Improv your way to (local) stardom

For those of us who get BlackBerry thumb from texting so many votes to reality show contests, now there’s “Denver’s Next Improv Star,” a live elimination-style comedy showdown that lets us indulge our voyeuristic tendencies and rot our brains in person. Dubbed “reality theater” by its creators, the contest runs Saturday nights at Bovine Metropolis Theater beginning Jan. 23. (But, sadly, opening night is already sold out.) For $16 a show, you can watch 11 comedians duke it out in interactive improv games for a chance at the title and also prizes from Denver favorites such as Elitch Gardens and Tattered Cover Book Store. “We all love reality TV,” says Bovine founder and contest judge Eric Farone. “We love picking who we want to win. In reality theater you get to pick who you want to win. The audience’s opinion matters, and will influence the outcome.”