Created by Cleveland show-runners and improvisers Deena Nyer Mendlowitz and Sam Dee, the Mass Hysteria Comedy Fest aims to highlight improv troupes run by women. A huge success, the first Mass Hysteria Fest debuted at Forest City Brewery last year.

This year’s festival will be held at Mahall’s from Sept. 19 to Sept. 21.

Chicago-based Here the (Improvised) Musical headlined last year’s festival, and they’ll return to town on Saturday to perform at Mahall’s as part of a fundraiser for the upcoming festival. During their performances, they take one suggestion from an audience member and create a theme for a “musical” that “effortlessly weaves the strings together into one piece.” The group’s members, Tara DeFrancisco and Rance Rizzutto, have performed together for more than a decade.

The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets cost $10.

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This article appears in Apr 17-23, 2019.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.