pm: D’Arcy from Salt Lake City, UT

D'Arcy is a 4 person team featuring David Knoell, Chris Last, Ryan Quenneville, and Erin Sheehy who honed their improv comedy skills in Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Boston respectively, and now reside in Salt Lake City, UT. Each of their shows is a powerful combination of scenes filled with clever characters, intriguing situations, and hilarious stakes. Their diverse experiences lend a sense of depth and humility to their work that any audience member can relate to.

8:00pm: Musical Catering Company from Mesa, AZ

Are you hungry? Hungry for a... musical? The Musical Catering Company creates a never-before-seen musical made up totally on the spot based on suggestions from the audience! Our ensemble is sure to leave you satisfied with music by Johnny Keys.

8:15pm: Juliet & Juliet from Minneapolis, MN & Los Angeles, CA

Juliet & Juliet formed in 2015 when Meghan and Sami met improvising in the style of Jane Austen, another of their favorite literary icons. In the years since they've performed in almost a dozen cities across the US and Canada, including headlining at the Out of Bounds Improv Festival in Austin, TX and the Ocean State Improv Festival in Rhode Island, and most recently as part of the Minnesota Fringe Festival.

8:35pm: Kind Strangers from Denver - Los Angeles - San Diego - Detroit

Kind Strangers began their journey in 2008 and have since captivated audiences nationwide with their diverse and dynamic performances. Originally based out of iO West in Los Angeles, CA, this troupe is renowned for their inventive improvised narratives across a range of genres. Their signature performances include the beloved Improvised Tennessee Williams, but have also done Greek Tragedy, Western, Law and Order, Medical Drama, Kind Strangers are the Last People on Earth: An Improvised Apocalypse, and their festive Charles Dickens Holiday Show.

The group has been officially selected to showcase their talent at prestigious festivals such as the LA Improv Festival, San Francisco Improv Festival, RISE Comedy Festival, Red Rocks Festival, Out of Bounds Comedy Festival in Austin, TX, Phoenix Improv Festival, Seattle Improv Festival, and many more events and workshops.

February 15, 2025

4:00pm: Bards & Nobles from Tempe, AZ

Bards & Nobles is a Shakespearean improv troupe featuring improvisers from across the Phoenix metropolitan area. The team formed in October 2023 out of a shared love for improv and Shakespeare, and a determination to combine the two. Bards & Nobles regularly performs at the Bridge Improv Theater, and hopes to bring their show to more theaters and festivals in the near future.

4:15pm: B&B Present "Love at First Byte" rom Portland, OR

Betse Green and Bill Cernansky are longtime veterans of the Portland improv scene, but they've been married even longer--since 1989. They are both members of Curious Comedy Theater and Portland ComedySportz as well their independent productions. They have played in over 30 improv festivals throughout the US and Europe, most recently at The Countdown Improv Festival in Tampa, FL.

4:40pm: SUPERLOOP from Phoenix, AZ

SUPERLOOP is a Harold team comprised of mainstage performers from the Bridge Improv Theater in Tempe, Arizona. Every member brings their unique personal experiences to the stage and the team's chemistry, trust, and playfulness bends and twists the classic improv format into funny and vibrant explorations of the heightened absurdities of everyday life. SUPERLOOP is Marisol Chavez, Jose Gonzalez, Peter Reniewicki, Caitlyn Rogers, Amy Smith, Eric Storie, and Jacob Tuskai, and is coached by Liz Hutchman.

5:00pm: Designated Driver from San Diego, CA

an Diego-based Designated Driver is the high-octane improv team that keeps the comedy steering wheel in capable hands, no matter how wild the journey gets. They take one audience suggestion and immediately shift into high gear, weaving through a maze of unpredictable characters, sharp twists, and complex relationships. Known for their fast-paced, quick-witted performances, they’ll take you on a comedy ride you won’t want to end—no GPS required!

5:15pm: Night Cap’d from Phoenix, AZ

Night Cap’d is Harmony Unscripted. We are an Eclectic Musical Improv Team. Our show is best described as Harmony Unscripted; made up of a vibrant group of performers who turn spontaneity into symphony. Comprised of diverse individuals from various walks of life—ranging from seasoned musicians to quick-witted comedians—this unique ensemble comes together to create a mini-musical comedy out of a single audience suggestion. With each performance, we weave melodies and lyrics on the spot, transforming the mundane into musical magic. Whether it’s an impromptu ballad, a hilarious show tune, or a soulful serenade, Night Cap’d creates harmony unscripted and guarantees a show full of surprise, creativity, and unforgettable tunes that resonate long after the final note.

5:30pm: The Collaboratory from Valley Wide, AZ

Veteran performers from four Phoenix area theaters unite! Shows every Third Friday at venues all over the valley!

7:00pm: JaxN Reed from Phoenix, AZ

JaxN Reed is comprised of Jacque Arend and Stacey Reed. Jacque and Stacey started improvising together in 2005 and in 2009, they formed JaxN Reed to focus on the amazing stage chemistry they had developed.

7:15pm: Gamesome Frolic from San Francisco, CA

This troupe came to be one night at Leela Theatre in San Francisco when one of the groups scheduled to appear couldn't attend. Radhika, Diana and Michael were all appearing in another project. When the producers learned of the cancellation, they asked Diana and Radhika to appear as a Shakespearean duo to fill in for the missing troupe. They agreed and asked Michael to join them as their Music Director. They played and slayed and were invited back to play again and yet again. Now they're taking Gamesome Frolic on the road! In addition to playing in the San Francisco Bay Area, Gamesome Frolic appeared on the Countdown Improv Festival MainStage in 2023 and 2024. We're playing in an artistic style inspired by William Shakespeare. We seek to explore the human condition, the visceral needs that drive us. And to play the moments truthfully, whether comedic or dramatic. Our set is based on the audience's suggestions of a season, an emotion and an element. Gamesome Frolic is Diana Brown, Radhika Rao and Music Director Michael Shaffer. All three are trained theatre actors and improv artists.

7:35pm: Late Bloomers from St. Petersburg, FL & Denver, CO

Liz and Emi met improvising in Denver and now meet up across the country to perform at festivals, talking near daily they keep their connection strong even through distance. Inspired by their personal journeys, Late Bloomers invites you to a flower garden of joy, authenticity and humor. Join these platonic soulmates, as they receive offerings of things the audience learned about themselves (or the world) late in life. They take your lessons, digest and discuss them, and weave those inspirations into scenes filled boldness, truth, and humor.

8:00pm: Tootpole: A musical improv comedy extravaganza from Tucson, AZ

We love music and improv and decided that we needed to combine the two! Our team consists of singers, musicians, punsters and comedians. After a few iterations of musical improv teams we formed the team in early 2023 and have been working on musical improv ever since.

8:15pm: THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! from LA and NYC

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! is a duo comprised of Shulie Cowen and Elana Fishbein, who met teaching at the summer intensive program at Rise Comedy Theatre in Denver, Colorado. Although they live in Los Angeles and New York City, Shulie and Elana knew they had to find a way to work together. (Also they might be related and they are both from New Jersey. The best Jersey. Take that, northern British Channel Islands!) Now this dangerous (theatrically dangerous) duo has created a long form improv show that brings together their love of characters, improv, and making things hard for themselves. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! may possibly be the most important improv show to ever be created. Or not. BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT.

8:35pm: VORTEX from Minneapolis, MN

VORTEX was born out of a will to do more classic longform in the Twin Cities (a scene with a lot of narrative and genre prov). Slated with a three show run by the fate of the gods, they came together and found their play styles were a match.

February 16, 2025

Sunday Special Features

9:30am: IDKY Live Podcast from Phoenix, AZ

IDKY is short for "I don't know you," and Jose Gonzalez will be interviewing a SAVI Fest performer. He will ask them questions as if he has never met them to learn new stuff about them.

10:30am: Phoenix Opun Cup Championship from Florence, AZ

That’s right, it’s a punning competition! We begin with an open call for 8 punsters who think they’ve got what it takes to sling their way to the top. The first round will consist of 1:1 pun-offs on a single topic. From our top 4, we’ll move to a different format where the punsters give us their best puns for three categories, and the audience votes on the top two. Those two then have one final round to see who will claim this year’s Phoenix Opun Cup.

Sunday Shows

1:30pm: Singing In The Range from Los Angeles, CA

Singing In The Range is a Los Angeles-based musical improv team dedicated to exploring the depth of human connections through the art of improv. Our performances focus on relationship building and emotional attunement, creating compelling musical mono scenes that resonate with authenticity and heart. We regularly bring our unique blend of music and storytelling to life at the Fanatic Salon, where every show is an opportunity to tune into the rhythm of the human experience.

1:50pm: Zenprov Comedy from Sedona, AZ

Zenprov Comedy hails from Sedona, Arizona, one of the quirkiest small towns in America. For more than a decade, Zenprov Comedy has tapped into the rich source material that comes from living in a community steeped in spirituality seeking, UFOs, vortexes, psychics, tantric sex cults, radical vegans, rednecks, conspiracy theories, out-of-control commercialism, and the delicious viciousness of small-town politics. The troupe routinely performs 90-minute sold-out shows in both their local 110-seat theater, as well as a 130-seat venue in neighboring Cottonwood, and are fortunate enough to be regularly featured on the covers of arts and entertainment magazines throughout Verde Valley.

While Zenprov Comedy’s long-forms may start in the red rocks of Sedona, their conceptual otherworldly performances are grounded in the fundamentals of rock-solid improv, inventive satire and characters, and their constant search for the big truths hidden within the great Cosmic Giggle.

2:05pm: Cannonball from Phoenix, AZ

Over the past eleven years, the married couple of Michelle and Tommy Cannon has performed together at Ghostfest, the Phoenix Improv Festival, the Anywhere Improv Festival, the Joshua Tree Improv/Comedy Festival, Second Beat Improv, NCT, ImprovMania, and the Trunk Space.

2:15pm: Sass Factory from San Francisco, CA

Sass Factory Improv was formed in San Francisco in 2023 and has since performed across the Bay Area. Based on audience suggestions, Sass Factory produces a diverse array of profound and absurd characters in a whimsical, wacky, and wonderful narrative world. Dysfunctional relationships, high-stakes situations, big emotions, ridiculous antics, and a touch of sincerity all collide in every performance. Sass-i-faction is always, sometimes, guaranteed.

2:35pm: Rick & Troy from Anthem and Tempe, AZ

Rick Larsen and Troy Row are two dads who improvise together. They have performed together and separately for many years.

2:45pm: ESP from Phoenix, AZ

ESP met through classes at Second Beat and decided to put up a show. They quickly realized the fun dynamic they had playing together on stage and getting to know each other off. They fully enjoy the support and willingness to try anything in shows when they are on stage together.

3:00pm: Festival Ensemble

Diana Brown leads a team put together just for this festival. Information on how to apply for our 2025 SAVI Ensemble team at the event below.

Buy Tickets

Date: February 14, 2025 - February 16, 2025

Location: Media and Immersive Experience (MIX) Center - 50 N Centennial Way Mesa, AZ 85201

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