Matt& is an improv comedy show starring Matt Holmes and an audience member.
Nothing is planned; it's all made up as you're watching it, based on something yelled out by the crowd. Every performance is different. One member of the audience winds up on stage and in the show.
The show features musical accompaniment, lighting, and sound effects; all also improvised.
Since 2008, Matt& has performed at:
- improv theatres like Philly Improv Theater & ComedySportz Philly
- international festivals like Chicago Improv Festival, Toronto Improv Festival, Duofest, Baltimore Improv Festival, Philadelphia Improv Festival, Bethlehem's Steelstacks Improv Comedy Festival, & UCB's Del Close Marathon
- local festivals like Philly Fringe & Black Friday Comedy Marathon
- college festivals like the Oberlin Improv Conference, Penn State's RAWR! Improv Festival, & U Delaware's DISCO Festival
- guest residencies at Pittsburgh's Arcade Comedy Theatre & with Ohio University Improv
- guest spots in Minneapolis at Brave New Workshop & HUGE Improv Theater, in Utah with Mission:Improvable, & in Atlanta at Relapse Theatre & Basement Theatre
Matt Holmes has been improvising since 1998 and:
- ran a weekly short-form show that appeared at Skidmore College's National College Comedy Festival
- co-founded the seminal Rare Bird Show in 2003 ("arguably the best" -AV Club)
- directed Philly Improv Theater house team Hey Rube (voted "Best New Team")
- performed in an all‑audio improv show in the dark, an improv Royal Rumble, & an mp3‑infused improv project that was crowned grand champion of the 3‑on‑3 improv competition, Troika
- taught at PHIT Comedy, Philadelphia School of Improv, Liberty Improv Theater, & at national improv festivals like the North Carolina Comedy Festival
- coached improv groups & instructors
- led corporate improv workshops
- taught improv at retirement communities & elementary schools
- worked with improv groups from:
- Yale, Penn, and Lehigh
- Haverford College, Albright College, & Bucks County Community College
- Renaissance Academy Phoenixville & North Penn High School
Matt performs a full improv comedy set with a complete stranger from the audience in Matt&.