Improv goes head-to-head with stand-up comedy at Lookout Comedy Festival

Stand Up Comedy neon sign conceptual 3d rendering illustration / Getty Images/iStockphoto/stevanovicigor
Stand Up Comedy neon sign conceptual 3d rendering illustration / Getty Images/iStockphoto/stevanovicigor

Improv Chattanooga's usual Improv vs. Stand-Up gets taken over this weekend by the second Lookout Comedy Festival. Local stand-up comedians and the cast of Improv Chattanooga will try to one-up each other at Improv Chattanooga, 1800 Rossville Ave., Suite 118.

The comedy festival begins Thursday night, Oct. 17, continuing Friday and Saturday, Oct. 18-19.

"Lookout Comedy Festival is bringing in a slew of fresh comedy faces and the chance for some improv/stand-up fun," says Bridgette Martin, in a news release.

Steven Disbrow of Improv Chattanooga says the improv troupe will host its regular 8 p.m. shows on Friday and Saturday before Lookout Comedy Festival takes over.

Friday is movie night at Improv Chattanooga, when audience members suggest classic horror movie ideas and the crack team of improvisers will pick one and act it out.

At The Comedy Catch

D.J. Sandu brings his stand-up act back to The Comedy Catch, 1400 Market St., Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 17-20. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Sunday, when tickets are $11. Tickets are $16 for 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. shows either Friday or Saturday. For more information: 423-269-2233.

Saturday at 8 o'clock is "One-Star Review" night.

"We get one-star reviews of establishments from the audience, and do improv based on those," Disbrow explains.

Tickets for the 8 p.m. shows either night are $10 adults, $5 students. That fee is separate from the cost of Lookout Comedy Festival, listed below.

Lookout Comedy Schedule

Martin will host these 10 p.m. shows Thursday through Saturday. Each stand-up comic will do a seven-minute set. Then the improvisors will take the stage to do a series of scenes based on that comic's set.

At the end of the night, the audience votes by applause as to who was funniest.

* Thursday, Oct. 17: The headliner is Hilliary Begley, joined by Paige Polesnak, Vikram Balaji, Jimmy Callaway and Jason Planitzer.

* Friday, Oct. 18: Headliner Art Sturtevant is joined by Callahan Welsh, Holly Lynnea, Justin Thompson and Trey Dunn.

* Saturday, Oct. 19: Headliner Chris Buck with Gabbie Watts, Kandyce August, Hunter Roberts and Kevin Seefried.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 day of show, $5 for students.

These events are rated R; no one under 18 admitted. Alcohol won't be sold on-site, but the event is BYOB and there will be concessions for sale. Dogs are not allowed on-site.

For more information: http://www.improvchattanooga.com/

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