Houston, TX is known for it’s medical center, energy industry, and the Astros. What is not usually known for is the live comedy shows that have become part of the city’s incredible live entertainment industry. From October 3rd through the 6th at The Station Comedy Theater, The Trill Comedy Festival will bring improv, sketch, and musical comedy again to its audiences.
Here are details from the press release:
“The 7th Annual Trill Comedy Festival will be held at Station Theater from October 3 through October 6, 2019, headlined by stand-up Vanessa Gonzalez (HBO, Comedy Central) and Los Angeles-based improv troupe White Women, with a cast including comedians Carl Tart (Brooklyn 99, Comedy Bang Bang), Zeke Nicholson (The Good Place, AP Bio), and Ronnie Adrian (Key & Peele, Comedy Bang Bang).
Fifteen performances will be held and feature over 100 performers from seven different cities. Friday’s 8:30 p.m. show, featuring 2018 Contest4Improv4Humans winners Can’t Tell Us Nothing and Hot Hot Pickle – an improv troupe including Rene Gube (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) – doubles as a Pickle Party sponsored by Sugar Land’s Texas Pickle Company. Free samples will be provided. Sunday night’s closing show at 6:30 p.m. will feature an interview with Ernie Manouse of PBS Houston Public Media, with improv scenes based on his stories.
Comedy workshops associated with this year’s Trill Comedy Festival sold out in under 17 hours. Jinya Ramen Bar, Texas Pickle Company, and Saint Arnold Brewing Company will be sponsoring. “
I had the opportunity to interview Roger Anderson, co-owner of Station Theater, and get some insight into the show and direction for the Trill Comedy Festival. His responses are in bold.
For those who aren’t quite sure what an improv/musical/ sketch comedy festival is, how would you explain that to them?
Improv is a unique form of comedy in which performers create scenes and scenarios line by line, having no idea what might happen. We produce over 200 improv shows a year, so for Trill we really try to go all out by including musical acts, sketch groups, and stand ups from across the country.
For being in your seventh year, have you seen the audience growth and support during that time?
The support and enthusiasm from Houston comedy fans has grown exponentially each year. We’re on track for 2019 to be the biggest Trill Comedy Festival yet.
What is the typical age range for the shows?
Most of our audience fall into the 18 – 45 age range, but we see audiences and feature performers of all ages.
Although you have professionals headline or anchor a show, has there ever been a celebrity audience member or guest surprise you?
Houston Rocket’s legend Clyde Drexler was a surprise. At one point iconic film director Rob Reiner attended a show. We keep his chair on display (joking, but only kind of.) The truth is, the comedy community at large is very fun and supportive. You will often see a well known comic headline a show and find yourself singing karaoke with them a couple of hours later.
How is it being a unique part of the Houston entertainment landscape?
We think Houston is the most exciting city in the nation. We love doing what we do, but are also continually in awe of the diverse group of independent artists and creative organizers who are guiding Houston’s entertainment landscape.
About Trill Comedy Festival
Since 2012, Trill Comedy Festival has hosted hundreds of diverse performers, including improvisers, sketch and stand up comedians, performance artists, podcasters, musicians, and more. Past acts include Off Book: The Improvised Musical Podcast, HBO and truTV’s Chris Gethard, 3Peat, and Michelle Wolf of The Daily Show. The event also features workshops by the performers to help up-and-coming and established comedians alike build their skillsets. It takes place at Station Theater (1230 Houston Avenue) every October.
About Station Theater
Station Theater is Houston’s premiere independent comedy theater featuring long form improv, sketch and stand-up comedy shows as well as a comedy conservatory. Station’s offers a full lineup of intelligent and yet often irreverent comedy shows every Thursday through Saturday at 1230 Houston Avenue. Station’s comedy conservatory offers workshops and classes in long form improv and sketch comedy as well as other areas of performance art. Station is available for corporate training programs and private events.
