Twin Cities' improv fans are in for a treat this summer with Brave New Workshop's Battle of the Improv All-Stars, directed and, for the opening night performance at least, hosted by Caleb McEwen. The concept is a competitive improv match in two acts, pitting four experienced improvisors against each other in a series of short-form games and scenes, with McEwen joining in for a long-form montage near the finale. Audience members are asked to use their phones to vote for their favorite performer after every round via a QR code poll. The result is a live performance similar to the improvised television show, "Whose Line is it Anyway?," complete with McEwen messing with the final tally throughout the evening, a la Drew Carey's frequent phrase on that program, "The points don't matter."

Opening night competitors included Erin Kennedy, Doug Neithercott, Katy McEwen, and Richie McLarn along with music director Jon Pumper and technical director Matthew Vichlach. While less familiar to Brave New Workshop audiences, Kennedy and McLarn shared an easy chemistry with Neithercott and McEwen. The Brave New Workshop has presented "improv only" productions for a couple summers now, giving newer performers a chance to play while no doubt giving regular cast members a much needed summer break. This can result in some uneven matchups; in one performance I saw a couple summers ago, the newer performers appeared nervous and struggled to listen in scenes, deflating some of the comedy.

Cast members on opening night were on their game, with relative newcomer McLarn being declared the winner (his prize: an item from Caleb and Katy McEwens' last garage sale that didn't sell). Host Caleb McEwen reiterated several times throughout the evening that there was no way his wife would be winning because he wants these "prizes" out of his house. With Caleb McEwen as the resident director at the Brave New Workshop, there were some hosting moments opening night that gave us a little insight into his directing. When in one scene McLarn posed an unhelpful question to Katy McEwen's senator referencing "the thing," Caleb McEwen roasted him for his lack of specificity and docked him 10 points.

Improvisors competing is nothing new (in addition to "Whose Line," ComedySportz is an international improvisational comedy organization with a Twin Cities division formed on this very concept), but due to the collaborative nature of the art form, the competition aspect is part of the joke. The four performers on opening night supported each other in their scenes and came up with some witty references and retorts in their games (McLarn brought back his "thing" line to uproarious audience response). While lacking the biting and often political satire that keeps me coming back to the Brave New Workshop, Battle of the Improv All-Stars is light, fast-paced and fun, an enjoyable evening to watch some of the Twin Cities' best improvisors at the top of their game.

Battle of the Improv All-Stars, a Brave New Workshop production, runs through August 2, 2025, at Dudley Riggs Theatre, 824 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis MN. For tickets and information, please call 612-339-7007 or visit hennepinarts.org.