BRISTOL – Facing teams from Granger, Chicago and Indianapolis, the improv troupe from Syracuse won the Comedy Criminals Improv Festival Saturday night at the Elkhart Civic Theatre at the Bristol Opera House. Main On Main, Syracuse, advanced from the preliminary rounds March 29 to compete against the other three finalist teams. Those teams included Sheboygan, Chicago; Funraisers Inc., Granger; and ComedySportz, Indianapolis. Second runner-up was Sheboygan, and first runner-up was ComedySportz. For winning the competition, Main On Main will get to return to the Civic Theatre stage for a performance of their own. They also won “gold” comedic eyewear. “It felt amazing. Things were clicking, the audience was with us. It’s amazing,” said Todd Lucas, Main On Main. Compared to the preliminary round, Main On Main’s Seth Anderson said, “We killed it. The audience gave us great suggestions and we killed it.” “Best show we’ve ever done,” said Derick Gamble. “We listened to each other and we worked with each other. It was great.” Taylor White said, “It was definitely not a show where I felt I was the main part or it was my show. We were a well-oiled machine. I’m more proud of everyone because we weren’t trying to win but have fun.” He said Main On Main will try to branch out more with more shows at more locations. Winning Saturday’s competition was motivation to do that, he said. Celebrity judges included Michael Linville, WVPE; Marshall King, The Elkhart Truth; Jessica Hardy, Chicago Comedy Film Festival; and Gordy Young, WNIT. Each judge’s vote counted for 20 percent of the total, with the audience vote also counting for 20 percent. The audience overwhelmingly voted for Main On Main, with three of the four judges also voting for the Syracuse team. Hardy explained why she thought Main On Main won the contest. “Main On Main won because they succeeded at listening to each other and supporting one another on stage,” she said. “They were genuinely enjoying each moment without being attached to the outcome. The judges, as well as the audience, could feel their joyful energy. We laughed the whole time. We got lost in it with them. No one checked their watch for the time. We were along for the ride.” Both weekends of the comedy improv competition were sold out. The 2015 competition is set for May 2 and 9. Main On Main’s next home show is Friday at 7 p.m. at the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce. It’s a free show.
