Travel Information
What venue(s) will be a part of the festival?
The Upper Room at the Pearl Street Pub will be home to the 2nd Albany Improv Festival. The address is: 59-61 N. Pearl St, Albany, NY 12207. The Upper Room has on-street parking however there are three conveniently located parking garages nearby: Riverfront, Green-Hudson and Quackenbush. More info on the garages can be found on http://parkalbany.com/Garages.aspx#Locations
What lodging options are available?
The Festival has a group rate of $109 at the Holiday Inn Express Albany-Downtown. You can make reservations over the phone by mentioning "AIF" or "Albany Improv Festival" or online via this link: https://www.hiexpress.com/redirect?path=hd&brandCode=ex&localeCode=en®ionCode=1&hotelCode=albba&_PMID=99801505&GPC=AIF&viewfullsite=true
What transportation options are available?
The Albany International Airport is a 9 to 13 mile drive away, depending on your route. Rental cars are available at the airport as well as taxi service. The Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station is less than 2 miles from the Pearl Street Pub. Taxis are available at the train station as well. Currently Albany does not have Uber, but there is hope for the future.
What dining options are available?
The Upper Room sits right above the Pearl Street Pub, which is where the bar is located as well. Food ranges from $11 to $30 depending on your taste. Pearl Street itself is home to many tasty restaurants including The Capital American Eatery, The Capitol Chinese House, Pearl Street Diner, The Hollow Bar & Kitchen and Merry Monk. There are many other restaurants and cafes nearby.
Festival Information
How much stage time will performers receive?
Performances will be held on Saturday, April 22nd and times will range between 10 to 30 minutes. There will be workshops available on Sunday, April 23rd.
What is the range of shows and styles the festival is seeking?
Short form, long form, musical - we want to see it all.
What is the local improv scene like?
The local improv scene is home to short form, long form, musical and puppetprov.
What are the festival's goals?
The Albany Improv Festival is used as a fundraising event for the Albany Damien Center.
Who Gets the Proceeds?
The Albany Damien Center! We think they do great work, and they need a helping
hand. Their building burned down in 2013 and have since been operating out
of the First Lutheran Church. They broke ground for their new building in 2016 but have a long way too go.
Founded in 1990, The Albany Damien Center is built around a resource center, programs, and activities designed to improve health, reduce stress, and increase the quality of life in a comfortable, supportive atmosphere for
individuals and families living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
