The Nestival: Comedy + Arts Festival

Mar 29 - Apr 13, 2024

Presented by The Nest Theatre

The Nestival: Comedy + Arts Festival
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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 Dual Duel SEMIS & FINALS 3/29 7:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 defrancisCo & Round Robin 3/29 9:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 KISMET – immersive theatre + experiential art (3.30 730 show)

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 KISMET – immersive theatre + experiential art (3.30 930 show)

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 Stand-Up Surprise 4/4 7pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/4 8:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/5 7:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/5 9:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/6 7:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/6 9:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 ZACH ZIMMERMAN 4/11 7pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/11 8:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/12 7:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/12 9:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/13 7:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/13 9:30pm

March 28-April 13, 2024

This April, the Nestival Festival will be hosting teams from all over the nation in our space presenting their shows to improv lovers in Ohio! The festival shows will run Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings on TWO SEPARATE WEEKENDS, with workshops offered each weekend (for visiting performers and Nest Grads). Everything will be hosted inside our beautiful, hip space – right on High St in Old North Columbus/Clintonville!

The Nest Theatre opened in late 2016, and has been incredibly received by the general public and the artistic community. The Nest and Nest shows have been featured in the following media: NPR’s All Things Considered, Columbus Underground, 614 Magazine, Kool 101.7 FM, Experience Columbus, The Lantern, Columbus Moms Blog, Craft The Show, What’s The Deal with Creativity?, Columbus Alive, The Reader, The Sun-Times, The Chicago Tribune, and a giant cover story on the beloved Columbus Dispatch and big feature in Columbus Monthly Magazine! The theatre is the only dedicated space in central Ohio for improv|sketch comedy|experimental theatre|standup|alt comedy, and hosts flagship shows & formal training center with Core Curriculum and Bliss Path Electives, an idea designed and led by two world-renowned performers and instructors in the artform – Tara DeFrancisco & Rance Rizzutto. The faculty is knowledgeable and welcoming – whether an instructor, house manager, or coach. The Nest community itself is loving, ethical, welcoming, artistically thriving, and fun. Want to know more about The Nest and regular shows/classes? Head to nesttheatre.com!

Nestivals 2017, 2018, 2019 were awesome – we worked hard to be one of the only festivals bringing working artists to our city by giving small compensation + gifts to all participating teams. In 2020, instead of cancelling during a horrible time for artists, we pivoted quickly and went forward with a virtual festival, making The Nest’s Nestival the *first virtual improvisation festival* in the world! We had a fantastic three-weekend resurgence in 2023 to make up for lost years. Now, at our sixth Nestival in 2024 – we’re bringing in heavy hitters! We built out our beloved new home during lockdown over the course of 2 years, and opened to modified seating in bursts in 2021-2022. Since the 2023 Nestival, we’ve’ even added two more performance rooms! The Bluebird Studio, a cozy little space for more intimate shows, and just this year, The Birdhouse. Right upstairs and full of experimental art. Join us for what is sure to be the biggest, funniest lovefest in Ohio – celebrating some of the greatest performers in the Midwest and USA!

The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 Dual Duel SEMIS & FINALS 3/29 7:30pm - Performance

Fri, Mar 29

Dual Duel SEMIS & FINALS 3/29 7:30pm $15 online*/ $20 at the door if not sold out Ages 16+ Week 1 of the Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival! A delightful three-weekend mix of local and national sketch, stand-up, and improv! A contest of Duos! The remaining Duos will compete for your votes in hopes that they will win…THE DUAL DUEL FINALS! Tonight’s Competitors: …we shall see! Tickets will go live once all teams have been decided. This will be LIVE at our 2643 N High St location *The Nest Theatre is now a cashless operation. Payment will be handled by card, or exact change. Thanks!

The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 defrancisCo & Round Robin 3/29 9:30pm - Performance

Fri, Mar 29

JAMplification with defrancisCo & Round Robin 3/29 9:30pm *$10 at the door Ages 16+ Only Week 1 of the Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival! A delightful three-weekend mix of local and national sketch, stand-up, and improv! JAMplification is a rotational event featuring under-amplified performers…and this time, ANYONE! This month – it’s defrancisCo & Round Robin!

The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 KISMET – immersive theatre + experiential art (3.30 730 show) - Performance

Sat, Mar 30

KISMET – Immersive Theatre + Experiential Art 3/30 Doors + Drinks begin at 7pm / Show starts at 730pm $16 online*/ $20 at the door if not sold out Ages 16+ only Week 1 of the Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival! A delightful three-weekend mix of local and national sketch, stand-up, and improv! Part scripted, part improvisation. Part drama, part comedy. All punk as hell. A late night show that feels more like a collective; The cast of Kismet has scripted the pieces for the evening. YOU choose the order, the rest is Kismet. If you were at the first run shows of 2/17, 2/24, 3/2 – anywhere from 6-9 pieces will be brand new for 3/30 shows. Kismet cast is Hilary Buchanan, Melissa Curley, Tara DeFrancisco, Bryan Murphy, Rance Rizzutto, Cady Roess, Matt Schwartz, and Alexx Stanton. This will be LIVE at the new BIRDHOUSE Stage + Speakeasy in the Nest art complex – 2649 N High St location! Entrance is off the back parking lot. We strongly recommend arriving just after doors open between 7-720pm to this show to choose your seat.

The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 KISMET – immersive theatre + experiential art (3.30 930 show) - Performance

Sat, Mar 30

KISMET – Immersive Theatre + Experiential Art 3/30 Doors + Drinks begin at 9pm / Show starts at 930pm $16 online*/ $20 at the door if not sold out Ages 16+ only Week 1 of the Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival! A delightful three-weekend mix of local and national sketch, stand-up, and improv! Part scripted, part improvisation. Part drama, part comedy. All punk as hell. A late night show that feels more like a collective; The cast of Kismet has scripted the pieces for the evening. YOU choose the order, the rest is Kismet. If you were at the first run – 2/17, 2/24, 3/2 – 4 to 9 pieces will be brand new this evening. Kismet cast is Hilary Buchanan, Melissa Curley, Tara DeFrancisco, Bryan Murphy, Rance Rizzutto, Cady Roess, Matt Schwartz, and Alexx Stanton. This will be LIVE at our new space The Birdhouse Stage + Speakeasy @ 2649 N High St location! This space is up one flight of stairs in our new Nest art complex, next door to Nest Mainstage + Bluebird Studio spaces at 2643 N. High. We strongly recommend arriving for doors & drinks between 9-915pm; Doors to the show will shut at 930pm.

The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 Stand-Up Surprise 4/4 7pm - Performance

Thu, Apr 4

Stand-Up Surprise 4/4 7pm Tickets $10* (or $1 if you are a comic entering the lotto) Ages 16+ (please note doors & drinks on this night begin at 630pm, show at 7pm) Week 2 of the Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival! A delightful three-weekend mix of local and national sketch, stand-up, and improv! Part Stand-Up, part open mic, all FUN! This stand-up show features scheduled comedians AND a SURPRISE lottery draw of other attending comics hoping to get a few minutes to test their material in front of a crowd! **COMICS!** If you want to be put in the pool for the random slot, purchase the COMICS ONLY ticket. This will put you on the list AND you must pre-buy to get on the list. One ticket per person per order. Come on out. Support. Enjoy! This will be LIVE at our 2643 N High St location The Nest Theatre is now a cashless operation. Payment will be handled by card, or exact change. Thanks!

The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/4 8:30pm - Performance

Thu, Apr 4

The Nestival Comedy+Arts Festival 4/4 8:30pm $13 online*/ $15 at the door if not sold out Ages 16+ Week 2 of the Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival! A delightful three-weekend mix of local and national sketch, stand-up, and improv! This is our 6th Nestival, woo hoo! TONIGHT! Three lovely Ohio teams will be performing improv…JUST FOR YOU! Meat Fish Produce (local indie team), Porch Cats (Cleveland, OH) and Skoora (Nest indie-CBus, OH)! This will be LIVE at our 2643 N High St location *The Nest Theatre is now a cashless operation. Payment will be handled by card, or exact change. Thanks!

The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/5 7:30pm - Performance

Fri, Apr 5

The Nestival Comedy+Arts Festival 4/5 7:30pm $18 online*/ $20 at the door if not sold out Ages 16+ Week 2 of the Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival! A delightful three-weekend mix of local and national sketch, stand-up, and improv! This is our 6th Nestival, woo hoo! TONIGHT! Two major performances! David & Marlene (Miami, FL) and Anonymous: Your Secrets, Our Show (Nest Team-CBus, OH)! This will be LIVE at our 2643 N High St location *The Nest Theatre is now a cashless operation. Payment will be handled by card, or exact change. Thanks!

The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/5 9:30pm - Performance

Fri, Apr 5

The Nestival Comedy+Arts Festival 4/5 9:30pm $15 online*/ $18 at the door if not sold out Ages 16+ Week 2 of the Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival! A delightful three-weekend mix of local and national sketch, stand-up, and improv! This is our 6th Nestival, woo hoo! TONIGHT! Two fantastic local improv teams! Donut Sundae (indie team-CBus, OH) and Storyteller Improv (Nest Team-CBus, OH)! This will be LIVE at our 2643 N High St location *The Nest Theatre is now a cashless operation. Payment will be handled by card, or exact change. Thanks!

The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/6 7:30pm - Performance

Sat, Apr 6

The Nestival Comedy+Arts Festival 4/6 7:30pm $15 online*/ $18 at the door if not sold out Ages 16+ Week 2 of the Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival! A delightful three-weekend mix of local and national sketch, stand-up, and improv! This is our 6th Nestival, woo hoo! TONIGHT! Two fantastic improv teams! Hive (Nest Team-CBus, OH) and Dudesical (Duo Improv Musical-Indianapolis, IN)! This will be LIVE at our 2643 N High St location *The Nest Theatre is now a cashless operation. Payment will be handled by card, or exact change. Thanks!

The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/6 9:30pm - Performance

Sat, Apr 6

The Nestival Comedy+Arts Festival 4/6 9:30pm $15 online*/ $18 at the door if not sold out Ages 16+ Week 2 of the Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival! A delightful three-weekend mix of local and national sketch, stand-up, and improv! This is our 6th Nestival, woo hoo! TONIGHT! Three amazing acts! Justin Jensen (Stand-Up – CBus, OH), The Grown-Ups (Oklahoma City, OK) and Commando Improv (Nest Team-CBus, OH)! This will be LIVE at our 2643 N High St location *The Nest Theatre is now a cashless operation. Payment will be handled by card, or exact change. Thanks!

The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 ZACH ZIMMERMAN 4/11 7pm - Performance

Thu, Apr 11

Zach Zimmerman @ The Nest Mainstage Tickets $25-30 Doors & Drinks 630pm, Show at 7pm; Ages 16+ Week 3 of the Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival! A delightful three-weekend mix of local and national sketch, stand-up, and improv! Zach Zimmerman is a comedian and writer who was recently named a 2023 Vulture Comedian You Should and Will Know. A regular at the Comedy Cellar, Zach has appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, and Zach’s first comedy album “Clean Comedy” debut on the Billboard Top 10. Zach’s writing has been published in The New Yorker, McSweeney’s, and The Washington Post; and Zach’s first book Is It Hot in Here? (Or Am I Suffering for All Eternity for the Sins I Committed on Earth?) was named a Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2023. This will be LIVE at our 2643 N High St location, entrance off our back parking lot. The Nest Theatre is now a cashless operation. Payment will be handled by card, or exact change. Thanks! This is Night 1 of Week 2 of our Nestival Comedic Arts Festival 2024! Info and all tickets for that festival at nesttheatre.com.

The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/11 8:30pm - Performance

Thu, Apr 11

The Nestival Comedy+Arts Festival 4/11 8:30pm $13 online*/ $15 at the door if not sold out Ages 16+ Week 3 of the Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival! A delightful three-weekend mix of local and national sketch, stand-up, and improv! This is our 6th Nestival, woo hoo! TONIGHT! Two amazing acts! One of our Dual Duel Finalists (Nest Duo – CBus, OH) and Spoucho Sketch Comedy (CBus, OH)! This will be LIVE at our 2643 N High St location *The Nest Theatre is now a cashless operation. Payment will be handled by card, or exact change. Thanks!

The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/12 7:30pm - Performance

Fri, Apr 12

The Nestival Comedy+Arts Festival 4/12 7:30pm Tickets $20 Ages 16+ Week 3 of the Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival! A delightful three-weekend mix of local and national sketch, stand-up, and improv! This is our 6th Nestival, woo hoo! TONIGHT! Three amazing acts! Alex Dutton (Stand-Up – CBus, OH), Late Bloomers (Colorado/Florida) and HERE: The (Improvised) Musical (Chicago/CBus)! This will be LIVE at our 2643 N High St location *The Nest Theatre is now a cashless operation. Payment will be handled by card, or exact change. Thanks!

The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/12 9:30pm - Performance

Fri, Apr 12

The Nestival Comedy+Arts Festival 4/12 9:30pm Tickets $20 Ages 16+ Week 3 of the Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival! A delightful three-weekend mix of local and national sketch, stand-up, and improv! This is our 6th Nestival, woo hoo! TONIGHT! Two fantastic improv teams! Lady Bits (Indianapolis, IN) and Messing & Lehr (Chicago/L.A.)! This will be LIVE at our 2643 N High St location *The Nest Theatre is now a cashless operation. Payment will be handled by card, or exact change. Thanks!

The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/13 7:30pm - Performance

Sat, Apr 13

The Nestival Comedy+Arts Festival 4/13 7:30pm Tickets $20 Ages 16+ Week 3 of the Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival! A delightful three-weekend mix of local and national sketch, stand-up, and improv! This is our 6th Nestival, woo hoo! TONIGHT! Three amazing acts! Bridjet Mendy (Stand-Up – CBus, OH), Diversity Hire (Nest Indie Team-CBus, OH) and Messing, DeFrancisco, Rizzutto & Lehr (Chicago/L.A./CBus)! This will be LIVE at our 2643 N High St location *The Nest Theatre is now a cashless operation. Payment will be handled by card, or exact change. Thanks!

The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/13 9:30pm - Performance

Sat, Apr 13

The Nestival Comedy+Arts Festival 4/13 9:30pm $15 online*/ $18 at the door if not sold out Ages 16+ Week 3 of the Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival! A delightful three-weekend mix of local and national sketch, stand-up, and improv! This is our 6th Nestival, woo hoo! TONIGHT! Two fantastic improv teams! Stiff Doilies (Nest Indie Team, CBus, OH) and Nightmoose (Aurora, IL)! This will be LIVE at our 2643 N High St location *The Nest Theatre is now a cashless operation. Payment will be handled by card, or exact change. Thanks!

Location Info

The Nest Theatre
2643 N. High St., Columbus, OH, 43202
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Ticket & Pricing Info
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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 Dual Duel SEMIS & FINALS 3/29 7:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 defrancisCo & Round Robin 3/29 9:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 KISMET – immersive theatre + experiential art (3.30 730 show)

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 KISMET – immersive theatre + experiential art (3.30 930 show)

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 Stand-Up Surprise 4/4 7pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/4 8:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/5 7:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/5 9:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/6 7:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/6 9:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 ZACH ZIMMERMAN 4/11 7pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/11 8:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/12 7:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/12 9:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/13 7:30pm

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The Nestival Comedy + Arts Festival 2024 4/13 9:30pm

Upcoming Dates (16)
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Fri, Mar 29
7:30 - 9:00 PM
Fri, Mar 29
9:30 - 11:00 PM
Sat, Mar 30
7:30 - 9:00 PM
Sat, Mar 30
9:30 - 11:00 PM
Thu, Apr 4
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Thu, Apr 4
8:30 - 9:50 PM
Fri, Apr 5
7:30 - 9:00 PM
Fri, Apr 5
9:30 - 11:00 PM
Sat, Apr 6
7:30 - 9:00 PM
Sat, Apr 6
9:30 - 11:00 PM
Thu, Apr 11
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Thu, Apr 11
8:30 - 10:00 PM
Fri, Apr 12
7:30 - 9:00 PM
Fri, Apr 12
9:30 - 11:00 PM
Sat, Apr 13
7:30 - 9:00 PM
Sat, Apr 13
9:30 - 11:00 PM
Categories
Comedy Improv Drama Theater/Performance Storytelling
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Please note: Information for the calendar of events is gathered from multiple community sources. ColumbusMakesArt.com is not responsible for the accuracy and content of information. Times, dates and locations are subject to change.