LAFF 2009 Announces Lineup

smerlin · Post by **smerlin** » March 17th, 2009, 1:49 pm

I'm SO super pumped about this year's LAFF Lineup.

We had great submissions from all over the country. We are pleased to welcome headliners Jill Bernard (Drum Machine, ComedySportz Twin-Cities) of Minneapolis, MN and Sara Benincasa (MTV, Huffington Post's 23/6, Sirius XM Radio's "Get In Bed") of New York, NY

More info at http://laff.austinimprov.com/index.html

LAFF 2009 SCHEDULE

Thursday May 7, 2009
8pm - 11pm
CABARET NIGHT
Featuring stand up, musical variety acts, free drinks, table service and more...
Selena Coppock (Stand Up, New York)
Delilah Dix (Cabaret Act, New York)
Holly Lorka (Stand Up, Austin)
Virginia Jones (Stand Up, Portland)
Luna Tart (Cabaret Act, Austin)
Kerri Lendo (Stand Up, Austin)
Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting (Sketch Comedy, New York)

Friday May 8, 2009
8pm
Firth and Arjet (Improv, Austin)
Adventure Squad (Improv, Austin)
FOCUS (Improv, New York)

10pm
Megan Grano in Obliged (One Woman Show, Los Angeles)
Sara Benincasa in Agorafabulus (One Woman Show, New York)

11:30pm
LAFF PARTY

Saturday May 9, 2009
12 - 4pm
Jill Bernard Improv Class

5pm
LAFF DINNER

8pm
Mocha Jean Herrup (One Woman Show, Austin)
Massive Ladies (Improv, Houston)

10pm
Girls Girls Girls Improvised Musicals (Improv, Austin)
Jill Bernard (Improv, Minneapolis)

Keep an eye out for updates and details. If you are interested in volunteering or helping out with the festival contact Julie Lucas and/or email gggimprov@gmail.com

Jastroch · Post by **Jastroch** » March 17th, 2009, 1:51 pm

Jill! Jill! Jill!

arthursimone · Post by **arthursimone** » March 17th, 2009, 2:13 pm

Jill Bernard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave · Post by **Dave** » March 17th, 2009, 2:17 pm

Megan Grano!

Funny Funny Funny Lady!

Roy Janik · Post by **Roy Janik** » March 17th, 2009, 2:55 pm

Adventure Squad!!!

beardedlamb · Post by **beardedlamb** » March 17th, 2009, 3:41 pm

congrats!
tres solide!

Miggy · Post by **Miggy** » March 17th, 2009, 4:14 pm

What's the location on the Cabaret show? I presume everything else is SVT, correct?

smerlin · Post by **smerlin** » March 17th, 2009, 4:22 pm

Yep, its all at the Salvage Vanguard Theater, 2803 Manor Rd.

Also, check out a blurb about LAFF in this month's Bitch Magazine (available at Book People,) sharing the page with Sara Benicasa

Woohoo!

Mo Daviau · Post by **Mo Daviau** » March 17th, 2009, 8:16 pm

Not to be a party fart or anything, but her last name spelled Benincasa. Like the African nation of Benin (formerly Dahomey) and a house (which perhaps they do not have in Benin and had to change the name because it was not homey enough?).

Someone is craving teppanyaki, obviously.

valetoile · Post by **valetoile** » March 17th, 2009, 9:18 pm

skinny bitch jesus meeting!

andrea · Post by **andrea** » March 18th, 2009, 12:16 pm

if you check out the blurb in bitch, make sure to notice the picture of Jessica Arjet, Audrey Samson, and Ann Wilson. hotstuff!!

smerlin · Post by **smerlin** » April 10th, 2009, 11:09 am

Less than one month to LAFF!

YESH!!

SarahMarie · Post by **SarahMarie** » April 10th, 2009, 1:17 pm

I'm so excited I just peed my pants!

Hurray!

Also, you can totally become a LAFF Fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/LAFF-Ladi ... 0975346521

smerlin · Post by **smerlin** » April 21st, 2009, 4:16 pm

Jill Bernard is headlining LAFF and she's teaching some killer workshops.

Registration now online: http://laff.austinimprov.com/classes.html

VAPAPO: CHARACTER TOOLKIT

Jill Bernard offers a character toolkit to give participants the ability to create strong, compelling characters that they can hang onto through the whole scene. This session will focus on using Voice, Attitude or Posture, and Animal, Prop or Obsession to build instant characters. Participants will use these tools to fearlessly initiate scenes, create relationships and find agreement. Please wear closed toe shoes to this workshop.

$25
Noon - 2pm, Saturday May 9 at the
The Salvage Vanguard Theater
2803 Manor Rd
Austin, TX 78722

THE FIREBALL THEORY

This workshop presents Jill Bernard's Fireball Theory and offers exercises to help you improvise faster and harder than you can judge yourself. You will learn to metaphorically hit the scene running and outrun the explosion of self-loathing and doubt like an action movie hero outruns a fireball thus defying the laws of physics. Please wear closed toe shoes to this workshop.

$25
2:30pm - 4:30pm, Saturday May 9 at the
The Salvage Vanguard Theater (map/directions)
2803 Manor Rd
Austin, TX 78722

About instructor Jill Bernard:

Jill Bernard has been performing with ComedySportz-Twin Cities since 1993, and is also a founding member of HUGE Theater. Her one-woman improv piece, Drum Machine, has been featured at the Chicago Improv Festival, the Toronto Improv Jamboree, the Miami Improv Festival, Philadelphia Improv Festival, and the ComedySportz National Tournament, among others. She has taught and performed improv in Norway, Canada, and over twenty-five of these United States, in cities that include Juneau, AK; Spokane and Seattle, WA; Washington DC; Bowling Green, KY; Phoenix, AZ; and also on an episode of MTV ?Made.? An Artistic Associate of the Chicago Improv Festival, she has studied at the Annoyance Theater, Improv Olympic, the Brave New Workshop and other organizations; and is the recipient of the 2005 Chicago Improv Festival Avery Schreiber Ambassador of Improv Award, and the 2007 Miami Improv Festival award for Best Solo Show. She was also the winner, in January 2000, of the Executive Vice President Award for outstanding contribution to Human Resources, the highest award in the American Express Human Resources function.

Reviews of Jill's Classes
"Jill has so much positive energy and enthusiasm, and if you?re not a better improviser from just being near her and soaking up the awesomeness that she exudes then I don?t know what." - Student, Dirty South Improv Fest 4

"Jill Bernard is one of those rare performers that ignites everyone in the room. She is magnetic with endless talent and humour. I took her workshop last year and can't remember when I've had so much fun. Jill is a brilliant artist that will take you beyond your preconcieved boundaries."Madi DistefanoBarrymore Award Nominated Actress and PlaywrightPhiladephia, PA

"Jill's work is always open-hearted, open-minded, and just spot on." - Jonathan Pitts, Chicago Improv Festival

arthursimone · Post by **arthursimone** » April 21st, 2009, 4:17 pm

Jill Bernard!!