After eighteen months of the Covid-19 pandemic and quarantines shut down all live entertainment venues in California, it’s now time for a little respite from the dark side of our stay-at-home existence, courtesy of Governor Gavin Newsom who recently approved the opening of live theatre venues, but with some important caveats.

The perfect antidote to the downer doldrums always comes in the form of comedy entertainment and brilliant Improv sketches as seen and performed by some of the country’s top practitioners of the art form.

The festival kicks off on Saturday, October 23^rd at Cathedral City’s new performing arts center where CV Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Ron Celona, usually mounts CV REP’s theatre season of productions in his newly renovated, former, IMAX movie theatre (almost two years now) where performing is a joy for both actors and audiences in this state of the art live theatre.

Producer Jeanette Knight has lined up a series of comedy, improv stand-up performers and sketches that are guaranteed to please the fussiest of fans of comedy and improv acts along with workshop discussions over the week end.

The festival highlights the comedy antics and talent of such headliners as: Mary Gallagher who had her national TV stand-up comedy debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2018 and now is a star attraction on many live TV comedy, stand-up shows, and cabaret venues across the country.

Hollywood TV star and actor Joyce Bulifant, a regular on the Mary Tyler Moore show and resident of the Coachella Valley, performs with stand-up comic Steve Bluestein, author, playwright and founder of The Groundlings theatre group of Los Angeles.

The sketch female comedy team of “Pure and Weary” - aka Katherine Biskupic and Leah Frires bring their zany comedic brand and takes on stand-up comedy to producer Knight’s 2021 festival have been seen at practically every major comedy festival in the country.

Comedy is what producer Jeanette Knight lives for and thrives on.  When she told me about comedian Steve Mittleman appearing in the festival along with his peers, she echoed the comments of Jerry Seinfeld who has been quoted as saying “Mittleman is always funny!”  

Jason Stuart an award-winning stand-up comedy performer and actor will conduct a workshop on "The Business of Show Business 

Steve Mittleman has one of the most recognizable faces in show business.  He is among the rare comedians that appeared on The Tonight Show with both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno as hosts.  Mittleman’s career includes over 100 TV appearances, sit-coms, commercials, and Feature films including Steve Martin’s hit movie “Roxanne.”

The 5^th annual Coachella Valley Improv & Comedy Festival has all the makings for a great evening of comedy entertainment for its audiences. I have covered this festival for the last four years and have never been disappointed.  Some performance material, however, may not be appropriate for children. So perhaps you should consider leaving grandma and the kiddies at home for this show.

For purchase of tickets and for additional information and/or requirements necessary for admission, patrons must present proof of vaccination before being admitted.

Please call the CVREP  Box Office at 760 - 296 - 2966 for more information or go online to: https:cvrep.org/coachella-valley-improv-comedy-festival-confirmed- confirmed/cvicf/.  

Remember, a great nation deserves great art.  Support the Arts