The Los Angeles Improv Comedy Festival organized by iO West sees its eighth edition this year and will take place at the iO West theatre on Hollywood Blvd. from June 7 to June 12.
iO West is a comedy theatre in Hollywood that opened its doors twelve years ago. The home theatre in Chicago has been active for over 30 years. The theatre has launched the careers of well known actors like Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Andy Richter and Mike Myers.
James Grace, Artistic Director of the iO West Theater, tells The Vault that the festival is unique because a lot of celebrities that used to take classes or perform at the theatre come back for festival. This year’s impressive list of performers includes Danny Pudi (Community), Angela Kinsey (The Office), Neil Flynn (The Middle) and Matthew Lillard (Scooby Doo) to name just a few.
During the festival over 50 workshops will be held that offer the unique opportunity to brush elbows with celebrities and learn from them as well. Kate Flannery (The Office) for example will do a workshop where she picks scenes from The Office and people will get the chance to improvise within those scenes.
E.J. Scott, boyfriend of True Blood actress Deborah Ann Woll, is a former student of iO West until he moved to Chicago where he continues his performance at iO Chicago. In a special event during the festival on June 12, EJ will receive the Chris Farley Award from the hands of Deborah Ann, following in the footsteps of former recipients Pat Finn and Andy Richter.
The Chris Farley Award is named after former iO West performer Chris Farley who passed away in 1997. After his death it was discovered that Farley was involved in several charities, he did a lot of volunteer work at different Catholic charities that even his close friend James Grace knew nothing about. He didn’t do it for publicity, but because he was a devout catholic and felt it was his duty to give back. The Award named after Farley was created three years ago to honor his memory and his charity work. Each year it is given to a person in comedy that does outstanding charity work. According to Grace it is a perfect fit for EJ because he works so tirelessly for Choroideremia, the eye disease that is affecting his sight.
In conjunction with the award also the Chris Farley scholarship was created which allows a student to study for a full year and take improv classes for free. In exchange the students brings a charity to the theatre and become the liaison between the charity and the theatre and get the entire community involved in doing charitable work for that organization for the entire year of their internship.
Deborah Ann will be presenting the award to her boyfriend supported by her True Blood co-stars Jim Parrack (Hoyt) and Michael McMillian (Steve Newlin). All four of them will be doing an improv performance together, where Deborah, Jim and Michael will tell stories and EJ will improvise inspired by the themes of the stories that they tell. A wonderful opportunity for True Blood fans the see the actors on stage and listen to their stories that will also include tidbits about our favorite vampire show. The theatre holds 120 seats and that makes this event an intimate insider experience.
Tickets are on sale now, you can buy yours through the festival’s website: west-festival.ioimprov.com/tickets.htm
During the entire week of the festival there will be shows on 3 different stages and numerous workshops. You can check out the complete schedule on the festival’s website: west-festival.ioimprov.com/schedule.htm
On June 13 EJ Scott will give a workshop that will focus on doing more believable and realistic scenes. For each person that takes the workshop, 25% of what is paid to take it will be going to charity, specifically The Choroideremia Research Foundation. To find a cure for this rare eye disease that causes blindness. www.curechm.org.
It sounds like a wonderful festival. I would love to see Deborah Ann, Michel McMillian, Jim Parrack and EJ Scott do the improv. That would truly be a treat. Sometimes it sucks to live in the midwest.
Congrats to EJ on his award. How sweet that Deborah Ann will be the presenter.
Thanks, Shad, for providing the article.
[Reply]
willkill4Bill Reply:
May 27th, 2010 at 21:51
Sounds fabulous. That would be so much fun to attend. I agree Rowena we are always in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe we should follow our friend on her new adventure. :) Think our husbands would agree?
[Reply]