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Beginning Wednesday, April 25 and running through Wednesday August 8, Go Comedy! Improv Theater will host the third annual Bailout Improv Tournament Spectacular (BITS). Sixteen improv teams from across metro Detroit will compete every Wednesday night at 8pm in a single elimination tournament for a $1002 cash prize. Each week, two teams will face off on theGo 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. The audience favorite will be announced each week during the 9pm show that evening.
As in 2011, the BITS Tournament will end with the opening celebration of the 2012 Detroit Improv Festival - Detroit's biggest improv festival August 8-12.
The tournament kicks off Wednesday, April 25 as Forever Fifteen (Joe Hingleberg & Travis Pelto) goes up against The Flaccid Unicorn (Phil Bardaville, Jason DeSousa, Lori Frank, Krystal Janigan, Kevin Lytle, Shari Mocheit, Ashley Reuter and Alex Sanders). The winning team will go on to round two of the tournament beginning on Wednesday, June 20. A complete first round schedule follows.
Wednesday, April 25 Forever Fifteen vs. The Flaccid UnicornWednesday, May 2 Buzzed Aldrin vs. Grandma's Meatballs Team members Buzzed Aldrin: Chris DiAngelo, Chris Petersen, Jen Bloomer, Jen Hansen, Michelle GiOrlando and Travis Pelto. Grandma's Meatballs: Jon McCaffrey, Nathan Hughes, Alex Linebrink and Catie TyzoWednesday, May 9 Mobius Strip Mall vs. Planet Voltron Team members Mobius Strip Mall: Pj Jacokes, Chris Petersen and Matt Naas Planet Voltron: Jeremy Howe, Sam Nirmalnath, Kelly King, Jacob Russell and Emily EngelhartWednesday, May 16 Unknown, LOL vs. Soft Friction Team members Unknown, LOL: Paul Jonna, Chris Petersen, Genevieve Jona, Erik Heilner and Andrew Seiler Soft Friction: Lisa Jacokes, Jeremy St. Martin, Amy Purcell, Alison Tomak, John Lewis and RJ CachWednesday, May 23 Bobby Lamas vs. Achye Jay Team members Bobby Lamas: Stephanie Berner, Lucio Raineri, Julia Delekta, Robert Tscherniwetz and Tanya Sakleh Achye Jay: Heather Sejnowski and Jeremy Griffin
Wednesday, May 30 Smunk vs. Question Marky Mark Team members Smunk: Clint Lohman, Dan Brittain, Ryan Parmenter, Andrew Seiler and Chris Petersen Question Marky Mark: AaRon Johnstone, RJ Cach, Travis Pelto and Amber HuntWednesday, June 6 Folds vs. Home School Team members Folds: Catie Tyzo, Tracy Allen, Steffie Berner, Amber Hunt, Hailey Zureich Home School: Bob Wieck, Jen Bloomer, Brian Papandrea, Erik Heilner, Andrew Seiler and Dan BrittainWednesday, June 13 Man Hands vs. Clam Jousters Team members Man Hands: Jen Hansen and Carrie Hall Clam Jousters: Lucas Villalpando, Chris Bibb, Corene Ford, James Cerini, Mark Onusko and Dick Ward.Tickets for the BITS Tournament shows are $7 and are available online at www.gocomedy.net or in person beginning at 6pm Wednesday through Sunday.
Go Comedy! Improv Theater is located at 261 East Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, MI 48220. Go Comedy! offers 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; visit our website at www.gocomedy.net or e-mail Pj Jacokes at pj@gocomedy.net.