CORRECTIONS: Tuesday's pg. 3 story "Eighth annual improv festival begins today" contained multiple reporting errors.
Horatio Sanz did not perform at last year's festival as he had emergency surgery, and comic Louis CK performed in his place.
John Reitz's title is director of Chips.
Finally the Chips show at 8 p.m. Wednesday at DSI Comedy Theater is not a Dirty South Improv Festival 2008 Highlight Event as the pullout suggests. There will be an event featuring Chips and other college groups at 8 p.m. Friday in Hamilton 100 that is part of the festival. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the errors.
With more than 400 performers and 70 acts, the eighth annual Dirty South Improv Comedy Festival will give audiences plenty of opportunities to find something to laugh at.
The improv festival has been the largest in the U.S. for the past three years, attracting artists from as far as New York City and Los Angeles. Beginning today, artists will lead and participate in workshops at DSI and perform at venues in Carrboro.
"The thing I'm really excited about this year is the level of talent," said Zach Ward, executive producer for DSI Comedy Theater. "Almost twice as many people submitted to the festival as last year, and we had to turn a lot of people down."
While last year the festival reached its climax with a performance at Cat's Cradle by "Saturday Night Live" comedian Horatio Sanz, this year improv performances by MC CHRIS, Death By Roo Roo, and BASSPROV will take the stage.
Ward said this year's festival drew attention from MySpace and the N.C. visitor's bureau for the first time. The organizations wanted to advertise the events on their Web sites.
The 2008 festival will also see the return of many who have made performing in the festival a tradition.
Sarah Ashley, a junior at the University of Michigan, said the school's improv group, Witt's End, frequently attends the festival.
"One of the biggest draws for us are the workshops," Ashley said. "It's really cool for us to watch other groups. Performing in front of so many other people gives you this nervous but really exciting energy."
John Reitz, assistant coach for UNC's Chapel Hill Players, said one of the most beneficial aspects of the festival is the opportunity for student improv groups to interact.
"Improv is a collaborative art form. When you're up on stage you're creating something with someone else," he said. "You can learn from someone who you never would have gotten to meet otherwise."
And university improv groups aren't the only ones that have made the festival an annual ritual.
"The first year we did the festival we were also a new group, so now we consider it a mini anniversary for ourselves," said Curtis Gwinn, a member of New York City improv troupe, Death by Roo Roo. "You make these friends that you only see at this festival, and one of the great things about it is to get out of New York and go somewhere else."
The festival also will feature many newcomers, such as the 10-member Chicago group Blue Shampoo.
"Between the 10 of us, we're connected to nearly every other improv group in Chicago," said Linsey Falls, a member of the troupe. "But in a place where we are one of 60 groups, it's a whole different playing field."
Ward said while he is pleased with the festival's expansion, he wants the growth to continue.
"Staying the same is not good enough," he said. "I'm in a place where I'm excited that I don't know what's going to happen next."
Dirty South Improv Festival 2008 Highlight Events
Chapel Hill Players: 8 p.m. Wednesday, DSI Comedy Theater BASSPROV: 9:30 p.m. Friday, ArtsCenter Mainstage in Carrboro MC CHRIS: 11 p.m. Friday, Cat's Cradle Death by Roo Roo, with BASSPROV and MC CHRIS: 9 p.m. Saturday, Cat's Cradle High School Improv Showcase: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, DSI Comedy Theater
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
