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Hey, this an an archived
bit of WIT's website that you have found - just
being kept around while some of the old information
is transferred across. Please, go to WIT's main site
to find out what
shows are on now, to contact
us, or find out how to experience some of the
playful joy that is improv for your very
self.
Past Shows, for those who like to remember . . .
Remember . . . WIT Dreamz,
CSI Wainui, Witside Story, The Wishing Tree,
Micetro, The Young and
the Witless IV, Improv
Divas, Love Possibly
The Wishing Tree, Improv Shorts, The
Second New Zealand Improv Festival, The Young
and the Witless III, WellingSIN City, Gorilla Theatre, Micetro, The First New
Zealand Improv Fest, Improv Angels, Catch 23 and so, so much
more. Page is ordered geologically; scroll
down for older shows.
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WIT's Christmas Cracker
There was be a whole season of shows at the
Gryphon Theatre in December 2012
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Micetro 4-7 Dec @ 7pm
Micetro is a raucous evening of spontaneity that
mixes beloved improv games, charismatic humility,
and audience suggestions to create a unique night
of entertainment that will never be seen again.
Catch a mix of Wellington's newest improvisors
plus WIT's favourite veterans as they face off in
this nightly gladiatorial contest! |
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Duets 4-7 Dec @ 8:30pm 
Two improvisors. One stage. No limits.
Each night, three pairs will take to the stage
with only each other to rely on, and no limits to
where the improv takes them. A different trio of
storytelling duets every show |
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Puppets vs People 6-7
Dec, 14 Dec @ 10pm
The ultimate showdown, "Puppets Vs People"
is an improvised comedy battle between
puppets and humans to prove who is
funnier. Scenes are created live on stage
using ideas straight from the audience.
Join us for WIT's first foray into
puppetry - a show that humorously explores
what it means to be human.
Not suitable for children, unless your
children are already cynical reprobates,
inured to bad language and worse
behaviour. |
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Impro Panto 11-12, 14 Dec @ 7pm
Witness the English Christmastime family tradition
as you've never seen it before, and never will
again! All your favourite pantomime characters –
the hero, the Dame, the villain, the talking
horse, all in an enchanting setting, but with a
twist – it’s all made up on the spot. Warning:
contains songs, crossdressing, and a horse. |
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Apocalimpro 11-12, 14 Dec @
8:30pm
It's 2012. You know what that means: The End. Who
would have guessed it would begin right here in
small town New Zealand?
The End of the World... a different way every
night! |
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Impro Unwrapped 13 Dec @ 7pm
An international goodwill project that invites
audience members to bring along a gift to put
under the on-stage Christmas Tree. Gifts are then
selected at random, unwrapped and become the
inspiration for a Christmas story. At the end of
the night, all gifts are re-wrapped and donated to
the Wellington City Mission, along with all the
ticket proceeds of the show. |
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Divas
and the Beast
Troublesome neighbours? Difficult spouses?
Offensive bosses? Never fear! The Improv Divas
(NZ’s only all woman improv act) are here with a
brand new show that takes on the hassles of modern
life and offers purely improvised solutions.
Taking inspiration from the magazine columns &
TV style ‘Agony Aunt’ programmes of old, Divas and
the Beast serve up performances to both educate
and delight the audience.
Let the Improv Divas take on your
beast. No problem too big, too small or too
taboo.
February 23 - 26
BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace
Book now! 04 802 4175 or www.bats.co.nz
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NZIF
is
over. But oh what a festival the 2011
New Zealand Improv Festival at BATS
was!
Familiar faces included The Court
Jesters, The Improvisors and WIT, as well as new
groups Up Against Improv, Chicken Legs Theatre,
and representatives from Brisbane, Dunedin and
Canberra. As well, two of Australia’s best
improvisers Rebecca De Unamuno and Jason Geary
visited with new and unique shows.
Thanks and cheers to all the people who made it
happen ... the producer, the musicians, the
lighting guy, the players, the ticket takers, the
setters-up-of-things, the leaflet hander-outerers,
the lovely reviewers, the
lovely sponsors, the lovely audiences. And
Producer/Artistic director Merrilee! |
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Back for its fifth season in June and
July 2011 Wellington's best, and only, improvised
soap opera turned its overly melodramatic eye to
the highly competitive and scandalous world of
indoor social netball. Team mates and lovers,
friends and coaches, nemesis and referees - all
ripe for soft lens over-acting and long dramatic
pauses with a swelling musical score.
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Auckland - WIT Dreamz
Hop into bed with WIT and delve beneath the
duvet into the subconscious mind of dreams and
nightmares!
When: Wed 18 - Sat 21 May, 7pm
Where: Maidmont
Theatre, Musgrove Studio, 8 Alfred St, CBD
Auckland
Tickets $20.00 / Conc and groups $18.00 ,
Bookings: online
or 09 308 2383 (service fees may apply) |
All-Star Micetro
Micetro is Welllington's favourite competitive
improv format, and for months there have been
hard-fought elimation rounds at the Fringe Bar on
Wednesday nights. In May the distilled best
of the best are ready to fight for the supreme Wellington
improv crown of Comedy Festival Micetro.
When: 7pm Sundays May 8th, 15th and 22nd
Where: The
Fringe Bar, cnr Vivian and Cuba Sts,
Wellington
Tickets: Doorsales, $14 / $12 concession |
CSI Wainui
A grizzly murder in the Hutt. A killer on the
loose. But why now? Why here? Wainui?
The CSI: Wainui team - the best forensic
scientists, amateur detectives, and
neighbourhood-watch-enthusiasts that the Hutt can
muster. But with all the emotional baggage they
bring to work- can they catch the culprit?
Wellington Improvisation Troupe were part of the
2011 Comedy Festival with a fresh new improvised
comedy about CSI, DNA and the DPB.
“Comedy that shoots from the hip”
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Battle of WITs
Improv WITs strive to outwit and outlast their
competitors, until the audience decides which
scene wins, who recieves immunity, and who becomes
the champion!
The Fringe
Bar, Sundays, 20 & 27 February, 6 &
13 March.
7pm, door sales only, Tickets $12 / Concession $12
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WITSide Story
As
part
of the 2011 Wellington Fringe Festival, 3 nights
of heartfelt stories at BATs Theatre, a journey
into the world of musical theatre.
Musical master Robbie Ellis supported a team of
skilled improvisers; Christine Brooks, Mark Scott,
Jen O'Sullivan, Geoff Simmons and overseas guest,
Anne Brashier. These guys and dolls bought to life
a new story each night inspired by suggestions
from you, the audience.
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The Wishing
Tree
Following a popular season in 2009, the Wellington
Improvisation Troupe (WIT) bought The Wishing Tree
to the Garden Club Tuesday 7th –
Saturday 11th December.
Based on a Japanese myth of love, luck and fate,
The Wishing Tree has been performed around the
world from Belgium to Seattle, inspiring
performers and audiences alike.
Director Christine Brooks describes the concept as
“a different kind of improv. A lot of Improv shows
are a bit of fun, but can end up being pretty
disposable, like a comedy version of a one night
stand. The Wishing Tree creates improvised theatre
that I want to remember in the morning”.
Wishes, supplied anonymously by the audience, are
brought to life by the improvisers, providing the
inspiration for scenes where the wishes unfold –
sometimes for good, sometimes for ill and
sometimes just for a laugh.
Starred WIT regulars Christine Brooks, Derek
Flores, Ralph McCubbin Howell, Merrilee McCoy,
Mark Scott, Simon Smith and Paul Sullivan.
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The
New Zealand Improv Festival 2010
An event so awesome it had its own website!
There were rampaging plethori of amazingly
fatastic shows at BATS Theatre and The Fringe Bar,
which featured New Zealand's most talented
improvisors (and some darn fine ones from beyond
our shores too). There was The Wellington
Improvisation Troupe, The
Improvisors , The Court
Jesters, The Con
Artists, Rebecca
De Unamuno (Sydney) and Crumbs
(Canada)
The New Zealand Improv Festival's third year was
bigger, edgier, funnier, and we can't wait until
the next one!
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The
Improv Lab
In
September
2010 some strange and some wonderful new formats
were trialed at the Fringe Bar - featuring
cowboys, dragons, musicals and so many more.
Expect to see some of the shows back for a return
season of their own.
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Thank
God it's . . . Improv!
A late night delight
from WIT hit BATS Theatre on a near-monthly basis
in mid 2010 Every month a different show from
WIT's finest performers.
Late night improv - if it's good enough for the
Court Jesters in Christchurch, it's good enough
for us. That's our new rule.
On WIT:
"Another small
miracle of ingenious group creativity." -
John Smythe, Theatreview
"Made me laugh a
lot" - Laurie Atkinson, Dominion Post
Showtime: 11pm
Venue and Bookings: BATS
Theatre
The
Young and the Witless IV
Fresh from
sucessful seasons of Micetro Improv,
Gods& Heroes, and Improv Divas, WIT,
purveyors of fine improvised comedy since
2004, were proud to offer up another
compelling, must see season of spontaneous
scandal and improvised intrigue in June,
July and August 2010.
NZ's #2 leading retail family, "The
Wakefields", are a trusted iconic NZ brand
thats been around since before your
nana. Lighting the way home for
countless kiwis, Wakefield's department
store may have a place in your heart, but
at the heart of this family, trouble was
brewing.
With our fourth season The Young & The
Witless founder Derek Flores wanted to
explore "...the complex roots of family
and the inherant comedy that lies within
the lies." Each and every week for 3
months a new episode of the unraveling
comedy of the Wakefields was spontaneously
created by a "...formidable and funny"
(theatreview) cast of improvisers.
Relive the glory that was Young and the
Witless IV through Eclipse Photographic's fine
photographs.
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Improv Divas
In the 2010 Comedy Fesival The Improv Divas were
back with NZ's only all-lady improv act ready to
rock the capital!
Stories, scenes and songs are made up on the spot
with sweetness and sass. From hookers with hearts
of gold to grannies who take on super villains,
these women bring it all! Read more
about the show and the players.
The
Improv Divas Gallery is available to view -
thanks to Elipse
Photograic.
2010 Comedy Festival Micetro Finals Season!!
The wittiest WITs have been
determined over 10 weeks of shows, with the best
of the best duking it out in the Comedy Festival
Micetro finals season.
Micetro is a raucous evening of spontaneity that
mixes beloved improv games, charismatic humility,
and audience suggestions to create a unique night
of entertainment that will never be seen again.
Improv is theatrical tight rope walking: armed
only with their quick wits, improvisers valiantly
struggle to cross the gaping abyss of failure - to
everyone's amusement and joy!
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Love Possibly
Wednesdays with WIT in
March/April 2010 saw a six week season of Love
Possibly
From true love, desires,
pleasure and heartbreak; Love Possibly is a show
sure to fulfil your weekly RomCom
needs... The audience calls the
shots, as the cast then draw on inspiration from
movies such as ‘Four Flops and a Turkey’,
‘Nothing Hill’ and ‘Bridget’s Dairy
Intolerance’; create a completely improvised
‘chick flick’ and attempt to find true love,
over the course of one hour. Broken hearts are a
certainty…
Launched in 2005, Love, Possibly was the first
improvised RomCom in the country. WIT players
share a love of storytelling. They work together
as a team to inspire the audience, crafting
stories that are sometimes serious, often
hilarious and always totally unpredictable.
Featuring your favourite WIT lovers, Love,
Possibly appeals to lovers of improv, lovers of
love and those who love lovers.
"no script, just guts, teamwork and imagination"
- Capital Times, Love, Possibly 2005
PG. Adult Themes.
P.S: There was kissing. Possibly...
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Gods & Heroes -
February 2010
Gods &
Heroes Relocated to Mt Victoria by the UN!
Ancient Greek Pantheon Seen Milling
About In Togas; New Zealand Mortals Baffled By
'New' Mt Olympus
A large angry man, clad only in a toga,
was seen hurling thunderbolts at other
similarly-clad beings atop the Mt Victoria Lookout
last weekend. When stunned Kiwis, visiting one of
their more beloved sites around town, asked one of
the women what was going on she replied “Zeus is
having a hissy fit. Again”. Another large man,
clad in a massive lion’s hide, was seen wrestling
animatedly with what he claimed was a 9-headed
Hydra. It was, in fact, a stuffed kiwi plushie
from Kirkcaldie & Stains.
Gods & Heroes: Improvised Myths is a
brand-new improvised show, featuring Wellington
Improvisation Troupe's (WIT) most experienced
players. The Greek Gods and Heroes you know and
love now have a new home, atop Wellington's own Mt
Victoria. Witness the creation of new myths and
legends as the daily squabbles and dramas of the
Gods and Heroes invariably spill over into the
world of the Kiwi mortals.
“Our
Gods
and
Heroes
are
just
like
humans
–
they
have
the
same
strengths,
the
same
weaknesses.
They
bicker
and
fight
just
like
any
family.
They
reflect
our
own
stories,
which
is
great
material for improv”, says Christine Brooks,
Director for the show.
"WIT has built a
reputation for character-based improvised theatre
that focuses on storytelling, through three
seasons of its sold-out improvised soap opera, The
Young and the Witless, and Gods and Heroes will
build on this," she said.
WIT's best character improvisers bring
you Gods & Heroes: Improvised Myths as part of
Fringe 2010
Dates: 9.30pm Saturday February 20th to Wednesday
February 24th
Venue: BATS, 1 Kent Terrace
Tickets: $16 Full / $13 Concession / $12 Fringe
Addict
Bookings
at
BATS
Theatre:
Phone
(04)
802
4175
or
email
book@bats.co.nz
The Gods are running both a Facebook
page, and Fringe
Blogs.
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Improvathon
The 30 hour 2010 Improvathon was so huge it has
its own page
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The Wishing
Tree
An
enchanting new improv show, The Wishing Tree, was
presented at BATS Theatre from 8 - 12 December
2009. Based on a Japanese myth of love, luck and
fate, a tree blossoms with genuine wishes as
anonymously supplied by the audience. These
true desires become the inspiration for scenes
that will transport audiences to a world where
their own wishes are brought to life before their
eyes. Sometimes for good, other times for
ill, and sometimes just for a laugh.
Starring WIT regulars from improvised soap The
Young and the Witless, Derek Flores, Simon Smith,
Anton van Helden, Paul Sullivan, Christine Brooks
and others, The Wishing Tree bought true desires
to life in a unique theatre experience.
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Improv
Shorts
Winter was over so
WIT got out its pasty legs on
Wednesdays in November 2009 in
Improv Shorts!
Sometimes
serious, often hilarious, always
unpredictable...
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The
Second New Zealand Improv Festival
The second fantabulous New Zealand Improv Festival
happened
in October 2009. All praise to
Merrilee and Derek, WIT, The Improvisors , The
Court Jesters ,
ConArtists
, Impro Melbourne
and everyone else who made it fly!
Relive the wonder in
photos
and reviews .

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The
Young and the Witless III
For its third season Wellington's
best, and only, improvised soap opera was set at a regional Wellington
hospital. Seven characters in search of a
plot line, struggled with the every day workings
of a medical life through melodrama, intrigue,
and a bit of over acting.
In a hospital this full of passion
and secrets, who can you trust? When life
is on the line, where is the room for heart?
So throbbingly awesome the tale had its own
Facebook site, the continuous improvised storyline
unfolded during June and July 2009.
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WellingSIN
City 
The
improvised
noir
where
YOU
called
the
shots
Murder, Revenge, Justice, Improv... explore
the mean streets and dark underbelly of
WellingSIN CITY. We all have our demons, but
how we exorcised them was up to you.
Where: The Fringe Bar, Cnr Cuba and Vivian
Streets
When: Sundays 10, 17, 24 May
2009
Part of the NZ International Comedy
Festival 2009
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Gorilla Theatre

Join the
Revolution!
Tired of Spielberg,
Lucas, Tarantino, and their capitalist
works? Continuing with their hugely
successful 'Wednesdays with WIT'
at the Fringe Bar (fka Blue Note), the
Wellington Improv Troupe now brings the
people GORILLA THEATRE.
With GORILLA , each
night five card-carrying, aspiring
directors challenge each other in creating
& directing improvised scenes,
stories, sagas and perhaps a song.
In the great socialist tradition, YOU the people
get to decide which director gets adorned
as state champion.
Unpredictable, quality improvised comedy,
each night.
Vodka optional.
What are people saying about WIT's shows?
"Edge-of-your-seat comedy"
- TV3 Nightline
"I laughed so hard I
couldn't see" -
Salient
"Formidable and Funny"
- Theatrereview.co.nz
GORILLA THEATRE
8pm
Wednesdays in March
Tix $8, Doors open at 7:30pm
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Sunday
Improv Jam
For a tasty Sunday evening long form improv treat.
Take 1 helping of Wellington improv
comedy talent, add audience suggestions; mix in a
theme. Let bake for 60 minutes.
Serve chilled. Comedy that's raw and loose with a
minty taste!
Fringe Bar (Cnr Cuba and Vivian St) 8th,
13th and 20th February, 7pm
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New
Zealand Improv Fest
"New Zealand's most
playful minds spring forth in a festival of
improvised theatre."

They came from around NZ . . . You came from around the world.
Together, we made the first
NZIF a roaring success.
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Improv
Angels:
improvised crime kicking
adventure!

New Zealand’s only all-female improv ensemble, The
Improv Divas are back with the adrenaline fuelled
classic crime adventure: Improv Angels.
With the help of ‘Charlie’ and some key
information from the audience, the Divas will take
everyone on an hour long improvised journey. It’s a
hair-tossing attempt to spontaneously solve the
latest mysterious crime wave, save New Zealand ...
and maintain meaningful friendships at the same
time.
“I laughed so hard I couldn’t see.” -
Salient, NZ comedy festival 2008
Catch some all-women action! They’ve shown that they
can find love and be hilarious in Lovepossibly.
And now they’ve taken on the action genre but
it’s still ultimately about relationships. For
example: can you still kick-butt with your best
friend when she’s sleeping with the super villain?
Or is there an ‘I’ in ‘Team’? These are everyday
questions that women, and many men, are aching for
answers to.
Improv Angels continues ‘Wednesdays
with WIT’ at the Blue Note Bar, an
initiative started by Derek Flores, who will play
Charlie for the Improv Angels.
Yes, Charlie is a man and they’re okay with that.
You tell them the crime and they’ll show you that
women can do anything… with heels on.
Starring: Anna Burns, Christine Brooks, Clare
Kerrison, and Merrilee McCoy.
Improv Angels
8pm
Wednesdays 6th, 13th. 20th, 27th August
Blue Note Bar, cnr Vivian and Cuba sts
$8, door sales only
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The Young
and the Witless 2:
an improvised soap opera!
Wednesdays at 8pm!
Wellington's
finest improvised soap opera is back!
After selling out at the NZ Fringe, WIT are back
with more love triangles, deception, and
insidious murder plots…
Make Wednesday your regular soap night for 8
weeks this winter as the hilarious WIT ensemble
"...prove they are formidable and funny"*
with a brand new, completely improvised
continuous soap opera that keeps everyone
guessing! Including us!
Eight nights of shows. Six characters in search
of a storyline. One spontaneous saga of polished
stupidity.
"...a high calibre of humour and W.I.T"*
(*www. theatreview.co.nz)
Starring Christine Brooks, Anna Burns,
Julian Faid, Derek Flores, Clare Kerrison,
Simon Smith, Paul Sullivan,
and Anton Van Helden.
Wednesday 11 June – Wednesday
30 July
Blue Note Bar,
191-195 Cuba Street
Door sales, per show $8
Season pass (see all shows!) $40
Please email info.at.wit@gmail.com
for details
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Catch 23 - Improv Comedy

Direct from the dirty underground streets of
North America comes the newest team on team… on
team improv comedy cage match.
Watch as teams from around Wellington fight in
this bloody battle royale of improv mayhem to
claim the title and defend their crown week after
week.
Saturdays @ 8:00pm
19 April to 31st May
Wellington Performing Arts Centre
36 Vivian St, City
Adults $12 / Conc. $10
Door sales only
1 hour 50 minutes duration
Featuring Wellington
Improvisation Troupe, The Improvisors, Vic Uni
Theatresports, Funk Rabbit...
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The Young and the Witless - an improvised soap
opera!
From those witty bastards who brought you such
improvised comedy classics such as 'Love Possibly'
and 'To Be Continued,' comes 'The Young and The
Witless: an improvised soap opera."
Does anyone know what's going on? We don't! It's
all improvised!
With more twists, secrets and dirty dealings than
parliament! A continuing improvised story that
keeps everyone guessing. Including us!
Eight nights of shows. Six Characters in search
of a storyline. One spontaneous saga of polished
stupidity.
Starring W.I.T regulars Anna Burns, Anton van
Helden, Christine Brooks, Clare Kerrison, Julian
Faid, and Simon Smith. Directed by Derek Flores.
Wednesday to Saturday Feb 20-23 and Feb 27-Mar 1
Blue Note Cafe, 191-195 Cuba Street
8pm - Tickets $12 / $10 / $8 door sales only.
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Micetro
-
Bringing Improv to the Burbs

Need a good laugh at the end of a hard day, but
don't want to drive back into the city?
Wellington Improvisation Troupe has the answer -
crash and burn elimination improvisation where the
audience decides the winner. Comedy for those that
need it most!
Part of FringeNZ
WIT gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Creative
Communities Wellington City, Creative
Communities Hutt Valley and Hutt
Valley Community Arts
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or coverage concerning the mists of
time through to 2007 check out the old old shows
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WIT... Fumbling
Towards Awesome
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