If you’re in the mood for a good tickling of the funny-bone, the Third Annual Dirty South Improv Festival may be your bag of giggles. Founder and Executive Producer Zach Ward, a Chapel Hill native, believes that “improv is the highest form of art” and wants everyone to know. The festival will bring 17 college and professional troupes of more than 150 improvisers to the UNC-Chapel Hill campus for a weekend of workshops and shows. Included are Lighted Fools (Haverford College), Mr. Fancypants (Chicago), Triplette (Northwestern), local favorites ChiPs (former home of SNL cast-member Jeff Richards) and Ward’s own critically acclaimed Dual Exhaust (picutred above), a full-length, two-person improv with partner Beth Melewski. If, according to comedian Carl Reiner, “the absolute truth is the thing that makes people laugh,” then be prepared for truths; absolutely. Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 27-March 1. Hamilton Hall, UNC Campus, Chapel Hill. 225-6330 or www.dirtysouthimprov.com/dsif for info. www.ticketweb.com for tickets.
–r.c. glenn
