Editor’s Note
What does it look like to grow something real—without losing the reason you started?
For James Tierney, co-founder of Happy Valley Improv, the answer came to life during XL Fest 2024. Eighty-one improvisers from across the country came to Central Pennsylvania expecting laughs. What they found instead was something deeper: hospitality that felt intentional, experiences that felt personal, and a weekend that felt more like a family reunion than a performance schedule.
At a glance, James might appear to be a theater director. But dig deeper and you’ll find something bigger: a cultural architect building systems that scale warmth, connection, and place-based identity. In many ways, his leadership mirrors that of Liz Grove in Pine Grove Mills—business builders who put experience before efficiency and community before convenience.
They don’t talk about growth in terms of headcount or revenue. They talk about who felt welcome.
Here’s James’ story—in his own words.
XL Fest 2024: Reflections on a Weekend That Felt Like Home
By James Tierney, Co-Founder and Business Director, Happy Valley Improv
My name is James Tierney, co-founder and Business Director of Happy Valley Improv. Along with the incredible and hard-working XL Festival Committee, I had the privilege of welcoming 81 out-of-town improvisers to our community. These artists, representing 20 incredible teams from across the country—including folks from as far as San Diego and Portland, Oregon—lit up the stage at the Blue Brick Theatre and turned our little corner of Central PA into a hub of laughter, creativity, and connection for three unforgettable days.
But XL Fest is about more than just shows (though everyone was packed and electric). At its heart, this festival is about community. We want every improviser—whether it’s their first festival or their fiftieth—to feel like they belong. That meant creating experiences that extended well beyond the stage.
Throughout the weekend, we hosted afterparties at The Graduate Hotel, Bill Pickles Taproom, and Café 210, offering space to relax, reconnect, and celebrate together. We visited local favorites like the AAUW Used Book Sale, took Creamery walks from downtown, and held coffee chats and lunch bunch gatherings every day to showcase the people and places that make this town special. We wrapped things up with a beautiful vegan brunch at Webster’s Café, the perfect close to a weekend full of laughter and connection.
Over and over, we heard the same thing: people felt welcomed, seen, and appreciated. That means everything to us.
We’ve always believed improv festivals should feel more like a family reunion than a showcase. XL Fest isn’t just about great performances—it’s about building real relationships and strengthening a national community of artists.
Of course, we’re already thinking about next year. We’ll be back in 2026—bigger, better, and even more committed to our mission of connection and belonging. No matter how much the festival grows, our focus will remain the same: community first. Our goal isn’t just to run a great event—it’s to create a space where everyone feels at home, whether it’s their first visit to State College or their fiftieth.
To everyone who traveled, performed, volunteered, attended, or just laughed along with us—thank you. You made this festival what it was, and we can’t wait to do it all again.
