Impro Theatre headlines the 14th annual Sarasota Improv Festival

So you thought "Hamilton" was the hottest ticket in town? Think again. 

It's hard to quantify buzz, but the 14th annual Sarasota Improv Festival ranks as one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. Last year's festival, which returned in real life after a four-year hiatus, sold out almost immediately.

This year's Sarasota Improv Festival is scheduled for Friday, July 12, through Saturday, July 13, at Florida Studio Theatre's downtown campus. Festival passes are $75 for two days, $59 for Saturday and $49 for Friday.  

Individual tickets cost $10 each. 

Headlining this year's festival is Impro Theatre, a Los Angeles-based group that creates full-length plays inspired by the world's greatest playwrights, but on the fly. This will be Impro Theatre's second time at the Sarasota Improv Festival.

Also returning to the festival are fan favorites Available Cupholders (Austin, Texas, and Los Angeles), Big Bang Improv (Boston, Sarasota and New York City), Dad's Garage (Atlanta), Parallelogramophonograph (Austin), North Coast (New York City) and FST's own resident troupe, FST Improv. 

Founded by FST Managing Director Rebecca Hopkins in 2009, the Sarasota Improv Festival will feature 16 improv troupes from across the country and as far as Chile, where Lospleimovil hails from. The improv group is making its festival debut this year.

"We are thrilled to be welcoming artists and audiences back to FST for this beloved festival," says Will Luera, FST director of improvisation. "This event is so special and distinctive, not just to the Sarasota community, but within the larger improvisational world on a national scale. It's truly become a destination event."

In addition to 26 performances, workshops will be led by festival artists on Saturday, July 13. Workshop tickets go on sale May 24. 

The festival will close with its traditional finale, "All Play," where more than 80 festival artists jam themselves onto FST's Gompertz Theatre stage for an unscripted show packed full of fun.

For more information, visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.