BATS Improv Collects its Seventh and Eighth "Best of the Bay" Award from Readers of the S.F. Bay Guardian
BATS named "Best Theater Company" and "Best First Date Spot"

San Francisco, CA (July 26, 2006) - BATS Improv was named "Best Theater Comany" and "Best First Date Spot" today in the San Francisco Bay Guardian's 32nd annual "Best of the Bay" readers poll.

According to the Guardian, more than 4,000 ballots were received in this year's voting.

"Wow! We're so grateful to everyone who voted for us," said BATS Executive Director John Kovacevich. "It's especially nice to receive the theater honor since throughout our 20-year history, we've placed an emphasis on being an improvisational theatre company as opposed to just being a comedy club. It's great to have people recognize improvisation as a legitimate theatrical art form."

"With so many relationships blossoming at BATS, we're also happy to be named the 'Best First Date Spot' too." said Kovacevich. "A BATS show is a great date--it provides laughs without embarassing either one of you, let's you see what kind of sense of humor the other person has, and it gives you plenty to talk about after the show. And if the date's a dud, you can quickly wrap it up after the curtain comes down!"

It is the seventh and eighth "Best of the Bay" awards for BATS since 1998. BATS was named "Best Improv Company" in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003. The improv category was not offered after 2003, but readers recognized BATS as the "Best Comedy Troupe" in 2004 and now this year in two categories.

Click here for the complete text of the award.

About BATS Improv – Celebrating 20 years/1986–2006

Acclaimed by critics as “bounce-in-your seat funny,” “consistently hilarious,” and “San Francisco's premiere improvisational theatre," BATS Improv has been a leader in the Bay Area's innovative improv theatre scene for nearly twenty years. Fifty weeks a year, BATS presents a series of completely improvised shows in a variety of formats—from comic competitions to improvised musicals and everything in between. BATS has also gained a reputation as one of the best schools of improvisational theatre anywhere in the world, and offers improv classes and workshops to adults, kids, corporations, non-profits and other groups. BATS attracts students from all over the United States, and as far away as Australia, England, and Japan.

Additionally, BATS offers free improvisation classes through its “Laughing Stock” program to people living with HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis C, cancer, and other chronic, life-threatening illnesses. Classes focus on strengthening quality of life through humor, physical activity, group interaction, risk-taking, and imagination games.

Media Contact:
Sara J. Butz
415-516-8876
sara@improv.org

General Information:
BATS Improv
www.improv.org
415-474-6776