I wanted to let you know about some special events happening this weekend: It’s Merlin Works Institute for Improvisation’s Second Anniversary!

It’s been two years since Merlin Works and Gnap! had our big grand opening at the Salvage Vanguard Theater. And you have helped make it such a success. I’ll be around all weekend, so please come to SVT this weekend to join me in celebrating two years of shows, classes and community. Here’s the schedule:

Friday

8pm: Show: Two newish Gnap! troupes full of Merlin Works Graduates, Casual Whale and Hugaday, will open for Splendid Things from Minneapolis.

10pm: Party: Merlin Works/Gnap! Second Anniversary Party. This party is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Free drinks, food, and dance music by DJ Manateeman. RSVP on Facebook

Saturday

1pm – 4pm: Class: Splendid Things teach Improv Outside Yourself

8pm: My troupe, Get Up, will join Splendid Things in an epic of improv goodness.

10pm: The Newest Gnap! Troupe, Anticdotes, will open up for the predictably unpredictable The Knuckleball Now.

Sunday

1pm – 4pm: Class: Splendid Things teach Emotional Keys (I’m registered for this class myself 🙂

Buy Weekend Passes for the low low price of $15. Buy tickets to individual shows for $5-$10. Register for theSaturday and Sunday Classes for $40. If you are a current student, you get in to see shows free with your student pass if seats are available at showtime, but you should buy tickets if you want to guarantee yourself a seat.

Splendid Things brings together three of the Twin Cities’ top improvisers to create comedy with emotional intensity, intelligence and a distinctively theatrical style. They mix grounded, naturalistic scenework with dark absurdism for an improv show that manages to be sober and ridiculous at once. The group’s members have performed together in various capacities over the years, but Splendid Things marks the first time that all three have joined forces. Splendid Things is Eric Knobel, Hannah Kuhlmann and Michael Ritchie… can you believe it?