FACE OFF began in 2002 as a short-form improv comedy show called Friday Night Face Off (FNFO). This high-energy show pitted two teams of improv actors against each other, performing hilarious scenes based on audience suggestions. Over the years, Friday Night Face Off has become the most successful and longest running improv show on Long Island. In fact, Newsday calls FNFO the "Granddaddy of Long Island Improv!"

In 2009 Jay Painter and Eric Robinson decided to take the success that Face Off had been enjoying and make it official by establishing Face Off Unlimited, LLC.

FACE OFF TODAY
Now, as Face Off Unlimited, they're sharing their talent and expertise with the world through various comedy stage shows. Their newest is a critically acclaimed, weekly show in the heart of NYC's famed East Village called BATSU! Combining short form improv games with the wildly popular Japanse game show genre, BATSU! was chosen as a "Critics' Pick" by Time Out NY magazine and a "Voice Choice" by Village Voice magazine. Their touring show A Whole 'Nother Level performs at colleges and universities all over the country. A Whole 'Nother Level, the rockin' long form interactive improv experience, performed at the 2011 Chicago Improv Festival and was called by The Huffington Post "a must see act, you won't want to miss."

As performers, producers, and teaching artists, Face Off has become a force to be reckoned with in America's greatest city. Face Off cast members, students, as well as the theatres and venues we in perform, are all a part of the Face Off Universe - a family of creative people who wish to provide professional opportunities and support to one another, breaking the contraints of what is considered traditional improvisation.

Watch the official FOU promotional video

On behalf of Face Off Unlimited, JeBon Sushi & Noodle, and the American Red Cross
we would like to thank all of you who came out (to one or both of our benefit shows)
and helped us raise $1,500 for the victims in Japan!

THANK YOU!

Why Astoria/LIC?
Face Off Unlimited has made Astoria, Queens its home since its inception in 2009, though our core group had already been living here for years. When first developing FOUniversity (our school of comedy), we knew that we wanted to give Queens' artists a chance to study improvisational acting without having to make the trip into Manhattan. In our search for a venue, we were drawn by Long Island City’s strong artistic pulse. It seemed that around every nook and cranny in LIC we found like-minded actors, musicians, poets, storytellers, and comics. We set up shop inside the Secret Theatre and immediately began to feel a real connection to the neighborhood. It started, of course, with pre-rehearsal meals at the deli around the corner and after show drinks at various local bars, but it wasn't long before we were experiencing the extent of the arts scene in the area. Our roots in LIC were reaching far deeper than just our classes at the Secret Theatre, we had become members of a thriving and ingrained community of artists.

FACE OFF UNIVERSITY
At FOUniversity, new generations of improvisers are learning the unique Face Off approach to improvisation. Offering an ongoing course of study, designed for fun and helping you become a better performer, Face Off University has been attracting some of New Yorks most talented professional actors and singers.

2011 QUEENS FRINGE: ALL DAY IMPROV FESTIVAL
This year Face Off Unlimited was proud to produce the comedy events of the 2011 Queens Fringe Festival as well as the 2011 LICAO! Our biggest event of the year was the All Day Improv Festival featuring 13 hours sraight of performances by teams from all over the country and was headlined by some of the biggest names in improvisational comedy!

2011 Performing Acts:
2SIC (Long Island)
Chet Watkins (Magnet)
Day Camp Kids (NYC)
Face Off Unlimited (NYC)
Flighty Ducks (PA)
FNFO (Long Island)
FOUniversity (NYC)
FUNKLE TODD (NYC)
Girls! Girls! Girls! (NYC)
Hustlebot (Pittsburg)
iMusical: The Reunion Show (DC/NYC)
International Stinger (Chicago)
Queens Fringe Improv All Stars (NYC/Chicago)
Jeff Fahey is TRON (NYC)
Schmuckler Twins (NYC)
Second Place Champions (NJ)
Standard Oil (UCB)
Swomo (Boston)
Taught By Feeny (NYC)
The Breaks (NYC)
The Master Debaters (NYC)
Zamboni! (NYC)

FNFO HISTORY
FNFO was founded by Eric Robinson and Jay Painter in 2002, while both on contract as actors with Theatre Three in Port Jefferson, NY. They saw that the theatre had an amazing cabaret space and second stage theatre downstairs that wasn't really being used, so they decided to create an improv show! In late 2003 they turned over the Creative Director reigns to Joe Tex, a TSF and Chicago trained improviser, led FNFO to 58 consecutive sold out shows in 2004-2005. In 2004, Jay, Eric, Joe, and fellow cast members Dan Barry and Lu Jimenez wrote and performed for the first time the FNFO theme song "You're Gonna P#$$ Your Pants". FNFO made its television debut in 2006 with 6 half-hour episodes airing on Cablevision NY's Public Access Channel. In 2007, current Creative Director and original cast member Vinny Russo stepped in and has continued the long standing commitment to excellence that has led FNFO, now in it's 9th year, to a kind of comedy renaissance.

Todays cast features veteran members Vinny Russo, Charlie Connolly and Steve Zegers, who along with Greg Ceremello, Michael Puma, Jon Kaplan, and Heather Shields are leading FNFO into this next decade. Over the years, dozens of talented actors and comedians have performed on the FNFO stage! Today, Face Off alumni are working in nearly every aspect of the entertainment industry. Former cast member Christopher Hahn, Democratic Strategist and FOX NEWS contributor, has founded 2SIC Improv, which enjoyed a two year run in Farmingdale, NY.  You can still see Friday Night Face Off, the legendary show that started it all, performing to sell out crowds every Friday night in Port Jefferson, NY.

Visit the shows website at fridaynightfaceoff.com.

BATSU! HISTORY
Jay Painter and Eric Robinson had done a benefit show a few years back at JeBon and were immediately struck with admiration for the restaurant's owner Mr. Joe Yip. When Joe Tex had moved from LA back to NYC to work as the Director Of Operations for FOU in 2010, Jay and Eric wanted to stop in and see if Joe Yip was still working there and to introduce him to Joe Tex. He was there of course and as awesome as ever! Over some...okay, a lot of sake, Mr. Yip decided that Face Off should do a weekly show at JeBon. Over the course of the next few months, they met and discussed what the show could be. One evening while all sitting down to a meal and sake with Mr. Yip at JeBon, Jay had to leave a bit early and as he walked outside, onto historic St. Marks, he was struck with a jolt of genius. He saw that there was a strong and vibrant Asian community and the thought "Japanese game show" smashed into his mind like a baby powdered pimp slap!

Over the course of the next few months BATSU! was developed. They took the best of the Japanese game show genre and infused it (much like the habanero infused tequila Devil's Hot Shot) with what Face off did best...comedy. On December 6, 2010 the show previewed to a sold out crowd and it was clear that BATSU! would be a hit. A month later, after a few minor tweaks, BATSU! began its open run on January 10, 2011.

Today the show has developed into a slick, polished, and wild comedy with outrageous punishments and challenges that leave audiences cheering and chanting for punishment: BATSU! BATSU! BATSU! The critics have been raving and BATSU! has become a NYC destination show perfect for out-of-town guests, birthday parties, and bachelorette parties!

A WHOLE 'NOTHER LEVEL HISTORY
A Whole 'Nother Level was created in August of 2010 at the Improv Throwdown in Harrisburg, PA hosted by the improv troupe Don't Break The Streak. The plan was for several of the members of the Face Off team to head down and compete with its signature short form style show, but due to last minute schedule conflicts on the trio of Joe Tex, Jay Painter, and Eric Robinson was able to make the trip. A three man short form show would have proved difficult so the guys pieced together on the drive down and in the hotel room the night before a basic concept for a 30 minute long form show that utilized improvised music and poetry, and embedding elements of short form into the newly born form. The first show was a huge success, very high scores and moving Face Off into the next round. The second show was performed to a packed out house in the Saturday night prime-time slot and Face Off took it to A Whole 'Nother Level, earning perfect scores from the judges and introducing the world to Ricardo. With each show the form developed into a more meta-theatrical experience that swayed and breathed uniquely for each new audience.

After Harrisburg, the show was booked up and down the east coast at colleges, theatres and festivals, and was even taken to the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA) conference in the fall of 2010. From bringing the house down at the Govorners School of the Arts in West Virginia to the Chicago Improv Festival, where The Huffington Post called A Whole 'Nother Level one of five "must see acts", this show is making a splash in the national comedy community. This fall A Whole 'Nother Level will be again be on display for booking at two regional NACA conferences, along with BATSU!, and come February of 2012, assuming the Mayans were wrong, A Whole 'Nother Level will appear at the National Conference for NACA where Face Off will attempt to take their game to the same level as the name of the show that is taking them there! A Whole 'Nother!

to learn more about:

FNFO
BATSU!
FOUniversity
booking Face Off
A Whole 'Nother Level
Queens Fringe Festival
the latest in the FOUniverse

explore this website...and by all means, come see a show!

Follow @FaceOffImprov

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