Vlad Tenenebaum, of Portsmouth, fuses the old art of pantomime with new improvisation techniques.

Prepare for the unprepared, actors who don’t know their lines.

The fifth annual Providence Improv Fest is underway. It began yesterday and continues through Sunday at three downtown Providence venues: Trinity Theater, 201 Washington St.; Perishable Theatre, 95 Empire St.; and AS220, 115 Empire St.

The festival features 40 groups from around the country, and dozens of shows, as well as several workshops.

Tonight, at 7 and 9 p.m., there are shows at Trinity and Perishable. Tomorrow, at 8 and 10 p.m., there are shows at Trinity, AS220 and Perishable, which also has a midnight show. Saturday, Trinity has shows at 2, 8 and 10 p.m.; Perishable at 5, 8 and 10 p.m. And Sunday, Perishable has a show at 7 p.m., and Trinity at 7 and 9 p.m.

Tickets are $10 per show; five shows for $40; six shows for $40 for students; and $80 for all shows.

The workshops, which are at Perishable, are as follows:

Today at 4 p.m., there’s an intro to improv, free. Tomorrow at 2 p.m., there’s intro to British accents, $30; and at 4 p.m. intro to long form, free. Saturday at 11 a.m., there’s character development, $40; and intro to meaningful improv at 2 p.m., free. Sunday at 11 a.m., there’s improv movement, $40; the Neo-Futurists at 2 p.m., $40; and intro to games at 2 p.m., free.

For tickets, more information and a complete schedule, visit www. providenceimprovfest.com.