The heart and soul of good improvisational comedy is always accepting the offer. During its January 19, 2013 performance, Big Lick Conspiracy helped one of its fans make and another fan accept the offer of their lifetimes.
Big Lick Conspiracy, Roanoke’s only professional improv comedy troupe, has been providing laughs to its many loyal fans for more than eight years. Performing once a month at Mill Mountain Theatre’s Waldron Stage, Big Lick Conspiracy and its performers have formed a close bond, with many of its fans. Given the troupe’s interactive performance style as well as the group’s facebook activities and various podcast- all of which give fans a special insight into the troupe members lives and minds- such a relationship is almost inevitable.
A few weeks before Big Lick Conspiracy’s January show, one of the troupe’s fans, Jay Kabath, showed how important Big Lick Conspiracy had become to him when he asked one of the troupe’s co-directors, Ross Laguzza to help him prepare a special surprise for his girlfriend.
Ross agreed, the two conferred and on the performance night Jay was picked to participate in one of Big Lick Conspiracy’s improv games. When Jay was asked to pick a partner, he pointed to his long time girlfriend Theresa Reed. Once Theresa joined him on stage, the members of the Big Lick Conspiracy joined him as he asked her to join him as they both made things up as they went along, for the rest of their lives.
When Jay went down on one knee the audience erupted in applause. The applause got even louder when Theresa “accepted the offer” and said yes.
Jay and Theresa authorized Big Lick Conspiracy to tape and share their happy moment. A copy of the video has been posted to both our facebook page and our website and can be viewed at
Big Lick Conspiracy’s next show is February 16 at 8:00 pm. As always, Big Lick Conspiracy will perform on Mill Mountain Theatre’s Waldron Stage. Tickets are $10 in advance, or $15 at the door.
