Jon Jon & Co.

For immediate release:

Denver, CO- Jon Jon & Co. recently signed a deal to join the newly opened Grafenberg Theater in an education and production capacity. Jon Jon & Co. will be presenting a new LGBT+ Bingo Improv Jam and Jon Jon Lannen will be officially joining the Grafenberg faculty, teaching Acting & Character Development. Jon Jon, owner of Jon Jon & Co., and Justin Franzen, owner of Grafenberg Productions, have been actively involved in the improv comedy community for 30 years collectively. 

Jon Jon & Company has had a major impact on queer comedy in the Denver community. With recent shows such as Lipsync for your Laugh, Jon Jon is at the helm of this push for improv comedy in the gay community. Combining his love for improvisation and the vibrant LGBTQ+ community, he created the show, aptly named, Improv's Gay. Improv's Gay is an Improv Bingo Jam catering to the LGBTQ+ Community hosted by Jon Jon Lannen. Improv's Gay is both a bingo game and a night of improvisational theater. Improv performers select their respective numbered balls upon entering and are selected at random in a lottery-style improv jam, with the host pulling numbers at random to create a never created or re-created improv ensemble. Audience members not interested in joining the jam are given bingo cards, playing along during the show, with a chance to win prizes, such as movie tickets, classes and more. Improv's Gay will be presented every third Saturday at 7pm at Grafenberg Theater in Denver, Colorado. Improv's Gay will have the award-winning LGBT improv comedy ensemble, Queerbots, headline the first three shows.

"I am elated to join Grafenberg!" says Jon Jon Lannen. He continues, "The new show is going to be a comfortable, fun and inspiring show that brings funny people together in a safe environment."

Along with the recent show announcement at Grafenberg, Jon Jon has also decided to join Grafenberg Theater's school of improvisation. With an extensive background in the study of improvisational theater, Jon Jon will be taking on the role of Grafenberg's level 201 instructor, teaching acting and character development. Jon Jon will continue to teach short form improv at The Clocktower Cabaret.

Jon Jon & Co. and Grafenberg Productions have partnered up to let everyone know that Improv's Gay; and Jon Jon is just the OG improv gay to show everyone just how gay.

About Jon Jon Lannen: Jon Jon Lannen is a writer, actor & director living in Denver, Colorado. Jon Jon has been performing improv comedy for over fifteen years and wants everyone to fall in love with the art of improvisation. More on Jon Jon here.

About Justin Franzen: Justin lives and breathes improv. He has been improvising for 19 years. From humble beginnings in highschool speech and debate in Denver, to studying at iO Chicago and Annoyance Theater, Justin has spent his adult life absorbing improv theory and learning production. He has been a part of groups and shows such as Go-Go Manifesto, Weather Report, and Ginger's Improv Ale House. Justin moved back to Denver to found his own production company and began teaching and coaching Chicago-style improv in 2013. Offering a unique and experienced perspective to the Denver improv scene, Justin continues to lead Grafenberg Productions with an insightful eye, a strong voice, and one really fat cat named Panda Pie; she has lost weight but is still fatter than her sister, Bama.

About Grafenberg Productions: Grafenberg Productions is one of Denver's top long-form improv and sketch comedy production houses. Founded by Justin Franzen in 2013, Grafenberg aims to offer high-quality long-form improv and sketch comedy shows, as well as classes taught by highly trained and experienced performers, to all members of the community. Adapting the iO Chicago and Annoyance styles of play to a unique curriculum, Grafenberg offers Denver a niche in the improv and sketch art forms not available elsewhere in the community. Through its meticulously trained teachers, coaches, and performers, Grafenberg produces shows with consistently high value and turns out grounded, patient improvisers and polished sketch writers. Grafenberg's training center offers 5 levels of long-form improv classes, as well as 4 levels of sketch comedy classes. You can also see shows five nights a week, Tuesday-Saturday, at their theater.

About Jon Jon and Company: Jon Jon & Co. is a boutique style firm specializing in coaching, comedy and consulting. Jon Jon & Co. is owned by Jon Jon Lannen.

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