Reno's Favorite Improv Comedy Show, 3/8/12, 7:30pm

You can still catch Reno's favorite comedy troupe Thursday March 8th, at Pioneer Underground. Doors open at 6:30pm, and SHOW NOW STARTS AT 7:30pm. Tickets are still available online at www.renotahoecomedy.com or you can buy them at the door. Show is recommended for mature audiences. There is a full bar for our 21+ crowd.

The Utility Players - Reno's Favorite Improv Comedy FamilyDoors: 6:30pm

Show: 7:30pm-9pm

Theater: The beautiful, Pioneer Underground, 100 S. Virginia St.

With: The Utility Players, Reno's best improv comedy show.

Hosted by: Jessica The-Jester Levity

Produced by: Homeslice Productions with Reno Tahoe Comedy

Sponsored by: Wayne's Automotive in Sparks, and Taxcrafters

This year has been a year of many firsts. My first Anything But Clothes party, writing my first murder mystery party, and winning first place for best group costume at this year's Erotic Ball. This also happened to be the year that I performed stand up for the very first time. 

I had toyed around with the idea of translating the absolute ridiculous antics of being a drag queen in some stand-up but never found the right opportunity to do it. When the Pioneer Underground approached me about doing some stand-up during their "Ladies Weekend of Comedy", it seemed like an ironically perfect time to debut my set. 

Here is a video of my set from the performance. I touched on the trials and tribulations of being a drag queen, of surviving a post-apocalyptic future and of one day being a parent. I was a little nervous to perform stand-up. I worried I would forget my entire set or stumble through it. I wondered what the audience would think of a drag queen performing stand-up; would they think it weird or not appreciate it?The audience was absolutely awesome! I think it showed that audiences at the end of the day want to be entertained. As long as you can do that, then it shouldn't matter your sexual orientation, race, gender, etc. I was thankful thought that my spanks and corset did not cut off my breathing thus causing me to pass out right there on stage. Enjoy the video!!!

Ever watch the iconic mystery show, Murder She Wrote and wondered what it would be like to don Jessica Fletcher's comfortable, yet classy, shoes and solve a murder yourself? Ever wondered what it would be like to piece together seemingly unrelated clues of evidence to uncover a murderer and their motive like the intrepid crew of CSI: Las Vegas?

Well now here is your opportunity. The Utility Players, voted Reno's best comedy troupe, is embarking on another intrepid journey where few comedy troupes have gone before: the Murder Mystery Party. I came up with the back story for the murder mystery - a formal Gala celebrating singer and Grade A Diva Vaunna Vandertrump -, drafted characters for the Utility Players to act out - Detective, crazy obsessed fan, spiful blogger, etc - and mapped out the series of events that will take place at the party. It was a fun experience, stepping outside my comfort zone to write a mystery - which is a Hell of a lot harder than I anticipated; murder mystery writers are truly geniuses. 

The mystery begins the second that audience members enter the Pioneer Underground. They will have a chance to interview guests, inspect evidence, and collaborate with other team members to determine who the murderer is and what is their motive. Though some of the moments of the night will be scripted, the Utility Players are going to improv most of the night, which will make for a crazy and unpredictable murder mystery unlike any you have seen before. 

The murder mysterys is this Thursday, October 27th, at 8:00pm - doors open at 7. Tickets are $11 in advance or $16 at the door. Come to the party dressed up in your Halloween costume or in formal attire! Here is a link to the facebook event!

Two a half years ago, a group a comedians sat in my living room, mapping out our improv shows for the upcoming season. At the time, GLEE was gaining incredible momentum and other TV shows were joining the musical bandwagon by having their own musical episodes. Almost as if it were a joke, we nonchalantly thought to ourselves "why don't we make our season finale a musical episode; we'll write a storyline, a script, and some original songs" - as if this was something people do everyday. Two and a half years later, this musical has been performed twice, re-written twice, and has had scores of musical numbers created for it - some of these numbers have been taken out or modified over the years, others are still in their original state. It's been an incredible journey, tiring and frustrating at times, but always an incredible journey. This year has seen the most change with the addition of new characters, new songs, new technical aspects, and an overhaul of some of the plot points. What we now have is comedic musical meant to make people laugh and inspire them to chase their dreams however far-fetched they may seem to yourself and the people in your life.

IMPROV-The Musical is the semi-autobiographical fairytale of a group in comedians in Reno, NV attempting to achieve their dreams of fame and success. People always say to write what you know ... I think we may have taken that advice a little too literally. The group decides to form an improv comedy troup - The Utility Players, who gain notoriety in the city of Reno. However,  a downtrodden comedian - aided by a dark and fabulous witch - attempts to steal the talent of comics around the world, including the Utility Players and establish himself as the one and only comedian in the world. Can the Utility Players - with the help of their own fairy godmother - stop this evil comedian and save the world's laughter?

Make sure to not miss this production. I have been given the honor of directing this production as well be in it. I am, obviously, playing the evil witch and fairy godmother - who are incidentally twins, convenient huh. My wigs and costumes for the production are ABSOLUTELY fantastic. As my choreographer likes to point out, my look is a combination of Black Swan, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Velma Kelly from Chicago... meets a drag queen ;). You have three chances to see this Artown sponsored show - the 19th, 20th and 21st. Doors open at 7 and show starts at 8pm. You can purchase tickets from me directly, check out one of our fabulous ticket hubs - Melting Pot, Prism Magic or Discology - or buy them online at Reno Tahoe Comedy North. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Hope to see you all there!!!

Come laugh your asses off with the Utility Players. Now that American Idol, GLEE, and the rest of our favorite televisions shows are over, fillthe void with a fantastic improv show with the Utility Players. Always high-energy, this audience-driven show is created on the spot, making it a unique experience each and every time it is performed. Similar to Whose Line Is It Anyway?, The Utility Players like to put on a truly diverse show; incorporating musical comedy, dance numbers, stand-up, and sketches into an exciting 90 minute show. David Hegle, from the Reno Metromix, wrote an absolutely fabulous review of the show we just had at the Pioneer Underground. You can check out pictures and a play-by-play description of the show here . Tonight's show is at the Good Luck Macbeth's theater in downtown Reno - 119 North Virginia Street. Admission to the show is $6. Doors will open at 7:00pm and the show will promptly begin at 7:30pm.

At some point during my "Inside the Actor's Studio" interview, James Lipton will look at me and say how long have you been an entertainer. With a sense of whimsy, I'll reply that I came out of my mother's womb an entertainer, glitter and all. After a quick guffaw from the studio audience, I will explain that for most of my college career, I had been a performing drag queen with aspirations of success and fame. Post college, I moved to the Biggest Little City in the World to earn my place in the lexicon of iconic entertainers and comedians of the world. Most assuredly, I will reference tomorrow's improv show at the Pioneer Underground as a momentous mile marker on my path to achieving that goal.

The Utility Players are having our premiere improv show at the Pioneer Underground, connected to the Pioneer Center in downtown Reno, this Thursday at 8PM. It seems ridiculous; at one point we were performing in a space to three people and slowly over time we have grown and expanded - both in our capacity as a troupe and performers but also our fan base and name recognition - to where we are now, having the opportunity to perform in a gorgeous theater with 175 seats. It truly is the biggest little show of my life. It seems a little surreal that this is happening. I love making people laugh; nothing brings me greater joy and excitement than watching a group of people lose it and allow themselves to fill into fits of hysterics. Or when someone comes up to after a show and exclaims that they came to the show in a terrible mood, upset by the events of the day, but were so happy they came to the show because it made their day.

Entertainment, especially comedy, has the power and ability to change society and impact the individual. Laughter can be a healing remedy. Performances can inspire people to action or create the opportunity or space for them to accept something about themselves and feel safe in doing so. I'm grateful that I continue to find opportunities to perform and contribute to that change.

So if you are looking for showing to do in Reno on a Thursday night, come see the funniest comedy show in town with the Utility Players. Get your tickets in advance for $10, or $15 at the door (additional fees may apply). The show begins at 8:00pm; come early and grab a drink at their full service bar. Hope to see you all at the Pioneer Underground on Thursday!!!