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Improvapalooza 10

Louisville Improvisors and The Necessary Theatre in cooperation with The Springhill Suites By Marriott, and Hurt Printing present
Improvapalooza 10
Two nights of improv in the round at the MeX Theatre in the Kentucky Center, January 8th and 9th at 8pm.
$20 Tickets are now on sale at the KCA Box office (584-7777) or online at KCA.

Featuring
The Tranz4merZ
One game. Thirty minutes. A buncha guys.
With only one beginning action, the TranzmerZ spin a stream of consciousness world from gym cops to patrons of a sperm bar using the simple improvisational game of transformations. It’s fast, intense, and funny as hell as they feed off one another and break all the rules.The Trans4merZ began performing in the fall of 1991 in Santa Monica, California The idea was to create a new form of improvisation that didn't rely upon standard game formats, or long form structures that had recently become popular. Many different formats were suggested before the idea of doing transformations as a non-stop, half-hour performance structure was finally settled upon. This has been the form for The Trans4merZ show ever since. Along the way, notable personalities such as Cynthia Stevenson ("Happiness," "Oh, Baby,") and Lisa Kudrow ("Friends," "The Opposite of Sex,") were regular performers with the group. Guest performers have included Jon Lovitz and Conan O' Brian.

Please go to www.Trans4merZ.com for more info and videos of recent performances.

Bios of the performers scheduled to appear:
Chris Ellis After graduating Manchester University with a degree in drama, spent time in London playing Shakespearian idiots and fools, as well as some contemporary morons. Also, in London, he appeared on BBC TV's "The Young One's" and spent two years as the Associate Director of Inter-Action Theatre Productions. After moving to Los Angeles he became a film editor, editing nine movies, including films for CBS, Disney and Paramount, as well as writing, directing and editing award winning videos and film installations for The Ford Motor Company, NASA'a Kennedy and Johnson Space Centers. He has written and directed a film for Universal Studios theme parks starring Steven Spielberg, as well as a series of original short-form comedy films for Oxygen Media and Saturday Night Live. He most recently wrote and directed the film that can be seen at the U.S. Pavillion at the World Expo in Japan.

Harry Hannigan began his showbiz career talking a small dog off some insulation in a popular commercial, propelling him overnight into receptionist work. His television appearances include "The Tonight Show", "According to Jim" and he recently played the role of Neanderthal Chieftan "Clive" in the low budget film "The Hunters." He now writes for "The Troop" on Nickelodeon and only answers his own phone. He is proud to be the most physically appealing (male) of The Trans4merZ, but realizes the bar is set very low.

Jay Kogen Raised in Los Angeles, Jay first performed on "The Dean Martin Show" in 1968 at the age of 5. He continued acting with small parts on "The Bob Newhart Show," "Newhart," "The Bronx Zoo," "It's Garry Shandling's Show," was future man in “Great Scott” and was recently on Zrock. At 16 did standup and studied improvisation at The Groundlings. Jay started writing for television on "The Tracey Ullman Show," then wrote and produced the first four seasons of "The Simpsons" winning two Emmy Awards..He co-executive produced "Frasier," for which he won two more Emmys, including Best Writing For A Comedy Series and a humanitas award! Jay has written for many shows including “Malcolm In The Middle”, “Everybody Loves Raymond”; “The George Lopez Show”; “Wanda At Large”; “The Class” and he’s currently executive producer of “The Troop” for Nickelodeon. In movies, Jay was shot in the head by Jason Priestly in "Cold Blooded,” tortured by Pauly Shore in “Jury Duty”, wrote and produced the "Wrong Guy" staring Dave Foley (which won Best Writing at the Aspen Comedy Festival) and appears as himself in “The Aristocrats” He has written many movies that never got made and helped out on a few that did including: “The Nutty Professor”; “The Cat In The Hat”; “The Spy Who Shagged Me“; “Madagascar”; “Goldmember”; “Bad Company”; “Shrek II”; “Shark Tales”; “Shrek III”; “Super Hero!”; “Meet Dave”; and “The Love Guru.”

Tanya Scheer is Lifetime’s new Buzz Girl and can be seen daily at MyLifetime.com. She has performed stand-up comedy at Los Angeles’s “Comedy Store”, “Impov” and “Ice House” and performs regularly at the “Groundling’s” theater in “The Crazy Uncle Joe Show, and was twice awarded Female Performer of the Year at “ACME Comedy Theater”. She is the author of “How to Raise an Amazing Child, Without Getting Upstaged.” and co-wrote “Rush” with Michelle Alexander, author of “How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days”. Tanya was a founding member of “The Last Women on Earth”, an all female improv group with Kristen Wiig. She currently appears on various webisodes such as Effenfunny’s “Legend of Neil”, “Stop It”, and “Carol and Diane”. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband Eddie, and their 3 year-old daughter Ava Rose.

Jonathan Stark has been performing with this rag-tag band of misfits for the past 18 years. Previous to that Jon was a member of The Groundlings and was a regular in Bill Steinkellner’s, “InstaPlay.” As an actor he has been featured in the films “Project X”, “Fright Night” and the mega-bomb “House 2.” Since he realized, rather early on, that making a living from improv was impossible, to support his family he turned to the world of television writing. He has worked on such series as “Cheers”, “Bob”, “The Nanny” and "Ellen", for which he won an Emmy award for his work on the coming out episode and co-created ABC’s long-running comedy “According to Jim”. He has written a movie about women pirates and one about aliens and is now penning one about a monster under the bed. As you can plainly see, Jonathan is all over the map.

LOUISVILLE IMPROVISORS with special guest “Jazz Guru” TODD HILDRETH
The Louisville Improvisors originated ensemble Improvisation in Louisville ten years ago and continue to explore the unique art form of Theatrical Improvisation. Their concept shows walk the tightrope of unscripted theatre…combining traditional stage work with the unpredictable element of improv. The result is an adrenaline pumping night where anything goes…and usually does. The Louisville Improvisors are: Chris Anger, Josh Lane, and Alec Volz.

Louisville Improvisors to open new Training Center on 4th St.

The Louisville Improvisors are proud to announce the opening of their new training center at 627 S. 4th Street in the old Highland Coffee Co. (HCC) location.

"We are extremely excited to be a part of this burgeoning section of S. 4th St. right near the new Theatre Square Marketplace, all the new restaurants, and not to mention two doors down from the Palace Theatre, Louisville Public Media (WFPK, etc.), and the other cultural aspects of this end of 4th St. Or as I like to call it, ‘The Locally Owned End of Fourth Street Live.’

“This would not be possible without the help and generosity of Greg and Natalie Hofer, the owners of HCC, who have partnered with us on this incredible opportunity.

"Greg and Natalie have always been there for us in the 10 years we have been together – by hosting Louisville Improvisors shows at their Bardstown Road location in the beginning, to brewing a special Irish Hill blend of coffee for our Irish Hill Improv & History Festival in August, to sponsoring most of our major events.

“Though a lot of people are familiar with Louisville Improvisors as performers, they don’t know that we also teach improv. Over the years we have taught workshops throughout Kentucky and Indiana, including schools and universities, corporate clients, and individual instruction. Wherever there is a need for improv training we try to fill it. Which is why getting our own space is the realization of a big dream of ours,” said Chris Anger, Artistic Director of the Louisville Improvisors.

Upcoming fall classes start soon.