"Zenprov Comedy is the funniest improv troupe in Northern Arizona. People were laughing so hard their cheeks were hurting." Mr. Patrick Schweiss, Executive Director of the Sedona International Film Festival
Giggle away any holiday blues with the naughty elves of Zenprov Comedy and their completely improvised show “Run Away Christmas Comedy!” The fun starts Saturday, Dec. 16 at 7:00 PM at the Old Town Center for The Arts in Cottonwood. Purchase tickets at OldTownCenter.org.
“Nothing unites like laughing live together with live audience. With all that is going on the world right now, we’re excited to bring the community together for happy holiday humor,” said Derek Dujardin, the director of Zenprov Comedy. The troupe will perform a sleigh full of new games, including “Toy Stories" and "Santa's Lap."
Co-creating with Zenprov is one of Verde Valley’s favorite musicians, P.K. Gregory. With elements of folk, honky-tonk, and blues and taking on a wide range of subjects from religion to sex to the zombie apocalypse, P.K. Gregory’s songs are funny and profound. P.K. Gregory will perform an opening set and join the troupe as an impromptu raconteur playing off audience suggestions. Zenprov will then enact improvised scenes inspired by P.K. Gregory.
“I am so honored to have P.K. joining us. I have all his albums. He reminds me of a young Johnny Cash. I can’t wait to improvise off his great storytelling. It’s truly a Christmas miracle he wants to hang and play with us and for you!” said Derek Dujardin, director of Zenprov Comedy
For more than 17 years, Zenprov Comedy has tapped into the rich source material that comes from living in area steeped spiritual seeking, UFOs, vortexes, self-help gurus, psychics, radical vegans and endless roundabouts. Their otherworldly performances are grounded in the fundamentals of rock-solid improv work, inventive satire, and their constant search for grand truths hidden within the great Cosmic Giggle.
If you’ve never been to one of their live performances before, Zenprov Comedy is similar to the popular improvised TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” The troupe performs a mix of fast-paced improvised scenes created in the moment based on audience suggestions and usually one Chicago-style, long-form improv, where scenes and characters interconnect. Unlike sketch or standup comedy, nothing is scripted or prepared ahead of time, so it’s never the same show twice.
The super minds of Zenprov Comedy are Derek Dujardin, Shaeri Richards, Shaunn Cochran, Chris Redish, Betty Testa, Linda Roemer, Nathaniel Montgomery, and Mary Carder.
Tickets are $18 pre-sale, $20 the day of the show and $25 for first three rows. Tickets for this special event are available online at OldTownCenter.org or in Cottonwood at Mount Hope Foods and Mysterium, and In Sedona, you can find tickets at The Mary D. Fisher Theater. For ticket prices and more information about these and other upcoming events, visit www.oldtowncenter.org, or call Elena Bullard at 928 634 0940. “I work with improv troupes from all over the world and Zenprov is one my favs. Since 2020, I’ve had the pleasure of coaching them through a creative renaissance. They are a true ensemble that inhabits that sweet spot of being silly and insightful. A joy and a treat not to be missed."
Jessica Mitolo Associate Artistic Director Second City in Chicago