The Grand Rapids Improv Festival is back! The Grand Rapids Improv Festival(or GRIF) is a three-day improvisational comedy event near the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, MI.

GRIF 2021 is bringing troupes coming from all over the Midwest to showcase their talents in performances and workshops.

This is the seventh year of GRIF, with the last one being in 2019 because of the pandemic. GRIF is produced by a small committee of local comedians and powered by the community, both by volunteers, and performers alike. All GRIF 2021 events are being held at The Comedy Project in Grand Rapids.

The Comedy Project is the newest comedy theater and training center in Grand Rapids. TCP is located at 540 Leonard St NW suite B, Grand Rapids, MI 49504, in the heart of the West Side of Grand Rapids. The entrance of the theater is on the south side of the building, off of Quarry Avenue. There are signs to point comedy-goers in the direction of the parking lot and main entrance.

Opening night for GRIF is Thursday, October 21 at 8 p.m. Deemed “Local’s Night”, Thursday will feature four Grand Rapids improv troupes in a 90-minute show.

  • Three Left Hands
  • Recycled Goods
  • Shallow Water Blackout
  • Clenched Cheeks

GRIF's Friday night's two shows will feature a variety of improv; including short-form, long-form, and musical improv from both local and out-of-town troupes.

Featured in the 8 pm show will be:

  • Tiny Breakfast (GR)
  • Crawlspace Eviction (Kalamazoo, MI)
  • Cash & Carry (Ferndale, MI)

Featured in the 10 pm show will be:

  • Like Father, Like Son (GR)
  • The Bureau (Ferndale, MI)
  • Cash & Carry (Ferndale, MI)

Saturday, October 23rd gets kicked off at noon with an Improv class taught by Lura Barber. This two-hour workshop will focus on honing your character development and is open to all improvisers, from beginners to seasoned professionals. In this workshop, you'll dust off the box labeled, “Voice and Physicality." and get moving around.

GRIF's Saturday night's shows will feature mainly visiting troupes!

Featured in the 8 pm show will be:

  • Patty & Patty (Ferndale, MI)
  • Unicornucopia (Ferndale, MI)
  • Improñol (Chicago, IL)

Featured in the 10 pm show will be:

  • SOFA (GR)
  • Big Fun Social (Ferndale, MI)
  • Improñol (Chicago, IL)

Tickets cost $10-$15 depending on the show.

Find all the details on showtimes and tickets at thecomedyproject.com or call 616-369-7469.

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