Happy Valley Improv Hosts 5th Annual XL Improv Festival

For the fifth year in a row, the XL Improv Festival is coming to State College, and bringing with it comedy performers and fans alike from all over the country. 

From Thursday, May 14 through Sunday, May 17 at the Blue Brick Theatre, Happy Valley Improv hosts a series of workshops, in addition to 12 shows and special events throughout Centre County.

“We are so excited to be celebrating the 5th year of XL Fest,” said Michaela Henry, Happy Valley Improv youth director, company member and XL Fest co-organizer. “We’re the first major summer festival in Happy Valley, and it’s an incredible opportunity to bring new visitors and artists to the area to celebrate the best of Centre County while getting to see some spectacular improv.” 

The workshops are led by experienced improvisers, each bringing a variety of experience and different perspectives to the festival: Shulie Cowen (Los Angeles), Navaris Dawson (Atlanta), Karla Dingle (Charlotte), Elana Fishbein (New York) and Colin Thornton (Cincinnati). The workshops cover various topics, such as bringing depth to characters, exploring the “why” of improv and basics of musical improv.

In addition to the workshops, the Blue Brick Theatre will also host 12 shows over the course of three nights, featuring acts from Baltimore, Cleveland, San Diego and Boise, Idaho, as well as regional acts from Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and here in Centre County. More than 80 improv groups and individuals applied to perform at XL Fest 2026, a nearly 60% increase year-over-year. 

Attendees can look forward to a blend of iconic local experiences during the festival, with tours of Penn State’s campus, coffee and lunch stops throughout State College’s downtown district, and visits to the Berkey Creamery, The Arboretum at Penn State and Palmer Art Museum. 

Happy Valley Improv is still recruiting sponsorships for the festival, helping to offset the cost of various aspects of the festival while getting benefits like logo placement in posters, social media and email campaigns and the opportunity to share merchandise with festival participants and audience members. Now in its second year, individuals can also become a “Friend of the Fest” for $55.55, which includes social media shoutouts as well as the chance to win prizes. 

Interested improvisers, potential sponsors and audience members can learn more at happyvalleyimprov.com/xlfest.html to sign up for workshops and buy show tickets. The XL Festival is made possible in part by a tourism grant through The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and the Centre County Commissioners and presenting sponsor Hyatt Place State College.