Travel Information

What venue(s) will be a part of the festival?

The festival will be held at the Contemporary Theater Company in Wakefield, RI. The theater seats approximately 100, has a full bar and air conditioning! Family show formats and the Duo Bracket Challenge will be featured on the theater's Performance Patio adjacent to building. Both the theater and the performance patio are fully wheelchair accessible.

Workshops will take place at the theater, in the adjacent rehearsal studio, and at local places around town (all within easy walking distance, and also accessible).

We are located in Wakefield, Rhode Island in beautiful South County.

Driving: We are 20 minutes off of I-95 at 327 Main Street, Wakefield, RI 02879.

Train: Kingston Station on the Northeast Corridor of Amtrak is 15 minutes from the theater. Wickford Station on the commuter rail from Boston is 15 minutes from the theater. We will have transportation from the stations available if you let us know your arrival time.

Air: Providence T.F. Green Airport is half an hour from the theater, and Boston Logan Airport is an hour and a half from the theater. We will have transportation from the airports available if you let us know your arrival time.

*We may have a slightly harder time getting you a ride if you arrive during showtimes, since all our drivers want to be there!


What transportation options are available?

We will provide transportation to and from the local train stations and the Providence Airport! It is easy to reach the local train stations from the Boston Airport either on Amtrak (Kingston Station) or Commuter Rail (Wickford Station).

We can help get festival participants discounted bike rentals. There is a bike path that runs right next to the theater and is a great way to get around town.

The local bus system (RIPTA) has a stop mere steps from the theater and can connect you with Providence, Kingston, and other places across the state.

Rides with hosts can usually be arranged for homestay. Several of the homestay options are within walking distance of the theater!

Group outings will have transportation arranged to awesome places across the state!


What dining options are available?

There are lots of reasonably-priced dining options ($5-$20) in the Downtown area surrounding the theater. At the end of each night after the shows there will be a party at a local restaurant!

On workshop days (Thursday-Sunday) there will be breakfast (bagels, fruit, etc) available at the theater before the first workshop, and workshop participants can order lunch in the morning from a local restaurant that will be ready at the end of the first workshop.

On Sunday during the final party and Duo Bracket Challenge, there will be a potluck and beer from a local brewery, Whalers Brewing Co.


What local events or attractions are available?

Southern Rhode Island is a beautiful and exciting area, and June is the perfect time to enjoy it! There will be a few planned group outings (depending on interest) like trips to some of the dozens of local beaches, kayaking and paddle boarding, mini-golf, hiking and bird watching, and other exciting trips around the great Ocean State!

We can also get you discounts on bike rental. There is a lovely bike path that passes by the theater, and leads to Narragansett Beach, making for a great afternoon ride.

Festival Information

How much stage time will performers receive?

Troupes will receive a set between 20 and 30 minutes in length. Some troupes may receive two sets, but this is not guaranteed.

There are several other performance opportunities at the festival. Over the course of the festival, performers are encouraged to form a new duo with someone from another troupe to compete in the Sunday Duo Bracket Challenge. There are also three shows that will draw their ensemble from across the festival and various troupes: Gorilla, Micetro (Maestro), and Theatresports.

There are several workshops offered that will have showcase performances in the festival as well.


What is the range of shows and styles the festival is seeking?

The festival welcomes all groups to apply, but we are particularly interested in having performances with a theatrical/narrative bent! At the first two years of the Ocean State Improv Festival, we had troupes of a wide variety of styles, so we are open to anything.

There are also spots specifically devoted to family show formats geared toward kids and their parents!


What is the local improv scene like?

The improv scene in Rhode Island is ever-expanding! The Contemporary Theater Company performs several International Theatresports Institute formats - Micetro (also known as Maestro), Theatresports, and Gorilla! Much of our teaching and performing is based on the Keith Johnstone style, focusing on narrative, positivity, and theatricality. We perform several full-length improvised plays a year (murder mysteries, farces, musicals, etc.) as our improv program continues to expand! Guests from across the world have performed and taught at the CTC in the last several years, so our audiences are always welcoming of something new and exciting!


What are the festival's goals?

A major goal of the festival is to create a community feeling among performers, teachers, and students. Workshops are a focus of the festival, and it is our hope that everyone can come away from the festival with new skills, new friends, and new perspectives!