Hello everyone,
This was a very successful 2024 Secret City Improv Comedy Festival. I want to say thank you first and foremost to everyone who came out, and everyone who bought tickets. This year was a record-breaking online ticket sale period. This was also a year that saw larger audiences than years before. We saw strong ticket sales at the door also. That is encouraging, and this shows that this festival is a welcoming event for people of all ages, beliefs, and walks of life.
This year we welcomed a whole host of new performers for their first trip to Oak Ridge, and we welcomed back teams that have been on our stage before. In total, we saw 15 new teams with 8 teams returning. Teams came from a record-breaking 12 states representing 16 cities. We welcomed over 75 performers and saw the return of the Slayden Intensives welcomed groups from Hardin Valley Academy of Knoxville and the Knoxville Area Homeschoolers.
To address the elephant in the room we held the festival during all of the Hurricane Helene mess. This would affect two of our teams that were not able to perform. The good news is that I have spoken with both teams, and everyone is safe and sound. True Story Improv from Pensacola, FL reported back that they were all safe after the storm. The other team affected was Blue Plate Special from Greenville, TN. They were the most deeply affected team with major damage from the flooding from the Nolichucky River. I am very proud of our community, who raised $400, that we could send to members of Blue Plate Special who were affected by the flooding. The generosity displayed is incredibly wonderful, and we did that in just one show block. Our hearts and thoughts go out to everyone affected by the storm, and the festival has also used part of our profits from this year’s festival to contribute to further ongoing relief efforts in Tennessee and North Carolina. If you want to donate my personal recommendation is to give to the American Red Cross at https://www.redcross.org/donate/dr/hurricane-helene.html/.
The Secret City Improv Comedy Festival would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, TNBank, Mike Massaglia State Farm, Caliber Collision, Pinnacle Financial Group, Food City, DoubleTree Oak Ridge-Knoxville, and Calamity’s Coffee. We also thank our program advertisers this year New York Life agent Alyssa Ip, Razzleberry’s Ice Cream, Oak Ridge Floral, Oak Ridge Utility District, Hong’s Asian Bistro, Jefferson Soda Fountain, and Jefferson Compounding Pharmacy, Gaia’s Wisdom, Brysonn’s Closet and East Tennessee Ear, Nose, Throat and Allergy Specialists. Without their generous support, there is no way this festival would be possible, and we are deeply appreciative of our growing network of supporters.
I would like to thank our home for the last 4 years, The Historic Grove Theater, for their love and support for our festival. This historic theater is such a special place because it is an open home for everyone. We see hundreds of groups each year who showcase their passion and art on our stage from the worlds of dance, music, theater, and more. In our 80th anniversary year, we are doing some major fundraising and if you would like to contribute to our theater please visit https://secure.givelively.org/donate/friends-of-the-grove-theatre-inc/the-historic-grove-theater-birthday-celebration. We have matching funds so every dollar you contribute will be matched. That doubles your impact with us.
I would be completely remiss if I didn’t thank the team who helped make this festival happen. First I want to thank Ed and Betsy Blumberg. Ed is our technical director, and he is the person who makes sure that there is a video of our festival. Ed came on board last year, and he has transformed our ability to bring this festival and the wonderful performances to the world. Betsy also came on board last year. She worked in our tech booth last year, but she took on managing our front of the house. Betsy did a wonderful job and she kept the front of the house running as smooth as silk. I can not thank her enough for her incredible work. Taylor Wingerter is not just a talented performer, but she also rose to the occasion to help Betsy in the front of the house. When you are in Knoxville be sure to catch Pretend Friends Improv on stage they are a great team to watch. I need to really thank Bethany Lemons for her work managing the back of the house. She was the one in charge of getting teams on and off the stage, and she delivered in doing that effectively. I am so incredibly thrilled that Bethany was part of the team this year because she kept everything running smoothly for everyone. Michael Ray was a new addition to the festival this year. His magic on the piano really brought so much dimension and depth. I thank our former musical director, Nick Horner, for bringing us Michael to be our musical director. Finally, I want to give a big thanks to Paul Simmons. This year was a year of technical glitches and issues all day Friday. Eventually that worked itself out, but it also left me in a position where I had a choice: delay the show or have a trusted and seasoned veteran open the show and keep us on track. Paul answered that call and did an amazing job getting the show underway for us. Paul also hosted the Slayden Intensives for the third year and what a fun show for the students who graced our stage. Be sure to visit Scruffy City Hall on Tuesday nights and catch Einstein Simplified to watch Paul do his thing on stage.
I want to also give a word of appreciation for the performers of Harpoon! (Aaron Garrett, Steven Saltzman & Tommy Spears) and Cumberland Striptease from the University of Tennessee. Cumberland Striptease taught our free workshop at the Oak Ridge Public Library. Then they also stepped up and gave a wonderful performance during the festival. They were not credited for their performance in the program nor on any promotional materials because they were a last-second addition all the way around. I am very appreciative of everyone from Cumberland Striptease for their generosity and enthusiasm this year. It was a complete happenstance that Harpoon! Was on our stage this year. With the emergency that arose for Blue Plate Special the members of Harpoon! Were there and offered to take the spot to keep the show on track. I can’t tell you how much that means and what a great family the world of improv really is.
I also need to thank Julie Forkner and the entire staff of the Oak Ridge Public Library. This is the first year we had an away game from our home theater. The idea for Improv at the Library was really just one of “Why not ask and see?” The worst they can say is no. We had Hitchhikers and Appetizers on the lineup and with their show being literary focused and in the universe of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy I thought the library would be perfect. I had no idea if the library would be welcoming to this hair-brained idea and to my relief they were. We were able to take the festival out to the public and make it accessible to everyone. Thank you everyone at the Oak Ridge Public Library!
Before I close this letter I want to express my deepest gratitude to our performers. This festival is a performers’ festival, and it means a lot to be able to showcase your talent on this stage. I love the magic that everyone brings and their energy and love of this thing known as Improv is palpable and contagious. I loved the huge variety of styles, methods, and energies that were brought by teams who are seasoned and those making their festival debut with our festival this year. It is incredibly special to have all of the moments of pure magic that happen in an improv show. To have that delivered 26 times in just 48 hours is inspiring. It is because of you my fellow performers that this festival persists and returns year by year. Without you my fellow performers there would be no festival, and I am thankful there is a festival. Thank you!
Until next year,
Aaron Campbell
Director, Secret City Improv Festival