WIT NEWS ITEM | 2008 Dirty South Improv Festival Report

Friday night's onesixtyone show at the DSI Theater. See a few more pics here!

WIT AT THE 2008 DIRTY SOUTH IMPROV FESTIVAL

POSTED 3.3.08

WIT has returned from the 8th annual Dirty South Improv Festival in Carrboro, North Carolina with warm hearts and full bellies.

The group was literally everywhere during the weekend, with shows from The Shower, Superbest, onesixtyone, The Lodge, Dr. Fantastic and JINX spread out across the festival.

Here's a quick look at the sights and sounds of the weekend from a few of the players who made the trip...




WIT takes to the streets after shows at the 2008 Dirty South Improv Festival.

APARNA NANCHERLA
JINX player

It was my first time at Dirty South, and I had quite a time. I ended up driving there and back by myself because I'm a masochist, and that ended up giving me the flu. But the actual festival part was a ton of fun. I enjoyed the workshops and playing with some new people as well as JINX's performance where the crowd had superb energy for maximal enjoyment by both players and spectators.



Hugh Grant makes an appearance at the Dr. Fantastic show on Saturday.


Mark and Catherine stretch out before the onesixtyone show. Natasha and Jordan get close.


The JINX players stop off for a bite to eat before hitting the town.

MARK CHALFANT
onesixtyone player

I mean no offense to the many many talented improvisers who came from all over the country to put on fantastically entertaining shows throughout the festival, but for me personally the absolute highlight of the fest, the weekend, and my life so far, was the blackberry cobbler a la mode that followed an already enormously satisfying dinner at Mama Dip's. North Carolina, I may not always like your senators, but I will eat your cobbler any and every time it's offered.



The gang hits at Mama Dip's and eats entirely too much wonderful, wonderful food.


Brian and Amanda stop to pose at the Speakeasy on Friday night.


Zhubin, Alice, Jordan and Rory trade New York's bar scene for... um... North Carolina's.

JORDAN HIRSCH
JINX and The Shower player

Memories of DSIF:

- onesixtyone managing to wring an incredible amount of humor (and pathos) from the intersection of hobo culture and James Clavell.

- mc chris rocking my world while everyone else from JINX walked out after 4 songs.

- Pinch-hitting in The Shower and The Lodge, thus tripling my performance count from last year's festival.

- JINX getting a really warm reception from the crowd, and especially Honora showing us what the Earth would look like if you were flying around it in a circle.

- Watching Superbest do one of the best improv shows I have ever seen.

- Talking to (listening to, mostly) Brian Coleman about "Portal" and "Aliens" for about an hour at Tyler's Taproom while my wife tried to look like she wasn't bored to tears.

- "Beatbox" blowing my mind with a mix of great improv and great freestyle rap. Wow.

- Playing "car tag" with the guys from Rare Bird Show on 95 North on the way home.

- Bassprov making me really long for a bloody mary.

- Introducing Greg Tindale (of JINX) to Joe Bill and Asaf Ronen in my car on the way to workshops. After Joe Bill apologized for not having initiated the introduction on his own, Greg responded with "That's OK. I assumed you were familiar with my work." Joe Bill did not laugh. Had I not been there for this event, I still would know about it, since Greg told the story about 50 times for the rest of the weekend.



Sports! In the hotel lobby with Mike and Alice and in the yard with Rory.


Sean, Joe and Honora have a drink. And a laugh. And a drink.


WIT dominating the back corner booth on Friday night at the Speakeasy.

TOPHER BELLAVIA
Dr. Fantastic and onesixtyone player

I was sick most of the weekend but it was awesome that the hotel had a three-choice 'pillow menu'.


RORY SCOVEL
Dr. Fantastic and The Shower player

My favorite thing about Chapel Hill is not the improv festival. It is the late night visit to TimeOut. There I finally stop thinking about myself and start giving special attention to the tastebuds department. The chicken and cheese biscuit will forever rent a 3 bedroom high-rise condo in my heart. Rent controlled of course because I know how to show respect when respect needs to be shown.



Dr. Fantastic gets ready to play some Family Fued!

TYLER KORBA
Dr. Fantastic, onesixtyone and Superbest player

Well, Biscuitville had to pull out of our Arts Center show, which broke my heart wide open. But the folks at DSIF were cool with Superbest taking the slot, which made my heart sing and play video games. It was our first proper festival show, and we had a blast... they were even nice enough to provide us with a couch!

The crowds were amazing as always. And it was great to hang with the crew from NYC and spend a litle time catching up with the rest of the WIT family away from the usual background noise. Full marks to all of onesixtyone and others for motivating and making the Saturday night dinner trip to Mama Dip's happen.

All in all, a great time. Always good to head south and see friends. Can't wait to go back again next year and grab some latenight TimeOut action.



Mike, Brian and Tyler are Superbest. Photo courtesy of Kevin Thom.


A tender moment from the onesixtyone show on Friday night.


Jordan, Mark and Honora hold court at the Speakeasy.