Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA. December 16, 2025 – ArtsQuest is gearing up for the 13th Annual SteelStacks Improv Comedy Festival on Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24. The two-day marathon of spontaneous hilarity featuring improvisational teams from across the country and around the world delivers nonstop, high-energy comedy – once the shows begin each day, the laughter doesn’t stop until the final act.
The Friday headliner will be Connor Ratliff presents The Acting Class and the Saturday headliner will be Opening Night: The Improvised Musical! Check back soon for updates about this year’s lineup, workshops and more.
Connor Ratliff presents The Acting Class is a one-person improv show disguised as an acting class, from the creator of the Dead Eyes podcast.
Opening Night: The Improvised Musical is exactly that: a Broadway-style musical that is made up on the spot, based on audience suggestions. So every night is the ‘Opening Night’ of a musical that has never been seen.
Saturday’s post-headliner, Barko, brings calculated slapstick improv to the stage. Award-winning physical theater artist Nick Gillette, martial artist/philosopher Pim Van and polymath clown/writer Sam Miller find the humor in the everyday parts of our daily routines.
In addition to these spotlight performances, the festival will feature a lineup of 39 improv teams representing the Lehigh Valley, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Chicago, Pittsburgh and more!
Two-day passes and single-day passes are available now at ArtsQuest.org. Attendees ages 13-17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Whether you’re a comedy aficionado or simply love to laugh, the SteelStacks Improv Comedy Festival promises unpredictable fun and unforgettable performances that celebrate the art of improvisation.
For full festival schedules, ticketing details and more, visit https://www.artsquest.org/festivals/more-festivals-and-experiences/steelstacks-improv-comedy-festival/.
About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences, using arts and culture as drivers of economic development in our urban communities. ArtsQuest supports this mission through performing and visual arts, film, arts education and outreach, youth programming and a wide range of cultural events, anchored by signature venues and initiatives including its flagship event, Musikfest; the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL, a centerpiece for the Valley’s artistic communities; the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks; and the LVHN, part of Jefferson Health Turn & Grind Shop, an adaptive reuse project expanding space for programming, festivals, private events and nationally touring exhibits. ArtsQuest welcomes more than 1.9 million people annually, with nearly 40 percent of its programs free to attend, generating a regional economic impact of more than $143 million annually. ArtsQuest’s Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign supports the continued growth of its mission to make the arts accessible for all.