The Chicago Improv Festival will enter its 20th year of laughter this spring, it was announced Friday.

Slated for March 27 to April 2 at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., and Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., this year's festival will be themed "No Ban on Fun! Everyone Welcome! With Liberty and Laughter for All!", said co-founder and executive producer Jonathan Pitts.

The fest will include original co-founder Frances Callier with Angela Shelton in their improv duo Frangela. Jon Barinholtz and Rob Belushi will be returning to the festival with their show Sheldon.

It was also announced that Pitts will be stepping down as executive producer of the festival at the end of this year, remaining in the role of executive director of Chicago Improv Festival Productions, the non-profit that runs the festival. Jessie Kunnath will take over Pitts' producing position with John Hildreth again serving as this year’s artistic director.

Headliners will be announced in the coming weeks.

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