Bit to Do [1]

Louisville improv troupe Damaged Goods was originally founded by Parker Bowles and Stefan Gearheart who met while performing in the Louisville experimental theater production Elevator Plays 2. Parker then joined Stefan’s Improv troupe, The Nanny Tharpe Experience. After some moving around and exploration into other opportunities, they decided to start their own troupe, Damaged Goods. They brought on another Elevator performer and experienced improv performer, April Singer.  They continued to add to the line up from there.  It did not take long for the troupe to become one of Louisville’s favorite performance groups.  Since its inception, the line up has morphed into the current line up of Parker Bowles, Andrew Bailey, April Singer, Jp Lebangood, Karl Crose, Rocky Williams.

The team is very dedicated to being the best they can and seek to continually stretch their talents. Singer runs rehearsals at least twice a week and sometimes adds extra rehearsals when necessary. She lends much of her experience from performing with Chicago Improv Theater iO to the other members of the group.

“We're constantly learning and making new discoveries and that's one of the things that make being a member of Damaged Goods so much fun,” said Bowles.

Damaged Goods considers Art Sanctuary and Alley Theater their home base and performs there at least monthly. They also perform semi-regularly at Sub Rosa the Gypsie Courtyard.  They do not have a website yet but they keep their schedule on their FaceBook page [4].

All of the different members of Damaged Goods come from different occupations and backgrounds, but their love of comedy brings them together - with hilarious results.  Most of the members also have other performance interests. Lebangood does storytelling and stand- up comedy. Bailey also does stand up comedy, while Crose has a popular mud show with his wife at the Kentucky Rennaissaince Festival.

“Right now, we’re just focusing on being the best improv troupe this city has ever seen,” said Bowles. “We made a promise to ourselves to never put anything but our absolute best on stage and so far, we feel like we've lived up to that promise. The way we see it, if people are willing to spend their hard earned dollars to get into one of our performances, then we owe it to them to give them the best possible show we can. We all have dreams and goals and I’m not sure where the future will lead any of us. What I do know for certain though, is we've got some real, genuine talent within the walls of Damaged Goods. It'd be a shame to see any of it go to waste.”

The next  Damaged Goods show is called Thanks for the Sweater, Grandma and is on December 4 at Art Sanctuary and the Alley Theater. Leo Reader’s Choice Awards Best stand-up comedian Kent Carney will be The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are two for one at the door. Two people can buy access for $10. (Solo audience members will have to pay full ticket price of $10.)