If you've ever thought about giving improv comedy a try (either as an onlooker or participant), the 5th annual Twin Cities Improv Festival is a good place to start. The four-day fest is already under way, but there are a lot of shows left.

This year, the Improv Fest moves to its new home at Huge Improv Theater at LynLake. Huge, which opened in December, is the Twin Cities' first performance space dedicated entirely to long-form improvisational comedy. Long-form is not what you see on TV's "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" Instead of short sketches, this style of improv lasts over an entire show. It's basically live theater.

The fest features several shows a day, each performed by improvisers from all over the country. What to expect? Saturday includes a show called "Rap-sody!", where the performers will take an audience suggestion and then explore it through a series of improvised scenes using hip-hop songs.

View the show schedule here. If you want to get in on the act, read about the workshops here.

Details: Shows start 7 p.m. Fri., 6 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Huge Theater, 3037 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls. $10 each show. www.twincitiesimprovfestival.com.

(Photo by Marlin Levison)