Thank you for your interest in submitting to the 5th Annual Happy Valley XL Improv Festival. This year's festival will take place May 14th - 17th, 2026 in State College, PA -- Home of Penn State University. The submission form is located here.
Submissions close on January 15th, 2026. You can expect decisions by February 15th. Submission fees are listed below:
$25 - Until January 15th, 2026
Please take the time to read the following submission guidelines. These guidelines are modeled after the Countdown Improv Festival that takes place every August in Tampa. We highly suggest you check them out.
Acts We Are Looking For
At this time, we are only accepting improv theatre teams and individuals to perform as part of our festival ensemble. This festival does not have a stand up, sketch, or other category.
When it comes to improv, we accept long-form, short-form, and everything in between. We are looking for fun, community-loving teams who are dedicated to putting up an awesome show AND being supportive of our growing community. While not required, we do encourage all teams to stay and watch as many shows as they can to lift up other teams performing at the festival.
Projected Yield
Our current capacity is 21 teams, and we expect to have at least 60 submissions. This means that if we program the festival to capacity, roughly 1 out of every 3 teams that applies will not be accepted to the festival. There are no plans to increase capacity in 2026 and we may not fill to capacity depending on submissions.
Evaluation Process
All submissions will be judged by the Happy Valley Improv XL Recruitment Committee and includes the Happy Valley Improv Artistic Director Nate Rufo. All submissions will be evaluated once during the month they are submitted and then a second time once all submissions are finalized at the end of January. All teams will be notified one way or the other by February 15th. There will be no feedback given to teams that do not get accepted.
As our festival gains traction, the bar for acceptance rises with the surge in high-quality submissions. While we strive to feature all acts meeting our standards, the reality is that competition is stiffer than ever. So getting a slot this year might be especially challenging.
Also, a heads-up: While a history with our festival is a plus, it won't give you an undue edge this time around. With an anticipated flood of submissions, even seasoned Happy Valley performers might find themselves on the waiting list. We regret any disappointment but it's a possibility worth preparing for.
No Refunds
Festival application fees are non-refundable. Yes, even if you are not accepted.
Festival Ensemble
We’ll have a festival ensemble once again this year! This opportunity is available exclusively for those improvisers who wish to participate in the XL Fest, but do not have an existing team able to travel. Performers will apply as individuals using this application form. We anticipate casting 8-10 improvisers in the 2026 festival ensemble. The ensemble will meet via Zoom to get to know each other prior to the festival and we will provide on-site rehearsal time during the day on Friday.
Set Length
All sets will be between 19 - 23 minutes long. Our well-trained tech will look for an out starting at 19. At 22 minutes, the first laugh gets the lights!
Performance Video
Including a performance video with your submission is crucial. It's the best way for our committee to gauge your act's quality and fit within the festival lineup. Skipping the video could put you at a distinct disadvantage. Please provide a 15-20 minute un-edited recording of the form you plan to perform at the festival (not a highlight reel or compilation).
A COUPLE OF NOTES ON VIDEOS:
Played our stage in 2023-2025? Skip the video, unless you've had major team or show changes.
Video Tips:
Thank you for submitting as a team or individual to this year’s festival! If you submit, you are agreeing to the above guidelines. If you have any questions that weren’t covered here, please email us at [email protected]
Submissions close on January 15th, 2026. You can expect decisions by February 15th. Submission fees are listed below:
$25 - Until January 15th, 2026
Please take the time to read the following submission guidelines. These guidelines are modeled after the Countdown Improv Festival that takes place every August in Tampa. We highly suggest you check them out.
Acts We Are Looking For
At this time, we are only accepting improv theatre teams and individuals to perform as part of our festival ensemble. This festival does not have a stand up, sketch, or other category.
When it comes to improv, we accept long-form, short-form, and everything in between. We are looking for fun, community-loving teams who are dedicated to putting up an awesome show AND being supportive of our growing community. While not required, we do encourage all teams to stay and watch as many shows as they can to lift up other teams performing at the festival.
Projected Yield
Our current capacity is 21 teams, and we expect to have at least 60 submissions. This means that if we program the festival to capacity, roughly 1 out of every 3 teams that applies will not be accepted to the festival. There are no plans to increase capacity in 2026 and we may not fill to capacity depending on submissions.
Evaluation Process
All submissions will be judged by the Happy Valley Improv XL Recruitment Committee and includes the Happy Valley Improv Artistic Director Nate Rufo. All submissions will be evaluated once during the month they are submitted and then a second time once all submissions are finalized at the end of January. All teams will be notified one way or the other by February 15th. There will be no feedback given to teams that do not get accepted.
As our festival gains traction, the bar for acceptance rises with the surge in high-quality submissions. While we strive to feature all acts meeting our standards, the reality is that competition is stiffer than ever. So getting a slot this year might be especially challenging.
Also, a heads-up: While a history with our festival is a plus, it won't give you an undue edge this time around. With an anticipated flood of submissions, even seasoned Happy Valley performers might find themselves on the waiting list. We regret any disappointment but it's a possibility worth preparing for.
No Refunds
Festival application fees are non-refundable. Yes, even if you are not accepted.
Festival Ensemble
We’ll have a festival ensemble once again this year! This opportunity is available exclusively for those improvisers who wish to participate in the XL Fest, but do not have an existing team able to travel. Performers will apply as individuals using this application form. We anticipate casting 8-10 improvisers in the 2026 festival ensemble. The ensemble will meet via Zoom to get to know each other prior to the festival and we will provide on-site rehearsal time during the day on Friday.
Set Length
All sets will be between 19 - 23 minutes long. Our well-trained tech will look for an out starting at 19. At 22 minutes, the first laugh gets the lights!
Performance Video
Including a performance video with your submission is crucial. It's the best way for our committee to gauge your act's quality and fit within the festival lineup. Skipping the video could put you at a distinct disadvantage. Please provide a 15-20 minute un-edited recording of the form you plan to perform at the festival (not a highlight reel or compilation).
A COUPLE OF NOTES ON VIDEOS:
Played our stage in 2023-2025? Skip the video, unless you've had major team or show changes.
Video Tips:
- Choose the video that screams "this is us!" and the show you're pumped to perform.
- Pre-check video and sound quality. Bad production values make evaluation tricky.
- Feature your full cast in the video; we want the real-deal preview.
Thank you for submitting as a team or individual to this year’s festival! If you submit, you are agreeing to the above guidelines. If you have any questions that weren’t covered here, please email us at [email protected]