The Chicago Improv Festival begins their 2010 offerings tonight at the Annoyance Theater in Uptown. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Improv Community: From Chicago to the World!”‚  The festival’s idea was to bring in improv troupes from around the world to play on one stage, here in Chicago - known as the epicenter for improvisational comedy. Unfortunately, Europe may be the epicenter for volcanoes. Due to air travel restrictions from the volcanic ash cloud from the volcano Eyjafjallajokull, several European troupes, including Amsterdam headliner Boom Chicago, are probably out. According to Executive Producer Jonathan Pitts, “We haven’t heard from them (Boom Chicago), so we are working as if they aren’t coming.” This puts a little crimp in the CIF plans. But have no fear, Pitts plans to, um, er, well, improvise. According to Pitts, the groups that did make the event, along with the North American contingency (Mexico, Canada, etc) will work together and create shows as one, as opposed to showcasing groups in individual slots. According to Pitts, “If you’re a fan of NAFTA come to CIF.”

• Tuesday, 8pm Comedy Sportz: For the 1 World, 1 Stage show they will have 3 Mexican improvisers, 4 Portuguese, 1 woman who arrived early from Sweden (so missed the airport cancellations), 2 Native Hawaiians (added), and Chicago improvisers from Comedy Sportz

• Thursday iO Theater: planned “International Night” — of the 5 groups that were going to perform only 2 are able to be here. So, they added a team from Canada. They will have 8:30pm slot, Portugal team, Mexico team and Canada team then 10:30 slot mash ups Portuguese/Reckoning, Mexicans/Cook County

• Marta Borges is the only female improviser in Portugal and is here.‚  Also, a Swedish improviser will also be in attendance, as she flew out before her team to visit friends.

• In the process of asking teams farthest in the U.S. if they want to do an additional show to replace any other holes.