Paul F Tompkins Headlines We The People Improv Festival

Philly Improv Theater (PHIT) has announced Paul F. Tompkins's Spontaneanation as the headlining act for the theater's first We The People Improv Festival, July 11 - 15, 2018. The full schedule is also available and ticket sales began May 11.

Paul F. Tompkins was born in Philadelphia and attended Temple University. He voices Mr. Peanutbutter on Netflix's series Bojack Horseman. "PFT," as his fans call him, hosts and creates the improv podcast Spontaneanation which regularly features Hollywood guests. Tompkins's credits also include frequent appearances on Comedy Bang! Bang! and @Midnight, as well as a role on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He previously has performed with PHIT in 2010 for a sold-out performance at Plays and Players Theatre.

July's Spontaneanation event is a live podcast recording at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, home of the Philadelphia Theatre Company. Tompkins brings a set of guests to Philadelphia for the show: Eugene Cordero (Steven Universe, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Kong: Skull Island), Tawny Newsome (Take My Wife, Bajillion Dollar Propertie$) and Janet Varney (How I Met Your Mother, The Legend of Korra, You're The Worst). The show will have a live improvised score provided by Eban Schletter (Spongebob Squarepants, Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master).

We The People Improv Festival is the main improv festival for the City of Philadelphia. The organizers, including members of the PHIT community and staff, are dedicated to showcasing the diversity of improv talent from across the nation and around the globe, while also highlighting the diversity and talent of Philadelphia to guest artists and audiences. The WTPIF producing team and Philly's improv scene are excited to come together under one roof for a weekend celebrating excellence in improvisational comedy, and the camaraderie of the worldwide improv community.

Acts for the Festival include 38 ensembles from 11 different states as well as the District of Columbia. The full schedule is available at https://wethepeopleimprovfest.com/schedule/

In a conversation with Philly Improv Theater staff, Paul F. Tompkins said, "I can't wait. Philadelphia is where I started. I've always had such a great time coming back and doing standup. I just never imagined I'd be able to bring Philadelphia Spontaneanation, which I've been doing for a few years now. To do it in Philly is extremely exciting for me."

Tompkins also described the audience's experience of a live Spontaneanation recording as "a very loose and fun and silly show. We ham it up a little bit extra in front of a crowd. The energy it has with the improvisation and a live audience can't be beat.".

"Spontaneanation is a natural fit to headline our inaugural festival and I couldn't be more excited to bring Paul back to Philly for the first time in several years," said PHIT executive director and founder Greg Maughan. "I think this show will appeal to a huge audience: everyone from fans of cutting edge, critically acclaimed comedy like Bojack Horseman to traditional theatregoers and vintage variety radio fans."

Philly Improv Theater and We The People Improv Festival thank the following sponsors for their generous support: Philadelphia Theatre Company, Press & Release Printing, Wooder Cooler, Starling Voice Studio, Bardhan Consulting, Independence Comedy, Sam Abrams Photography, and Summer Haze Inspired.

Advance tickets for We The People Improv Festival shows are available at PHIT's ticketing website https://phillyimprovtheater.ticketleap.com

PHIT is located in the Adrienne Theater at 2030 Sansom Street and hosts performances on both the Mainstage and the Second Stage.

Since its opening in 2005 Philly Improv Theater has been the heart of Philadelphia's rapidly expanding and nationally recognized comedy scene. Philly Improv Theater produces over 1,000 performances annually, with shows on multiple stages, 7 nights a week, every week of the year. Beyond Philadelphia, Philly Improv Theater's performers tour regularly making appearances at the most prestigious comedy venues across North America. Dedicated to developing talent locally, the Philly Improv Theater Training Center teaches over 1,000 children and adults how to improvise, write sketch comedy, and perform stand-up each year. Alumni and performers seen on PHIT's stages have worked on Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show, 30 Rock, The Late Show, Two and a Half Men, Raising Hope, Key & Peele, Kroll Show, The State, Girl Code, Guy Code, Orange is the New Black, and The Kids in the Hall.

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