Travel Information

What venue(s) will be a part of the festival?

Our venues, McPhetres Hall and Hangar Ballroom, are centrally located in downtown Juneau.


What lodging options are available?

A room block will be arranged in the immediate downtown area within easy walking distance of the venues. Last year's room block was available for $99 per night + taxes, double occupancy.


What transportation options are available?

Festival volunteers have traditionally provided rides between 9am and 10pm on the days during and surrounding the festival. Airport shuttles and taxis provide service at all hours.


What dining options are available?

Two of the last three Great American Seafood Cookoff champions have come from Juneau: Lionel Uddipa (SALT) and Beau Schooler (The Rookery, In Bocce Al Lupo, The Tacqueria). In addition to these restaurants, McGiveney's is famous for their crab bisque, Coppa for their hand-crafted ice cream flavors (including an improvised flavor for last year's festival), and a host of great coffee options.


What local events or attractions are available?

In each of the past four years, AS IF has organized an improvisor-only whale watching tour. In addition, there are many walking and hiking trails, several museums, shopping, and a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier.

The festival ends directly before the first cruise ship rolls in, but performers who wish to stay longer will be able to access the Mount Roberts Tram, zipline tours, and other seasonal excursions.

Festival Information

How much stage time will performers receive?

Accepted ensembles will receive at least one set of 20-25 minutes in length. AS IF also offers "mix-n-match" mash up sets.


What is the range of shows and styles the festival is seeking?

AS IF seeks a broad range of longform, narrative, and experimental improv shows. These have ranged from traditional Harolds and duo montages to apocalyptic musicals and Lovecraftian horror.

In addition, the Hangar Ballroom hosts AS IF After Dark - a series of shows restricted to audiences 21 years of age and older. AS IF After Dark has hosted History Under the Influence, The Sickest F***ing Stories Ever Told, Mr. Rogers After Dark, and The North-South Improvised Hip Hop Throwdown.

Generally, shortform ensembles are only accepted from within Alaska; however, we would welcome shortform submissions from groups that utilize a non-traditional approach.


What is the local improv scene like?

Over the past several years, Juneau-based ensembles have received a reputation for both narrative and experimental improvisation, including (but not limited to) improvised one-act plays, steampunk action-adventure, and Dada-based anti-art.


What are the festival's goals?

The Alaska State Improv Festival seeks to produce, perform, and instruct a broad range of improvisational styles within and outside of the community of Juneau, Alaska. Since beginning the festival, Alaskan ensembles have performed at the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival, Seattle Festival of Improvisational Theater, Del Close Marathon, San Diego Improv Festival, and Improvaganza - The Hawaii Festival of Improvisational Theater.

In furtherance of these goals, AS IF seeks to provide its visiting improvisors with the highest quality festival experience possible. Responses to performer surveys indicate that over 95% of participants' expectations were exceeded or greatly exceeded.


What are the selection criteria for this festival?

The AS IF selection criteria are described in The Rubric on The Improv Network Blog.

http://www.theimprovnetwork.org/the-rubric/


What unique improv experiences will performers gain?

When visiting Juneau, you are surrounded by nature, with mountains, ocean, and forest surrounding you. Bald eagles are common and ravens are omnipresent. On the water, whales and sea lions are regularly spotted. AS IF provides not only an opportunity to perform, but an opportunity to experience a unique corner of the world.