No SketchFest NYC in 2012

Although SketchFest NYC has established itself as a must-see event for New York's comedy crowds each year, there will not be a new edition of the sketch comedy festival in 2012. Producers announced the decision on Saturday, March 17, in response to questions about this year's applications and auditions. They promise that the festival will be "bigger and better than ever before" when it returns in 2013.

Since it began in 2005, SketchFest NYC has been dedicated to promoting the art of sketch comedy by bringing the best sketch groups and performers from North America to New York City for one weekend each year. The Whitest Kids 'U Know, Kevin McDonald ("The Kids in the Hall"), Tom Davis ("Saturday Night Live"), Kristen Schaal, Kurt Braunohler, Elephant Larry, and Harvard Sailing Team are just a few of the funny people who have entertained audiences at SketchFest NYC.

News of its postponement until next year is surprising because the festival has grown each year, with an increased number of applications and the addition of live auditions in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Groups travel to the city from across the continent to be introduced to New York audiences. In the past, the festival's offerings have expanded to include more scheduled shows with a variety of performance styles, as well as panel discussions and industry guests.

The producers of SketchFest NYC posted the following statement:

"We’ve been getting a lot of questions about SketchFest NYC in 2012, including submission deadlines and info, and we’ve been putting off answering for a while until we could officially announce this: there won’t be a SketchFest NYC in 2012.

"Don’t worry, nothing bad has happened, and in fact, we were extremely excited and pleased with the overwhelmingly positive response to our 2011 Festival. However, sometimes… Life happens. And a good portion of the staff have had babies, are getting married, or moved to other coasts, meaning we don’t quite have the focus we need to make the 2012 Festival as big as we need it to be… Which is EVEN BIGGER than the last Festival.

"So while there won’t be a SketchFest in 2012, there definitely will be one in 2013, and we promise that it will be bigger, and better than ever before. Stay tuned…"

Annual SketchFests are also held in Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, Portland, Los Angeles, Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto.

For more information, visit SketchFestNYC.com, or read Back Stage's coverage of past SketchFests at BackStage.com.