First Annual "ImprovBoston Women in Comedy Festival" May 13-16

Press Release from the WICF website:

Cambridge, Mass. - ImprovBoston presents the first annual "ImprovBoston Women in Comedy Festival" to be held May 13-16, 2009. The festival is a celebration of Boston-area women performing improvisational, sketch, film and stand-up comedy. Acclaimed artists include Comedy Central's Kelly MacFarland and Erin Judge, Second City's Leah Gotsik and Marty Johnson, film featuring Sarah Haskins of Current.com TV, and actors from ImprovBoston and Improv Asylum Mainstage. 

The festival's mission is to create a forum for people to experience the unique comedic expression of women, see strong female performers and, most importantly, to have a great time. The event is affordable and many shows are family-friendly. 

There will be workshops on sketch writing and improvisational comedy taught by award-winning, professional talent. The festival will also feature panel discussions with local talent and entertainment professionals to increase dialogue among Boston-area men and women performing comedy, as well as comedy workshops with area high school students and the Cambridge Women's Center. Co-produced by veteran performers Maria Ciampa and Michelle Barbera, the festival is a volunteer effort made possible by the hard work of its artistic staff, the not-for-profit ImprovBoston Theater, and a grant by the Cambridge Arts Council, nurturing the arts in Cambridge, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. More information can be found at www.womenincomedyfestival.com and www.improvboston.com. 

Funny Women in Comedy Festival videos athttp://www.youtube.com/user/WomenInComedy 

Location:
ImprovBoston
40 Prospect Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts
617-576-1253 

Tickets:
Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Shows begin at 8:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m., and 10:00 p.m. Prices vary: $10 - $25 for adults, $7 - $15 for students and seniors. See website for details
*VIP Festival Pass: $70* 

Schedule:
Wednesday, May 13:
8 p.m. - "Comedy Kick Off", stand up comedy with Bari Olevsky, IB sketch group "User Friendly", and storytelling with Jess Sutich (A Night of Oral Tradition) 

10 p.m. - "Funny Guys Stand Up Showcase", hosted by Maria Ciampa, with Dana Jay Bein, Shane Mauss (Late Night with Conan), Ken Reid, Robby Roadsteamer, Micah Sherman, and Zach Sherwin aka MC Mr. Napkins. 

Thursday, May 14:
6 pm: - "Fabulous Females Cocktail Party" at ImprovBoston Lobby. Join us for a festive fundraiser to benefit women in comedy. 

8 p.m. - "Bastards, Inc.", featuring stand up comedy with Jess Sutich (A Night of Oral Tradition), Lindsay Gonzalez, Michelle Barbera (We're Making a Movie), and improv by Three Hole Punch and Bastards, Inc. 

10 p.m. - "Funny Films" featuring a night of short films and video sketch written, produced and created by women. Hosted by Rheri and Jim Kenney. 

Friday, May 15:
8 p.m. - "Atreus", Aeschylus meets Dallas. The world's first soap opera is reimagined in the modern-day, high-stakes business world. 

10 p.m. - "Friday Night Variety Show" with The Steamy Bohemians, stand-up comedians Carolyn Castiglia, M. Dickson, Shereen Kassam, Jennifer Myszowski, Sharon Spell, and special guests. 

Saturday, May 16:
6 p.m. - "Family Show", featuring the women of one of ImprovBoston's most popular shows. Suitable for the whole family, Family Show combines music, improv, and audience interactivity for a completely new show each time. 

8 p.m. - "The Women in Comedy Stand up Showcase" featuring Headliner Kelly MacFarland (Comedy Central), hosted by Erin Judge (Comedy Central's Live at Gotham) and Bethany Van Delft (Boston Comedy Festival) with Maria Ciampa (North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival), Selena Coppock (North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival), Desiree Burch (Hysterical Festival), Robin Gelfenbien (Hysterical Festival), Shane Webb, and special guests. 

9:30 p.m. - "Boston News Net", Boston's premier weekly fake news show features the funniest women in Boston: Kristina Smarz, Megan Golterman, and more. 

10 p.m. - "Improv and Sketch Showcase", featuring ImprovBoston Mainstage, Two Girls For Five Bucks, sketch comedy featuring Cathleen Carr and Daiva Dupree (Ars Nova), Somebody's In The Doghouse, sketch comedy featuring Marty Johnson and Leah Gotsik (The Second City at Sea)