Theatre News Wire

ComedySportz Chicago is proud to host the greatest ComedySportz players from the United States and Europe as they challenge each other for the title of the 2012 ComedySportz World Champion. As many as 21 teams will face off for this winner-takes-all tournament of improv comedy, Wednesday, July 18 - Saturday, July 21 at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. The event, which is in Chicago for the first time since 2001, features nine shows over four nights - each show is a different set of matches or exhibitions. Performance times are Wednesday, July 18 - Friday, July 20 at 8 and 10 p.m. and Saturday, July 21 at 6, 8 and 10 p.m. The Saturday 10 p.m. performance is the championship bout. Ticket prices are $25 per show and festival passes may be purchased for $110 (includes admission to all shows, plus preferred seating.)

The ComedySportz form of improv comedy is a sport begun 28 years ago in Milwaukee. Three years later, it expanded to Chicago and today ComedySportz is played in 21 cities across the U.S. and Europe. The ComedySportz clubs, who are all members of the World Comedy League, gather each summer to compete for the title of World Comedy Champion. More than 100 improv comedians are expected to come to Chicago this July to compete in this hilarious and action-packed championship event.

For fanz of red and blue ComedySportz teams everywhere, this four-day event is a must-see. For newcomers to ComedySportz, this championship will be the best possible introduction to the art and sport of short-form improv comedy - where audiences challenge the players with suggestions for short scenes, songs and games in some of the Western world's fastest and funniest shows.

The complete programming schedule will be announced at a later date. Each show includes two matches of two teams each, except for the Saturday, 8 PM show (which will include one two-team match and an exhibition match); and the Championship Match on Saturday, July 21 at 10:00 PM (which will include two teams).