The Bakersfield Improvisational Team (BIT) has recently moved from The Spotlight Theatre to The Empty Space theater. Along with a location change came the addition of some new shows. Major League Improv, or MLI, are short skits performed in a head-to-head competition. Also featured are long form skits.
Matthew Borton, marketing manager and team member of BIT, has been a part of the group since they started eight months ago. The team consists of eight members with three people currently in training.”Before this, I was doing general improv here in Bakersfield for about 10 years,” said Borton.
Since his freshman year in high school, Borton has been acting.”Instead of soccer, I did a musical. One of the guys said that I’d be good,” said Borton.
BIT does not only their MLI and long form skits for performances, but they also customize shows depending on the event. Thursday, Oct. 23, the team will be in the Campus Center at Bakersfield College to perform skits for Homecoming. BIT will be having a performance on Saturday, Oct. 25, at The Park at River Walk for Fall Festival, which is held from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Borton says he enjoys entertaining people on stage.
“It’s fun to do something off the top of your head.”