BATS Improv Presents A Summer Celebration of International Improv

BATS Improv, San Francisco's highly acclaimed, longest-running improv company and school, will present AROUND THE WORLD IN AUGUST - Improvised Tales of the Arabian Nights, Chocolate and Solitude and Theatre on the Edge. The new shows begin on August 11th, and will introduce these three formats, two making their debut at BATS and one, a revival. Tickets are $17 general admission, $20 at the door. Group ticket prices are available on-line. Visit www.improv.org for more information or call 474-6776.

August performances include:

NEW!!! August 11 & 12 - Improvised Tales of the Arabian Nights, co-produced by Zawaya (a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, producing, and promoting Arabic Arts in the San Francisco Bay Area) who will provide Arabic musicians, costumes and set design/props.

NEW!!! August 18 & 19 - Chocolate and Solitude - an improvised tale of magical realism and old world magic, inspired by the writings of famed Columbian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez - the "conjurer of literary magic".

REVIVAL!!! August 25 & 26 - Theatre on the Edge - developed in Berlin and inspired by the work of playwright Bertolt Brecht, it creates a political motif from multiple storylines, music and breaking the fourth wall - audience is asked to suggest real issues.

BATS Artistic Director, Ken Robertson, who assumed his new role as AD in March, was a longtime member of the BATS performing company and understands what makes good improve theater. "I am very excited to add these new formats to the company repertoire," Robertson said recently. "At a time when exclusionism and travel bans are being discussed again, we want to celebrate the brilliant storytelling of all cultures. Improv is built on the idea that everyone is welcome, everyone is safe, and that great ensembles are created when everyone brings their own uniqueness to the group. We're ready to 'go global' with our shows and add more international flavor. And BATS players always love new ideas and can't wait to try them out on our enthusiastic audience."

About BATS

Founded in 1986, BATS has become the premier improvisational performing company and improv training school in the Bay Area, attracting more than 12,000 audience members and 1,300 workshop enrollments every year. www.improv.org

Photo courtesy of BATS Improv

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