CSU and CU Take Rivalry to the Stage at Rocky Mountain Improv Throwdown March 30

Colorado State University and the University of Colorado have engaged in a heated rivalry for more than a century. The rivalry has primarily been apparent on the football field, but the two schools will take their rivalry to a whole new level at the CSU vs. CU Rocky Mountain Improv Throwdown 7 p.m. March 30 at Bovine Metropolis Theater in Denver, 1527 Champa St.

Each university will have one team, “Questionable Shellfish” representing CSU and “Left Right TIM” representing CU. Fans are encouraged to wear their green and gold and black and gold, to show their pride for their respective schools. The CSU and CU Alumni Associations will also compete to have the highest alumni attendance at the event.

The comedic improvisation techniques will mirror that of popular improv shows, such as “Whose Line Is It Anyway with Drew Carey,” “Saturday Night Live,” and “Chicago Second City.”

All content is made up on the spot, based on audience suggestions, says Linnea Brutlag, the production and sales director at Bovine and a CSU alumna. During the first half of the show, each team will have 20 minutes to show the audience their improv skills. The audience will then have the chance to vote for the team they think is most comical.

“Attendees can expect to be highly entertained and feel like a part of the show,” said Brutlag.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Bovine Theater offers several improv shows, classes and workshops. Since 1993, Eric Farone, a CSU alumnus and the owner/artistic director of the theater, has trained more than 700 improvisers and professionals. He has also produced and directed 30 comedy venues and dozens of improvised shows. Farone could not be more excited to host the CSU vs. CU Rocky Mountain Improv Throwdown.

"There will finally be a CSU vs. CU match-up where everyone wins," said Farone.

Both Brutlag and Farone are credited with coming up with the idea of the competitive improv between the two schools. They have worked with the alumni associations to build support and hope to make it an annual event.

The CSU team Questionable Shellfish was started in 2005 with the assistance of CSU alumni April Mendenhall, Katy Sammons and Matt Thompson. The comedy group is a nonprofit theatre organization that specializes in short forum improv comedy.

Questionable Shellfish performs all over the state for local and national audiences. The troupe is composed of 12 CSU alumni and students.

CU’s Left Right TIM team have represented CU since 2008 and started with just a few CU students. Now the team has 16 members and performs weekly at both the CU-Denver and CU-Boulder campuses. The group is the recent winner of the Bovine Metropolis Theater Battle Royale and will have its own show at the Bovine in July 2010.

Tickets to the event cost $7 and may be purchased through the Bovine Metropolis Theatre Web site at http://www.bovinemetropolis.com/ or by phone at (303) 758-4722.

-30-