CHICAGO — Sketch comedy artists around the world are invited to submit an application to participate in the 15th annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival.

As part of this hallmark year for the annual festival, Brian Posen, creative director, and the Sketchfest Artistic Team will cultivate an exclusive line-up of headliners to represent Stage 773’s history of excellence in festival programming.

These spotlighted groups will include award-winning “city-swap” ensembles from National and International comedy festivals, reunion performances by all-star Sketchfest groups whose members have proven outstanding in their field and brand new shows created especially for “Sketchfest 15” by high-caliber leaders in Chicago’s comedy community.

Over the past 14 years, The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival has garnered international attention, attracting over 1,000 artists and 10,000 patrons annually from around the world.

The event celebrates the best in local, national and international sketch comedy, and will run Jan. 7-17. Applications for participation are open now and may be submitted through Oct. 15 by visiting http://www.chicagosketchfest.com/. 

All selected performers receive an all-festival pass, access to artist only events and exclusive discounts at sponsoring hotel, dining and bar partners. 

Tickets for the Annual Chicago Sketch Festival will be $15 each and will go on sale at noon Dec. 1.

Festival passes, regularly priced at $150, will be available for only $100 if purchased before Dec. 31 at www.Stage773.com, by phone at (773) 327-5252, and in person at the Stage 773 box office, located at 1225 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago.