IMPROVICON 2026
The DMV’s premier improv comedy tournament is back and bigger than ever. Tonight, eight of the region's top improv squads descend upon Herndon to battle for the championship trophy in an all-out, unscripted showdown. We have three secret judges with backgrounds in theatre, comedy, and improv planted in the audience. Their scores will be combined with your votes to decide who will end up being our champion for 2026
...SO PAY ATTENTION!
COMPETITORS
(In order of act 1 performance)
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The Game Plan
Mapping the road to the trophy.
Act 1: Showcase and Community
(approx. 50-60 min)
-MC Intros/Audience Warmup
-Each team will have up to 7 minutes to perform a solo set
-Cooperative "all play" game of Newscast (1 player from each team)
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Intermission
(approx. 15 min)
-Potty Break
-Snacks and drinks available for purchase in the lobby by the HHS Theatre Boosters
-Talk amongst yourselves
Act 2: The Tournament
(approx. 50 min)
-Quarterfinal (8 teams)- Typewriter and Space Jump
-Voting while Herndon High School Improv performs a 5 minute set
-Semifinal (4 teams)-
Da Doo Ron Ron and First Letter/Last Letter
-Voting while stand up comedian Diane Ross a 5 minute set
-Final (2 teams)-
Scene Styles
-Final Vote
-Winner is announced
Info, Rules, and Regs
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The show runs approx. 2 hours (each act is about 55-60 min)
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There is a 15 minute intermission between acts 1 and 2
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There are 3 rounds of voting in act 2 to determine the winner
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The hosts will give you notice when it is time to vote
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The QR Codes to vote are in your programs
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Concessions will be sold by the HHS Theatre Boosters throughout the performance and during intermission
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To streamline the performance, suggestions are being collected from the audience before the show (use the buckets and slips of paper at the front of the stage)
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The order of act 1 (team solos) were drawn at random before the performance
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Anything the hosts deem to be inappropriate for a 12+ aged audience is cause for immediate disqualification of competitors
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Photos and video are permitted and encouraged! We simply ask that you turn your flash off
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Get social with us! @DarkHorseVa #Improvicon
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Photo op: The teams will remain on stage at the end of the show to get a big group picture with the winner and trophy...and yes, that is a golden toilet at the top of the trophy