This summer, Go Comedy! is set to shed light on the behind the scenes effects movies have on all of us as the original comedy, Plot Twist opens today June 30 with performances through August 5.
In addition to its regular weekly schedule, the award-winning improv theater is also excited to welcome the return of Kids In The Hall co-founder Kevin McDonald for a sketch comedy workshop and evening performance on Sunday July 10.
Tickets for all Go Comedy! shows ($7-$25) are available now online at www.gocomedy.net and beginning at 6:00pm Wednesday - Sunday in person at the Go Comedy! box office.
Plot Twist
Hollywood is hard. From behind the scenes, to the theatre, to the home viewing experience, Plot Twist weaves through all the trials and tribulations to show the effect movies have on all of us. Written and performed by the cast and directors, Plot Twist features Sheevani Desai, Chris Fortin, Brad Hicks, Erik Heilner, Doug Kolbicz, Jessica Loria, and Janelle Souilliere. This original comedy is directed by Peter Jacokes with assistance from MaryBeth Kolbicz and Musical Director Jeremy St. Martin. Performances are Thursday and Friday evenings at 8:00pm June 30 - August 5. Tickets are ($15).
An Evening with Kevin McDonald
For the third year in a row, Kids In The Hall co-founder Kevin McDonald will return to Go Comedy! for a special evening featuring standup, improv and sketch comedy. Tickets for 7:30pm event on Sunday, July 10 are $25 and are on sale now at www.gocomedy.net. In addition to this performance, McDonald will be conducting a unique two-day comedy sketch writing workshop. Select sketches from this workshop will be included as part of the Sunday evening show. Tuition for this workshop is $300. Registration and more information is available online now at www.gocomedy.net/workshops.
Other shows appearing at Go Comedy! in June and July include:
BITS
Michigan's largest improv tournament is back for a seventh year. The annual tournament brings 16 of the best improv troupes from across the Detroit region to Go Comedy! in a single elimination competition. In August the final two teams will compete for the $1,007 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.
The X-Factory
In the darkest corners of the Go Labs, Peter Jacokes and James Quesada are producing bold, innovative new shows that break the mold of genre, format and possibly the space-time continuum. This improvised show features a rotating cast of Go Comedy! Resident Artists performing new and unique improvised games and forms.
The Sunday Buffet & Fresh Sauce
Sunday evenings at 7:00pm, the Go Comedy! Launch Groups Wilderness Girls and HugSquared join three of the finest improv troupes in Metro Detroit performing scenic long-form improv comedy. The Sunday Buffet is followed by Fresh Sauce, Go Comedy!'s open improv jam. Anyone with an interest in improv can play improv games with other improvisers of all experience levels.
Pandemonia
More improv than you can shake an invisible stick at! 12 comedians vie for laughs, love and points to see who can be the last one standing through a series of comedic scens, songs and even party games. Audience suggestions pave the way for a wild night of improvisation. Pandemonia features: Dana Arcicovish, Sheevani Desai, Chris Fortin, Kathryn Gonsoir, Eric Haenke, Josh Hamilton, Lisa Jacokes, Doug Kolbicz, Tim Lally, Charlie Matt, Katie McGraw, Aaron Mondry, Maggie O'Reilly, Nicole Pascaretta, Matt Penridge, Jeff Smyk, Mitch Socia and Tamara White.
Snap Suggestion
In this Go Comedy! original improvised show all of the suggestions come from the world of Snap Chat. Audience members (or anyone at all) can add "GoComedy" on Snap Chat and send an image or video to use in this monthy show hosted by Travis Pelto and AaRon Johnstone.
Standprov
This intersection of improv and stand-up features local comedians improvising stand-up sets based on audience suggestions.
NEWSish
Go Comedy! has taken a little bit of the Daily Show and Last Week Tonight with a dash of Weekend Update and created NEWSish. This Summer, the NEWSish team will take a hilarious and often satirical look at local, national and international news & politics while providing commentary satire and insight on important issues.
For Real
For Real asks audiences to volunteer true stories based on a special theme. Then the cast of Go Comedy! Resident Artists use those stories as inspiration for an improvised set.
Seven-years of original comedy
In the fall of 2008 the former Ferndale Secretary of State office was transformed into Go Comedy! Improv Theater - a catalyst for hundreds of original shows, a robust improv academy, and an incubator for innovation, inspiration and integrity. Today, Go Comedy! is home for hundreds of improvisers, at least 50 improv troupes, and a weekly schedule of hilarious award-winning programming that has garnered local and national recognition.
The theater's signature show continues to be The Go Comedy! All Star Showdown which has played on Friday and Saturday nights continually for six years. Featuring members of Go Comedy! resident company, The All Star Showdown puts two teams of improvisers in an improv competition tailored to challenge their abilities, think on their feet and give audiences a roaring good time. The cast also plays for Audience members who take home fabulous prizes when their team wins. It's a night of hilarious laughs and great times!
The complete Go Comedy! weekly schedule for June & July 2016 is as follows:
Wednesdays, June 29, July 13, 20
8:00 pm: BITS ($10)
9:00 pm: The X-Factory ($5)
Wednesdays, July 6 & 27
8:00 pm: BITS ($10)
9:00 pm: Snap Suggestion ($5)
Thursdays, June 30, July 7, & 14
8:00 pm: Plot Twist ($15)
Thursday, July 21
8:00 pm: Plot Twist ($15)
10:00 pm: Standprov ($5)
Thursday, July 28
8:00 pm: Plot Twist ($15)
10:0 pm: For Real ($5)
Fridays June 24, July 8, 22
8:00 pm: The Go Comedy! All Star Showdown ($18)
10:00 pm: The Go Comedy! All Star Showdown ($18)
11:45 pm: Name This Show (Free)
Fridays July 1 & 15
8:00 pm: Plot Twist ($15)
10:00 pm: Pandemonia ($15)
11:45 pm: Name This Show (Free)
Friday, July 29
8:00 pm: Plot Twist ($15)
10:00 pm: NEWSish ($15)
11:45 pm: Name This Show (Free)
Saturdays, July 25, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
8:00 pm: The Go Comedy! All Star Showdown ($18)
10:00 pm: The Go Comedy! All Star Showdown ($18)
11:45 pm: Name This Show (Free)
Sundays, June 26, July 3, 17, 24
7:00 pm: Go Comedy! Sunday Buffet ($10)
9:00 pm: Fresh Sauce (FREE)
Go Comedy! Improv Theater is located at 261 East Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, MI 48220. For seven 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; visit our website at www.gocomedy.net or e-mail Pj Jacokes at pj@gocomedy.net.
Pictured: Go Comedy! presents the original comedy Plot Twist June 30 - August 5. The show features (L-R) Erik Heilner, Janelle Souilliere, Sheevani Desai, Doug Kolbicz, Chris Fortin and Jessica Loria. Photo by SMyers.
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