Skinny Improv celebrates new theater this weekend

The improvisation comedy group recently moved its theater to 301 Park Central East, the former Adult Tendercare building, from the Holland Building basement on Park Central Square. The newly renovated location is 5,600 square feet – nearly double the group’s previous theater space – and has 215 seats, compared to 150 seats before. It also features a larger lobby, larger restrooms and improved views for all seating areas.

The Skinny Improv’s regular main-stage show will take place as usual at 7:30 tonight and Saturday night.

Additional events this weekend include a 10 p.m. showing tonight of Improv Sportz, a competitive style of improvisation where the audience awards points to two teams of performers. Tickets are $5.

Springfield Playhouse will perform its production of “Rumplestiltskin” for children at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5.

At 10 p.m. Saturday, the three-man show The Trifecta, featuring Skinny Improv Artistic Director Jeff Jenkins, Jeff Houghton and Nick Semar, will perform. During the show, the audience suggests a word that the performers use to build characters and themes.

Since it opened in 2002, The Skinny Improv has performed nearly 1,000 shows for about 90,000 people, more than 17,000 of which attended last year.