Go Comedy! to Promote BETTER LIVING THROUGH HUMAN AMUSEMENTS, 4/17-6/13

Go Comedy! wants you to live better with its latest original comedy: Better Living through Human Amusements opening April 17 and continuing through June 13. In addition, the theater continues its annual show with the Ferndale Library's Ferndale Reads program, and Michigan's largest improv tournament, BITS, returns April 30.

Tickets ($5-$18) are available now for all Go Comedy! performances online at www.gocomedy.net and beginning at 6:00pm Wednesday - Sunday in person at the Go Comedy! box office. A complete April & May performance schedule follows this release.

Better Living Through Human Amusements
This spring, Go Comedy! will lead those who are tired, confused, grouchy and disorganized to Better Living Through Human Amusements! Whether you're a famous genius like Stephen Hawking, or an infant struggling to master basic motor skills, Go Comedy!'s latest original comedy is sure to cure what ails you with a cavalcade of characters who have it much worse than you. Join Jen Hansen, Joe Hingelberg, Amber Hunt, Pj Jacokes, Travis Pelto, and Chris Petersen for an evening of hilarious sketch comedy inspired by their long-running, award-winning late night comedy show. Directed by Hansen with assistance from Matt Naas, Better Living Through Human Amusements appears Thursday & Friday evenings at 8:00pm April 17 - June 13. Tickets ($18) are available now at www.gocomedy.net.

Secrets | Secrets
For the fifth year in a row, Go Comedy! is proud to support Ferndale Reads, Ferndale's annual city-wide reading event. Each year the Ferndale Public Library selects a book and gives it away to participants in the community. The library and partnered organizations host programs in the community to encourage reading and discussion. The 2014 selection is Annie's Ghosts by Steve Luxenberg which explores the true history of a family secret as it was discovered and investigated by the author. Secrets | Secrets explores the untrue, completely improvised history of 5 'Luxenberg siblings' as they reveal each other's secrets in front of a live audience. Featuring Michelle Giorlando, Gary Lehman, Jeremy St. Martin, Heather Sejnowski, and Bob Wieck, this original show is directed by James Quesada and appears Wednesdays through April 30 at 9:00pm. Tickets ($7 - or $5 in person with a valid Library Card.) are on sale now at www.gocomedy.net.

Defenders of Greatness: Joysticks of Glory
It's 1986 and The Money Slot Arcade is hosting a video game tournament that pits two top gamers against each other. One has a girlfriend and mother pushing him and the other is hitting drugs as hard as he is the games. Defenders of Greatness: Joysticks of Glory is written by Rj Cach and Aaron Johnstone and features Cach, Jacklynn Cherry, Erik Heilner, Lisa Jacokes, Johnstone, Jessica Loria, Sean McGettigan, Tom Novik, James Quesada, Sean Robinson and Jason Valentini. Directed by Pj Jacokes and Tommy LeRoy, the show will appear Thursdays at 10:00pm March 27 - May 15 and at Midnight on May 10 & 17. Tickets ($10) are on sale now at www.gocomedy.net.

BITS is Back
Michigan's largest improv tournament returns for a fifth amazing year when BITS begins Wednesday, April 30. The annual tournament brings 16 of the best improv troops from across the Detroit region to Go Comedy! in a single elimination competition. In August the final two teams will compete for the $1,004 grand prize and a performance slot on the Go Comedy! schedule. Each week, two teams will face off on the Go Comedy! stage with just 22 minutes to impress the audience with their skills. At the end of the hour, the audience will choose by secret ballot the winning team which will continue in the tournament. For information on registration dates and troupe submission guidelines visit www.gocomedy.net.

Five Years of Go Comedy! Go Comedy is the brainchild of Pj Jacokes, Gerald Knight, Chris DiAngelo and Tommy LeRoy. The departure of The Second City from the Detroit area and closure of Ann Arbor's Improv Inferno left a community of talented improvisers without a creative home. Having fallen in love with improv at the Improv Inferno, Knight approached Jacokes, DiAngelo and LeRoy with the opportunity to start their own theater. In 2007 the former Secretary of State office in Ferndale became available and the team began work. A year later, Go Comedy! Improv Theater opened its doors and became a catalyst for hundreds of original shows, a robust improv academy, and an incubator for innovation, inspiration and integrity, three principles that have directed the theater through its first five years and beyond. Today, Go Comedy! is home for hundreds of improvisers, at least 30 improv troupes, and a weekly schedule of hilarious award-winning programming that has garnered local and national recognition, and occasionally someone trying to renew their drivers' license.

Go Comedy! upcoming schedule

Wednesdays, April 9, 16, 23
8:00pm ITTY BITS - The short form improv tournament ($10)
9:00pm Secrets | Secrets ($7) an original show presented with the Ferndale Library's Ferndale Reads program.
10:00pm Proving Grounds with Forever Fifteen ($5)

Wednesdays, April 30, May 7, 14, 21 & 28
8:00pm BITS Tournament ($10)
9:00pm Teacher's Lounge ($7)
10:00pm Proving Grounds ($5)

Thursday, April 10
8:00pm What Does The Fox News Say? ($10)
9:00pm Go Labs: Betta Testing ($7)
10:00pm Defenders of Greatness: Joysticks of Glory ($10)

Thursdays, April 17, 24, May 1, 8, 15
8:00pm Better Living Through Human Amusements ($18)
10:00pm Defenders of Greatness: Joysticks of Glory ($10)

Friday, April 11
8:00pm The Go Comedy! All Star Showdown ($18)
10:00pm The Go Comedy! All Star Showdown ($18)
11:45pm Name This Show (Free)

Fridays, April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30
8:00pm Better Living Through Human Amusements ($18)
10:00pm The Go Comedy! All Star Showdown ($18)
11:45pm Name This Show (Free)

Saturdays, April 12, 19 & 26, May 3, 10*, 17*, 24 & 31
8:00pm The Go Comedy! All Star Showdown ($18)
10:00pm The Go Comedy! All Star Showdown ($18)
11:45pm Name This Show (Free)
*Midnight: May 10 & 17: Defenders of Greatness: Joysticks of Glory ($10)

Sundays through May 25
Sundays are $10 in advance or pay-what-you-can at the door
7:00pm Fresh Sauce, Go Comedy!'s open improv jam
8:00pm The Sunday Buffet featuring the area's best improv troupes and weekly drink specials at the Go! Bar.
10:00pm Human Amusements

Go Comedy! Improv Theater is located at 261 East Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, MI 48220. For five years, Go Comedy! has offered the finest in improv and sketch comedy, Go U! The Improv Academy training center, road shows, classes and workshops for private parties, corporations and schools. For more information, call (248) 327-0575 or visit the website at www.gocomedy.net.

Pictured: Go Comedy! welcomes those who are tired, confused, grouchy and disorganized to Better Living Through Human Amusements! The theater's newest original comedy features (L-R) Jen Hansen, Pj Jacokes, Travis Pelto, Joe Hingleberg, Chris Petersen and Amber Hunt. Photo Credit: SMyers.