The Utility Players Return for Season 13 with Themed Shows at the Sands
 
RENO, Nev. (February 27, 2017) – The Utility Players, Reno-Tahoe's most popular, homegrown comedy show, return to their stage inside Jester's Theater at Sands Regency for their 13th Season, which runs every Saturday night for 13 weeks at 8pm, beginning March 4th. Their show features 90 minutes of Rated R, short-form improv comedy, in the style of Whose Line Is It Anyway?. With the success of centering all shows in their 12th season around a "theme", they've kept the momentum going with 13 new, weekly themes.


"It's still the same, ridiculously funny show fans love, but, with the addition of themes, it allows us to be more adventurous with our marketing, while at the same time spicing up the live show," explains Director of Marketing and the man behind the creative photoshopping, Derek Armstrong.


Some of this season's themes include the season premiere tribute to "Puberty", in honor of their 13th season, "Censorship" on March 25th, which pokes fun at and digs deep into the role of censorship in our modern culture, and a dark twist on "Mother's Day" on May 13th, with an ode to the film "Psycho" . The full list of themes can be found on the blog page at www.utilityplayerscomedy.com.


Created and hosted by Jessica The Jester Levity, The Utility Players have been playing together since 2009; every improv show is a unique co-creation between The Utility Players and their patrons (only 120 tickets available each show). Tickets for their regular season shows are available at the Sands Regency Box Office, or online at www.sandsregency.com.


"The Utility Players have become family to the Sands. Their show is by far the funniest in town and we look forward to another great season," says Pete McHugh, General Manager of Sands Regency.

Tickets are $15, and the show takes place in the new Jester's Theater, next to the buffet at the Sands. See it once, or see it every week, this side-splitting show is always fresh, always funny, and guaranteed to hit the spot.
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In this three week course, we'll be taking a look at the thing we most want to avoid: ourselves. In week 1, we'll be reflecting on some of the beliefs we have about ourselves that keep us from breaking out of that shell, as well as learning to laugh at ourselves through play. We'll also be taking home some basic tools to use throughout the week, so that in Week 2, we can reflect on how implementing those tools made a positive impact in our social interactions. In Week 2 we'll continue the art of play, learn how to fail in front of other people, examine our control issues, and how to use our voice to communicate our fears effectively. In Week 3, we'll be conquering one major fear of ours, whether that's teaching a game or a lesson to the group, delivering a presentation, or performing an artistic piece (like a monologue, spoken word, standup comedy, speech, toast etc.).

Four workshops to give you the tools to audition better, create characters, delve into meaning and find that emotion.

Have you ever called in sick to school or work when you felt fine?  Then you can act!  This series of workshops will help you to hone those skills so that you can truly improve as an artist and actor (or just to improve that “sick voice”).  This workshop is for every level, and Amanda will work one-on-one with you at the level you feel comfortable with. 

From a more confident audition to an in-depth dramatic scene, Amanda will help you every step of the way.

"As a poet, essayist, and teacher of writing, I can honestly say that nothing has changed the way I view writing, and the writing process, like the art of improv. I have been a teacher for eight years and an improviser for six; these two facets of my life have found a symbiotic relationship surrounding writing, and I would like to pass this knowledge on to everyone! This class is for the seasoned writer, the novice, the teacher, someone who thinks they want to write, and that guy—yes that guy over there! “Sir with the skull cap, please sit down and welcome to Yes, And!” This class will push drag, and pull you out of your shell, out of your writer’s block, and onto the stage, into a working, publishable draft. "

RENO, Nev. (Sept. 11, 2016) – The Utility Players, Reno-Tahoe's most popular, homegrown comedy show, returns to their stage inside Jester's Theater at Sands Regency for their 12th Season, which runs every Saturday night at 8pm, beginning September 24th. Their show features 90 minutes of Rated R, short-form improv comedy, in the style of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, but this season, they've thrown in a twist by adding themed shows.

"It's still the same, ridiculously funny show fans love, but, with the addition of themes, it allows us to be more adventurous with our marketing, while at the same time spicing up the live show," explains Director of Marketing and the man behind the creative photoshopping, Derek Armstrong.

Some of this season's themes include a tribute to Sands/Reno's Comic-Con on 10/1, Halloween weekend's "Murder!" show, and "Soft Rock the Vote", a spoof of all things election related on 11/5. The full list of themes can be found on the blog page at www.utilityplayerscomedy.com.

Principal Utility Player Amanda Alvey says, "From a production stance, not much will change, since the show is, at its core, completely improvised. But this season Jes [the host of The Utility Players] will shape the 'Ask For' for each game around that night's theme. So, instead of asking audiences to yell out a location or an object, she'll ask for 'a strange character to choose as a cosplay', or, 'an interesting idea for a Presidential campaign slogan'."

Created and hosted by Jessica The Jester Levity, The Utility Players have been playing together since 2009; every improv show is a unique co-creation between The Utility Players and their patrons (only 120 tickets available each show). Tickets for their regular season shows are available at the Sands Regency Box Office, or online at www.sandsregency.com. "The Utility Players have become family to the Sands. Their show is by far the funniest in town and we look forward to another great season," says Pete McHugh, General Manager of Sands Regency.

Tickets are $15, and the show takes place in the new Jester's Theater, next to the buffet at the Sands. See it once, or see it every week, this side-splitting show is always fresh, always funny, and guaranteed to hit the spot.

Reno, NV, January 18, 2016:  Reno/Tahoe’s #1 Comedy Troupe, The Utility Players, are returning to their rightful throne at the newly revamped Jester’s Theatre, inside the Sands Regency! Season 11 of this uproarious and irreverent improv show is positioned to be the greatest season the Players have ever had; now with a larger cast, an updated repertoire of games, and an unlimited potential for laughter! Shows this season begin February 6th, 2016 (the troupe's seventh birthday), and run every Saturday thereafter at 8pm through April 30th.


The show is 90 minutes of hard-hitting, side-splitting improv comedy in the style of Whose Line is It Anyway?. Creator and Host, Jessica Levity (Homeslice Productions), takes suggestions from the audience, allowing patrons to co-create the experience with the actors; each live and unscripted show is always fresh and always funny. Players invent characters, environments, and situations on the spot, based upon those suggestions from the audience. There’s a little bit of something for everyone: musical games, guessing games, and all-original games that The Utility Players have developed over their seven years as a troupe.  Fans of the troupe will tell you that you’re guaranteed to laugh until your face hurts.  That’s exactly why everyone from first-timers to longtime fans (called ‘Utilitarians’) can expect a one-of-a kind, unforgettable show, each and every week. 


“I’ve heard multiple audience members, both newbies and those that we consistently see at shows, describe our last season as ‘on fire,’” said Jessica “The Jester” Levity, The Utility Players’ producer and host. “We are working with fervor to carry that ‘fire’ into our shows this coming season, and grow it larger than it’s ever been before.
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Tickets for The Utility Players Season 11 are now available online at www.sandsregency.com, at the cage inside of the Sands, or at the door. Shows begin at 8:00pm, doors open at 7:30pm. The show is Rated R for language and adult themes. For more information about the troupe and the show, check out www.utilityplayerscomedy.com.
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Derek Armstrong
Director of Marketing
www.utilityplayerscomedy.com
775 722 7858

We're just 3 weeks out from launching our 11th season! Many people have been asking how they can purchase Season Sponsorships and Season Passes, so here's the info!
All transactions can be handled online or in person, you just need to message us on Facebook or email us at [email protected] so we can personally take care of you.
Thanks so much for your enthusiasm, and please help us spread the word!
See you soon,
The U.P.