March 20, 2014

Greenville Journal, Updated March 20, 2014

Two masters of improv comedy, Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" have teamed up to present a live tour, "Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood: The Two Man Group Tour." The performance is coming to the Peace Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, June 14, at 8 p.m.

Based on a British show of the same name, the American version of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" ran on ABC from 1998 to 2007, hosted by Drew Carey. Mochrie and Sherwood were featured performers on the original British show who joined the roster of improvisers in the American version. In 2013, the CW revived the show, which is now hosted by Aisha Tyler. 

In a similar format to their TV show, in their live show Mochrie and Sherwood will take contributions from the audience to create original scenes. Throughout the evening, the show becomes truly interactive as audience members are called to the stage to participate. 

Colin Mochrie had begun his improv career in Vancouver, British Columbia, when a friend introduced him to Ryan Stiles, a standup comedian and writer living in Vancouver. Mochrie and Stiles teamed up and began performing in a Theatre-sports troupe in Vancouver. Shortly after performing at the Expo '86 world's fair in Vancouver, Mochrie moved to Toronto. There, he auditioned for The Second City, a legendary comedy theatre, where Stiles was working at the time. Mochrie worked at Second City for three years. 

Mochrie's first appearance on the British "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" was in 1991, and he remined a regular cast member until that show ended in 1998. When the show moved to America, ABC officials wanted to drop Mochrie;p they thought the comedian looked "too old" and "not hip enough." Those involved in the show - including Stiles, who had co-starred with Drew Carey on "The Drew Carey Show" - prevailed, and Mochrie remained a mainstay on the ABC show, appearing in every episode of its run. 

Sherwood was a regular cast member on ABC's "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" as well on the British version - which was rerun in America on Comedy Central - and will be seen on the second upcoming season of the new "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" on the CW. His credits include "The Drew Carey Show," "The Green Screen Show," over 100 appearances on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," numerous appearances on VH-1's "I Love The '80s" and "I Love the '90s," and guest-hosting "Talk Soup." Sherwood briefly worked as the announcer on the daytime game show "The Price Is Right," also hosted by Drew Carey. 

Mochrie and Sherwood's DVD, "Two Man Group: Live and Dangerous Comedy," is available in stores now. 

Pre-sale tickets are now available for Peacekeepers and may be purchased by calling 864-467-3000. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Saturday, March 22 at 10 a.m. at peacecenter.org by phone at (864) 467-3000 or at the Peace Center Box Office located at 300 S. Main Street, Greenville. Tickets start at $35. Additional information is available at peacecenter.org. 

Who: Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood: The Two Man Group Tour

Where: The Peace Center

When: Saturday, June 14, 8pm

Tickets: $35 and up, on sale to general public starting March 22

Information: (864) 467-3029n or peacecenter.org