There's an "I" in improv

Improv training in Chicago starts a little something like this: Take care of your partner, and everything else (scene-wise) will follow. The existence of entire theaters— iO, in particular—is predicated on that one simple rule.

Well, there comes a time when individual performers need to take care of themselves: This year’s 11th annual Chicago Improv Festival is chock-full of comics who flew the coop, taking off for higher-profile gigs than weekly Harolds. They may not be Tina Fey, but here they’re greeted like rock stars—we’ve missed these funny people, and it’s exciting to catch them reuniting with old teammates. Here are a few to keep an eye on at this weekend’s fest.

Thomas Middleditch
The CIF press materials list him as a “YouTube writer/director,” which is kinda like saying someone’s a published Yelp reviewer. Even so, this scruffy, witty comic is one of the most consistently funny improvisers we’ve ever seen. Few Chicagoans could match Middleditch in mining obscure historical references while capitalizing on a lanky, captivating physicality. He returns to perform Thursday 5 with TJ Miller, another recent transplant who sees Middleditch’s viral online Chicken McNuggets video and raises him a starring role in Cloverfield. See the show, then weigh in on this pressing topic: Middleditch and Coldplay’s Chris Martin, separated at birth?

Maribeth Monroe
A few years ago, Monroe owned the Second City mainstage. The stand-out scene in 2006’s War! Now in Its 4th Smash Year! featured Monroe as an old kook demanding she be allowed to fight in Iraq; later, it’s discovered she wants to take her grandson’s place, as he has a lot more to live for than she does. Monroe brought this rare mix of eccentric and somber to every scene, and it was a treat to watch. Sadly, Monroe’s latest gigs were on the painful and unfunny According to Jim and the painfully unfunny Thank God You’re Here, meaning her return to form with Ditka Friday 6 (Da Coach quote–inspired improv also starring Frank Caeti, Brian Gallivan and Marc Warzecha) is that much more satisfying.

John Lutz
The surge in 30 Rock’s success means more Americans know what it means to be Lutz. He and his character on the show share a name, profession—the real Lutz writes for Saturday Night Live—and a certain level of pathetic endearment (recall your sympathy when Frank antagonized him for getting a stomach stapling). But those Chicagoans who caught Four Square, a favorite among comedy insiders, have known him for a while. Dan Bakkedahl, Peter Grosz, Rob Janas and Lutz would take four different two-person scenes, derail them and then revel in the ensuing controlled chaos. The festival includes a reunion show Friday 6—Three Square, since Bakkedahl can’t make it—and plenty of opportunities for the zippy and clever Lutz to delight.

Josh and Nyima Funk
This married couple spent a lot of time together at Second City: Nyima acted in 2002’s fantastic e.t.c. show Curious George Goes to War; Josh directed a couple of revues. They later moved to Los Angeles and wound up taking gigs on Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ’N Out (which is a lot funnier than you might think) and sharing the stage with iO West’s 313 improv group. It’s easy to see what makes them a prime pair: Josh throws himself into scenes early, usually as the most boisterous of the bunch, and Nyima supports her teammates’ actions flawlessly. The 313 show Saturday 7 tests the hypothesis we’ve been kicking around the office that L.A. improv is a bit more…refined (nay, actorly) than most Chicago stuff.

Check out our full CIF schedule, as well a look at the out-of-town acts and the Snubfest schedule.