Battle Improv

Like people, improv scenes are special little snowflakes. Ideas that spring from the collective mind of troupes such as Babel Fish, Tantrum, Improv-Abilities and the Trip Fives are likely to be concepts that nobody ever put together in just the same way. This year’s Kansas City Improv Festival is all about this moment of reckless creation. Starting tonight, the metro’s best improvisers will conceive new comic life; Friday and Saturday, they’ll be joined in their spawning by national acts with a local connection, such as Der Monkenpickel, featuring Jason Sudeikis of 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live. (Der Monkenpickel performs Saturday.) Up tonight: local stalwarts Counter Clockwise Comedy, the Roving Imp, and Lawrence’s Those People. Thursday features a face-off by past participants of the popular Improv Thunderdome. All shows start at 7 p.m. at the Off Center Theatre in Crown Center (2450 Grand). For tickets, call 816-842-9999; for a full schedule, see kcimprov.com/festival.

Wed., Sept. 9, 7 p.m.; Thu., Sept. 10, 7 p.m.; Fri., Sept. 11, 7 p.m.; Sat., Sept. 12, 7 p.m., 2009