Preview: See.Hear.Speak.4 at Coldtowne Theater

The beautiful thing about Austin is its unpredictability: one goes to a snazzy after-party, and one never knows if one will find oneself bumping into a certain red-headed stranger, riding a white horse, or turning blue with laughter when the whole thing devolves into a giant improv comedy game. It was the latter at last night's opening party for See.Hear.Speak.4, the comedy festival at Coldtowne Theater. No surprise, perhaps, but no less fun. If you missed the "see" portion, which was last night and featured some of Austin and America's best sketch folk, please don't make the same mistake by missing tonight's "hear" and tomorrow's "see," showcasing excellence in music and stand-up comedy, respectively.

Coldtowne founder and comedy showman Chris Trew told Austinist that See.Hear.Speak.4 is a "movement," and he's brought in friends from across the country to make sure the movement-ing is as movementous as possible. Tonight, L.A.'s Brock Laborde of Studio8 fame will join Trew in a send-up of a certain ubiquitous fast-food restaurant chain, while Austin's own Chuck Watkins brings his wacky, playful wit to the stage. The fun continues with musical silliness and stylings from Le Sexy, Dangerville and Ghetto Sketch Warlock. After-party at Club Deville, ya heard?

Saturday night's stand-up lineup is a stand-out (you see what we did there?) featuring local sacks of sexiness Matt Bearden and Lance Gilstrap, NYC's Sean Patton and loads more. They'll be followed by Austin's own Midnight Society comedy troupe, who'll be offering a special talk show treat featuring Austinist fave and possibly the weirdest guy in town, Fred Bothwell, along with a merry band of jokesters. Saturday night's headliners are the aforementioned Patton and the Upright Citizens Brigade's own Sean Conroy.

Sunday night's main event may prove to be the true piece de resistance, as Coldtowners will be performing one of their infamous Stool Pigeon improv shows with help from Conroy and SNL writing vet Ali Farahnakian.

And if all that sounds like too much, consider just signing up for a comedy writing class with Farahnakian or an improv workshop or two. Honestly, Austin, there is no excuse not to be a little bit funnier after this weekend.