HOSTED BY: MICHAEL MOORE DOUG BENSON JEFF GARLIN FEBRUARY 13-15, 2015 | WINTERCOMEDY.ORG A PROJECT OF THE TRAVERSE CITY FILM FESTIVAL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL CHERRY FESTIVAL Hey Everyone! Welcome to the Fifth Traverse City Winter Comedy Arts Festival — the world’s ONLY festival that has nine words in its name (sorry, we forgot three of the words because we just drank some antifreeze by mistake)! Yes, it’s that magical weekend when love, comedy, tundra, and the past achievements of men in powdered wigs all collide. For our fifth anniversary together, we’re throwing you a party the likes of which neither Traverse City nor even Rapid City has ever seen! That’s right, the rumors are now confirmed — appearing at the festival will be comedy superstars BILL MAHER, JUDD APATOW, and SINBAD. All here, all live, all in one weekend in the middle of a place so far north of God’s Country, even God doesn’t have a GPS good enough to find us. With a lineup this stellar, plus a hand-selected group of what we are telling you are the comic legends of tomorrow, how can you not be in Traverse City for what is destined to be an unforgettable Valentine’s / Presidents’ Combo Weekend Celebration? What are you going to be doing instead? Getting snubbed by the Academy? Not vaccinating your kids? Scouting North of The Wall? Doing shots of Ice Hole? Writing “50 Shades of Eggshell White?” Warming up the Snow Trac? Swiping right on Tinder? Finally finishing that leftover Go-Gurt? No way! You’re going to be up here with Bill Maher and Judd Apatow and Sinbad and a who’s who of up-and-coming American funny people, freezing and laughing your butts off. welcome to the Festival GET YOUR TICKETS AT WINTERCOMEDY.org! Tickets go on sale online only on Friday, January 23 at 12 noon. Visit wintercomedy.org for tickets and complete information. Walk-up sales begin on Saturday, January 24 at 12 noon in the State Theatre lobby. The festival box office will be open beginning Saturday, January 24 from 12 noon to 6 pm daily. During the festival, the State Theatre box office is open beginning at 9 am and stays open through the last show of the day. Venue box offices open one hour before the day’s first show. Tickets can be picked up at the door before shows. Most live events at the State Theatre, City Opera House, and Old Town Playhouse are Reserved Seating. Movies and some live events, including those at InsideOut Gallery, are General Admission. Comedy acts are not rated. Viewer discretion is advised. Contact us at 231-944-3040 or [email protected]. Check out all the details inside. Buy tickets — show us you love us! Michael Moore, Doug Benson, and Jeff Garlin Hosts, Traverse City Winter Comedy Arts Festival ROSANNE CASH ROSANNE “BecauseCASH the fun never stops.” with with John John Leventhal Leventhal with with John John - Lewis Black Cash explores her new album, The River and the Thread, a poetic THE RANT ISofDUE: DEUX with survey ThePART South, her musical director & husband, John Leventhal. LEWIS BLACK Friday, October Thursday, April2423atat8PM 7:30 PM Tickets: Tickets: $40, $40, $55 $55 Tickets: $43, $58 CityOperaHouse.org 231-941-8082 Leventhal Leventhal Cash explores her new album, The River and the Thread, a poetic survey of The South, with her musical director & husband, John Leventhal. ON SALE NOW! The Smash Hit Play About The Voice of Summer by Mitch Albom Friday, October at 8PM August 16 Wednesday, August 1224- Sunday, Tickets: Tickets: $40, $40, $55 $55 Tickets: $20, $25 CityOperaHouse.org 231-941-8082 FREE ON FRONT 4 FREE ON FRONT! Front Street between Park and Cass will be transformed into a veritable winter wonderland with activities like PGAapproved ice mini golf (18 holes worth!), an ice skating rink smack dab in the middle of the street, sledding, and of course, it wouldn’t be a Comedy Festival without a Ferris wheel! Plus, the ice-stravaganza is back! In addition to the ice art gallery up and down Front all weekend, you can catch the ice artists live Friday at 6 pm in the Chase Bank walkway as they bring your favorite “Frozen” characters to life. See page 17 for more kid friendly activities including our “Frozen Sing-Along,” Kids Joke Contest, and our Valentine’s Day “The Princess Bride” 25¢ matinee! Public restrooms for Free on Front activities are located inside Espresso Bay and Cherry Cone. FRIDAY 4 PM - 9 PM SATURDAY 10 AM - 9 PM SUNDAY 11 AM - 4 PM ICE MINI GOLF Traverse City Winter Comedy Arts Festival February 13-15, 2015 FREE ON FRONT 5 6 Bill Maher Traverse City Winter Comedy Arts Festival FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, Bill Maher has set the boundaries of where funny, political talk can go on American TV. First on “Politically Incorrect,” and for the last 12 years on HBO’s “Real Time,” Maher’s combination of unflinching honesty and big laughs with regular guests like Howard Dean, Ben Affleck, and Arianna Huffington have garnered him 32 Emmy nominations. Meanwhile, he made the eighth highest grossing documentary of all time, “Religulous,” and wrote five bestsellers — all the while continuing his 25-year award-winning career in stand-up which has sold out theaters all across the country. Now he’s going to sell out his stand-up in TC, and do some historic one-on-one with Michael Moore, too! RECEPTION WITH BILL MAHER Join Bill Maher backstage after the show for an exclusive meet and greet with some tasty appetizers provided by Bistro FouFou and a cash bar. $75 tickets are limited to 30 people. 9 pm. Spotlight February 13-15, 2015 JUDD APATOW 7 If you’ve watched a movie — or been on planet Earth — in the past 15 years, you’re probably familiar with the genius of Judd Apatow. He launched a new Hollywood comedy generation, and along with the merry band of misfits he discovered (Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, James Franco, Jonah Hill, and Melissa McCarthy), our favorite comedic auteur has brought us blockbuster after blockbuster: “Knocked Up,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Anchorman,” “Bridesmaids,” “Step Brothers,” “Superbad,” and “Heavy Weights” among them. He started in stand-up, before moving on to producing and writing Emmy-winning comedy nerd cult classics like “The Ben Stiller Show,” “The Critic,” “The Larry Sanders Show,” “Freaks and Geeks,” and “Undeclared.” Now he’s returned to his stand-up roots for the love of the art form. After quietly making underground appearances in New York and Los Angeles, it’s only natural that the next stop for Hollywood’s undisputed king, the most successful writer-producer-director in American comedy, is TC. And, as if that’s not enough, he’s bringing a stand-up great with him to open, Wayne Federman! SINBAD After selling out last year’s ComFest in record time, the man, the myth, the legendary Sinbad will return to TC for a very special Sunday closing night engagement. Named one of Comedy Central’s top 100 comedians of all time, Sinbad’s larger-than-life persona and genuine good humor have made him one of the most beloved comics ever. You know this Michigan native from film (“Houseguest”) and TV (“The Sinbad Show”), and from his recent appearance on “The Celebrity Apprentice.” Keeping it PG (he hasn’t sworn on stage in over 30 years), Sinbad tells jokes his dad “taught him back in the day,” combining one-of-a-kind showmanship with an optimistic enthusiasm for life that guarantees one heck of an entertaining show that’s different every time. February 13-15, 2015 OUR HOSTS 9 DOUG BENSON Is it possible there’s a comedian who’s a bigger fan of Traverse City than Doug Benson? Possible, yes. Likely, no. Traverse City’s beloved adopted son (“Super High Me,” “Friends,” “Best Week Ever”) returns to host this year’s ComFest and he’s brought along a bunch of the most talented comedians he knows. You can catch him doing his blunt stand-up, his famous Doug Benson Movie Interruption, and the always animated Doug Loves Movies podcast. And if you miss all of that, you can probably find him at the U&I. PODCAST Join Doug Benson and a select cast of ComFest comedians as they record a nationally-renowned podcast featuring imaginatively titled games and animated discussion all about movies, live from the Old Town Playhouse. A must-see annual event at the TCFF, be sure to make time for this special frozen edition of the hysterical conversation about one of the greatest things in life: the movies. PRETTY WOMAN Bust out the strawberries and champagne for a very special Valentine edition of The Benson Movie Interruption that would be a “big mistake” to miss! Doug and his buddies will seat themselves in the State Theatre’s front row, mics in hand, and riff on the timeless story of a corporate raider, a hooker with a heart of gold, and their casual encounter which inexplicably turns into a week-long “business transaction.” Full of shopping sprees, fancy dinners, polo matches, luxurious baths, AND a fun misogynistic twist, who can resist this ultimate feel-good prostitution story. And even though it’s Valentine’s Day weekend, just remember one thing — no kissing. MICHAEL MOORE He’s an Eagle Scout. He’s a former seminarian. The NRA gave him their Marksman award. He got a D in French and has no idea what a Quinoa is. Time Magazine calls him “One of the 100 Most Influential People in the World” — a distinction that is hotly disputed by the Latvian parliament. In addition to a rare (and updated) offering of his one-man show opening night, in which he will help birth a live cow right on stage with the help of the cast of “Chicago Fire” and CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Mike will join Bill Maher on Saturday, participate in the special Valentine’s edition of the “Pretty Woman” Doug Benson Movie Interruption on Friday night, be a celebrity judge in the Kids Joke Contest on Saturday afternoon at the State Theatre, and quite possibly do a few rounds of gymnastics atop the Ferris wheel as well. 10 COMEDY Traverse City Winter Comedy Arts Festival NATASHA LEggero todd barry It’s easy to see why this sophisticated and glamorous debutante is one of comedy’s hottest rising stars. More of a charmer than a cynic, more joy than killjoy, she’s done TV (“Community,” “Suburgatory,” “It’s Always Sunny...”), film (“Neighbors,” “Let’s Be Cops”), and is a regular on “The Tonight Show,” “@midnight,” and “Chelsea Lately.” You can see her tongue-in-cheek sass and self-deprecating snark on the Emmy-nominated series “Burning Love,” her upcoming Comedy Central pilot, and her popular YouTube show “Tubbin’ with Tash” (where she interviews guests while in a hot tub — cause, why not?). Todd Barry and his wry observations have played all the big comedy festivals (including our own ComFest, way back in 2013), won all the awards, and been on all the big shows (Letterman, Conan, Kimmel). He’s done movies (“The Wrestler”), radio (Howard Stern, Bob and Tom), and TV (“Dr. Katz,” “Flight of the Conchords”). He writes famous Most Underappreciated Tweets of the Year lists, curates a receipt museum, and currently plays a deadpan stand-up on FX’s “Louie.” One of the most respected names in comedy, you know you can Barry-ly afford to miss him. ben bailey kurt braunohler You probably know Ben Bailey from his Emmy-winning work on the hit TV game show “Cash Cab,” but Bailey is so much more than the most desired cabbie in New York. He’s also an acclaimed stand-up who draws on the 68+ odd jobs he held before and during his up-and-coming comic days to deliver laughs in a smooth baritone voice with blue collar, everyman appeal. Bailey has landed appearances at the top comedy festivals around the world, on “The Tonight Show,” and even his own Comedy Central Presents special. Whether he’s doing sketch comedy with longtime partner Kristen Schaal, lending his talents to TV (“Bob’s Burgers”) and radio (“This American Life”), or doing his Pee-Wee inspired talk show, you can count on Kurt Braunohler to deliver innovative and absurdist humor with a welcoming and enthusiastic smile. Sure, it’s very impressive that he’s been named a “Comic To Watch” by Variety, Timeout NY & LA, Comedy Central, and the NY ComFest, but did you know he holds the record for leading the most people — 117! — in an all-meow version of “Lean on Me??” February 13-15, 2015 COMEDY 11 moshe kasher nikki glaser What this festival has been missing is Moshe Kasher. Comedian. Child Genius. Jew. OBGYN. Good tipper. Guiding light. Beefcake. Known for his poignant punchlines and an onstage presence as hip and fresh as it is wily, this up-and-comer has racked up a long line of illustrious credits including Jimmy Fallon, Conan, “Shameless,” “Chelsea Lately,” “Drunk History,” and “@midnight.” He’s been named one of Variety Magazine’s “Ten Comics to Watch,” an LA Times “Face to Watch,” and iTunes’ “Comic of the Year,” plus he’s the author of the acclaimed memoir “Kasher in the Rye.” And he just so happens to be dating fellow ComFest comedian Natasha Leggero — so mark their show together this Valentine’s weekend as a cannot miss. A major rising star, Nikki Glaser first broke out on “Last Comic Standing” while she was still enrolled in college. Since then, she has parlayed her worthless English degree into appearances on “The Tonight Show,” Conan, and “The View,” sharing her razor-sharp wit, congenial charm, and confessional comedy. She’s a regular on Comedy Central’s “@midnight,” had her own MTV late night talk show “Nikki & Sara LIVE,” and you can catch her on the upcoming season of “Inside Amy Schumer.” Sure, you could trek to New York and see Nikki Glaser at places like The Comedy Cellar or The Stand, where she performs regularly, but we know you’re hoping to get a selfie with her right here in TC. ted alexandro geoff tate A true comic’s comic whose social commentary is so on point you’ll wonder why you hadn’t thought of it yourself, Ted Alexandro returns to TC after performing to raves at ComFest’11. He’s toured with Louis CK, appeared multiple times on David Letterman, Conan, Craig Ferguson, and Jimmy Kimmel, and TimeOut NY called him “one of the top comedians working today.” When not making TV appearances, Comedy Central Specials, or performing at the top comedy clubs around the world, he’s working on his new award-winning YouTube series “Teachers Lounge” featuring Lewis Black. Doug Benson brought stand-out stand-up Geoff Tate with him to this summer’s TC Film Festival, and the big wolf of comedy made everyone howl with laughter at the “Roadhouse” Benson Movie Interruption. With his Mitch Hedberg style of comedy, he’s slayed ‘em as part of Comedy Central Live and he’s appeared at top comedy festivals and clubs all over the country, but he left a piece of his heart in TC. And he thought the dead of winter would be the best time to return. Well, Geoff, your wish is our command. See him at the “Pretty Woman” Movie Interruption, and on lots of other shows, too. 12 FESTIVAL Traverse City Winter Comedy Arts Festival STATE THEATRE CITY OPERA HOUSE OLD TOWN PLAYHOUSE OTHER Friday, 7 pm Ben Bailey, Nikki Glaser & Kurt Braunohler ($30) Natasha Leggero & Moshe Kasher ($30) Michael Moore’s One-Man Show ($35) Open Mic @ InsideOut Gallery ($5) Friday, 9:30 pm Todd Barry & Ted Alexandro ($30) Judd Apatow with Wayne Federman ($65/45) Friday, 11:30 pm Benson Movie Interruption: Pretty Woman ($15) Saturday, 10 am The Princess Bride (25¢) Saturday, 12 noon Frozen Sing-Along ($5) Saturday, 2:15 pm Kids Joke Contest (FREE!) Saturday, 3:45 pm Frozen Sing-Along ($5) wintercomedy.org! Bring the kids for a day of comedy and winter fun! Then get a sitter and take in some great stand-up. Tickets go on sale January 23 online only. Starting January 24 tickets will be available in the lobby of the State Theatre, and during the festival at the door before the shows. Doug Loves Movies ($15) Saturday, 4:20 pm Saturday, 7 pm Bill Maher Simulcast ($20) Bill Maher ($100-45) Post-Show Reception ($75) Moshe Kasher & Nikki Glaser ($30) Open Mic @ InsideOut Gallery ($5) Saturday, 9:30 pm Ben Bailey & Natasha Leggero ($30) Doug Benson & Todd Barry ($30) Kurt Braunohler & Ted Alexandro ($30) Good on Paper @ InsideOut Gallery ($8) Late Night Combo Platter @ Horizon (FREE!) Saturday, 11:30 pm Sunday, 12 noon Frozen Sing-Along ($5) Sunday, 2:30 pm Frozen Sing-Along ($5) Sunday, 6:30 pm TICKETS? Unless specifically noted, stand-up shows are for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. While you’re downtown, enjoy the ice sculptures sponsored by festival supporters. For more info, call 231-944-3040 or visit wintercomedy.org. CLOSING NIGHT: Sinbad ($50/35) AT A GLANCE February 13-15, 2015 TED ALEXANDRO JUDD APATOW Fri 9:30 pm COH Fri 7:00 pm STA | Sat 9:30 pm STA DOUG BENSON KURT BRAUNOHLER WAYNE FEDERMAN NATASHA LEGGERO BILL MAHER Fri 9:30 pm STA | Sat 9:30 pm OTP Fri 11:30 pm STA | Sat 4:20 pm OTP Sat 9:30 pm COH MOSHE KASHER Fri 7 pm COH | Sat 7 pm OTP Fri 7 pm STA | Sat 9:30 pm OTP Fri 7 pm COH | Sat 9:30 pm STA BEN BAILEY Fri 9:30 pm COH Sat 7 pm COH 13 TODD BARRY Fri 9:30 pm STA | Sat 9:30 pm COH NIKKI GLASER Fri 7 pm STA | Sat 7 pm OTP MICHAEL MOORE Fri 7 pm OTP | Sat 7 pm COH COMEDY IS DANGEROUS. SINBAD Sun 6:30 pm COH GEOFF TATE Fri 7 pm COH | Fri 11:30 pm State Sat 7 pm OTP | Sat 9:30 pm COH Traverse City Winter Comedy Arts Festival Comedians brave enough to withstand local hecklers will vie to prove they’re the funniest by baring their comedic souls for the world to see. Will they bomb, or will they become the underground hit of the festival? Come see some of northern Michigan’s budding comedians at the InsideOut Gallery to find out. Hosted by Dave Basey of Rotten Cherries, TC’s comedy open mic. LAtE NIGHT COMBO PLATTER Saturday at 11:30 pm, Horizon Books’ basement will turn into a free, standing-room only performance space, and one of this year’s comedy stars will host surprise guests in a late night talk show. Not ticketed: we let in the first 100 people who line up, for FREE! Get a line number at the door at 10:30 pm to secure your place. Good to Know LOCAL scene: OPEN MIC COMEDY Local SCENE: GOOD ON PAPER 15 Traverse City’s ONLY professional improv comedy company has built a loyal following with their fast and furious, quick and witty, never the same performances. We are super excited to bring back to the ComFest this talented group of locals including David Avis, Michael Libby, Micki Gee, Bryan Boettcher, and Michael Gauthier. Check them out at InsideOut Gallery! Free Parking Park for free in the Hardy deck after 5 pm and all day Saturday and Sunday. Park for free in the Old Town parking deck after 6 pm and all day Sunday. Decks will be open all night. Or park for free after 6 pm and all day Sunday in the Farmer’s Market parking lot between Union and Cass just north of Front Street. Parking at InsideOut Gallery is just south of the building in the public lot, and is also free after 6 pm and all day Sunday. Festival SiPS & SNACKS At the State Theatre, we’ll have everything we always have during shows, plus more. At the City Opera House and Old Town Playhouse, we’ll have snacks and drinks, and at InsideOut Gallery there’s a full bar! Credit cards accepted. Shop and Eat Downtown Downtown is a great place to shop and eat! Enjoy the finest culinary and retail delights TC has to offer while you shop great sales and dine in style in one of America’s great up-and-coming foodie towns over Presidents’ Day Weekend. Or grab a drink at one of our abundant microbreweries and bars. Traverse City Winter Comedy Arts Festival KID FRIENDLY 17 FROZEN SING-ALONG FUN We can’t let it go, and it seems the youth of America can’t, either. This enchanting sing-along event held inside the toasty-warm State Theatre is the perfect magical complement to a day of outdoor winter fun at Free on Front — lyrics will magically appear on screen, attendees will receive free goodie bags, and costumes are encouraged! What’s the fuss all about? The wickedly talented Adele Dazeem stars in this fairytale classic with some delightfully modern twists, the story of two brave princesses, a summerloving snowman, and a guy with a thing about reindeer, who must work together to save their kingdom from an eternal winter. Saturday at 12 noon and 3:45 pm, and Sunday at 12 noon and 2:30 pm, at the State Theatre. Tickets $5. THE WORLD FAMOUS KIDS JOKE CONTEST Calling all kids age 14 and under! It’s your time to step into the spotlight and see if you can make your friends and neighbors smile. Come ham it up onstage at the State Theatre at this fun and interactive event. Everyone who participates will receive a prize, and celebrity judges will pick the big winners. So bring your best jokes (knock knocks, turtles crossing the road, or otherwise) and be prepared to giggle, grin, and guffaw at what the next generation of comedians has to say! We kid you not (pun intended), this was the absolute best comedy show at ComFest last year...and it’s FREE! Saturday at 2:15 pm at the State Theatre. THE PRINCESS BRIDE 25¢ MATINEE It would be inconceivable to miss director Rob Reiner’s beloved (and highly quotable) bedtime story that proves nothing, not even death, can stop TRUE LOVE. This enchanting fairy tale, complete with pirates, magic, swordplay, fire swamps, rodents of unusual size, revenge, miracles, escapes, and, yes, even its fair share of kissing, will delight the entire family with wit and wonder. So if your sweetheart is looking for the perfect way to kick off Valentine’s Day, just tell her, “As you wish.” Saturday at 10 am at the State Theatre. AFTER HOURS Traverse City Winter Comedy Arts Festival 7 Monks Taproom 128 S. Union Street 231-421-8410 Kitchen Until 10 pm Bar Until 12 midnight Dillinger’s Pub 121 S. Union Street 231-941-2276 Kitchen Until 11 pm Bar Until 2 am Mackinaw Brewing Co. 161 E. Front Street 231-933-1100 Kitchen Until 11 pm Bar Until 12 midnight Amical 229 E. Front Street 231-941-8888 Until 10 pm Firefly 310 S. Cass Street 231-932-1310 Beacon Lounge Top of the Park Place Hotel 300 E. State Street 231-946-5000 Limited Kitchen Until 11 pm Bar Until 12 midnight The Franklin 160 E. Front Street 231-943-2727 Kitchen Until 11 pm Bar Until 11:30 pm Minerva’s @ Park Place 300 E. State Street 231-946-5000 Kitchen Until 10 pm Bar Until 12 midnight Until 11 pm Bistro FouFou 118 Cass Street 231-421-6583 Until 10 pm Blue Tractor Cook Shop 423 S. Union Street 231-922-9515 Kitchen Until 11 pm Bar Until 12 midnight Brady’s Bar 401 S. Union Street 231-946-8153 Kitchen Until 1:30 am Bar Until 2 am Brew 108 E. Front Street 231-946-2739 Until 12 midnight Bubba’s 428 E. Front Street 231-995-0570 Until 11 pm Cuppa Joe @ Horizon 243 E. Front Street 231-947-7705 Until 11 pm Georgina’s 236 E. Front Street 231-943-1555 Until 10 pm J&S Hamburg 302 W. Front Street 231-947-5500 Open 24 Hours Kilkenny’s 400 W. Front Street 231-941-7527 Limited Kitchen Until 12 midnight Bar Until 2 am Little Bohemia 540 W. Front Street 231-946-6925 Until 11 pm The Little Fleet 448 E. Front Street 231-943-1166 Bar Until 12 midnight Low Bar 128 S. Union Street 231094405397 Until 12 midnight Enjoy Downtown Traverse City downtowntc.com Mode’s Bum Steer 125 E. State Street 231-947-9832 Limited Kitchen and Bar Until 1 am Red Ginger 237 E. Front Street 231-944-1733 Until 11 pm Right Brain Brewery 225 E. 16th Street 231-944-1239 Until 11 pm State Street Grille 221 E. State Street 231-947-4263 Kitchen Until 12 midnight Bar Until 2 am Morsels Espresso & Edibles 321 W. Front 231-421-1353 Until 8 pm Subway Sandwiches 136 E. Front Street 231-929-7972 Until 8 pm 10% Discount w/ Tix Stub North Peak Brew Pub 400 W. Front Street 231-941-7325 Limited Kitchen Until 12 midnight The Towne Plaza 202 E. State Street 231-929-0900 Until 9 pm Pangea’s Pizza Pub 135 E. Front Street 231-946-9800 Until 10 pm Trattoria Stella 1200 W. 11th Street 231-929-8989 Until 10 pm The Parlor 205 Lake Ave. 248-821-6926 Until 2 am U & I Lounge 214 E. Front Street 231-946-8932 Until 2 am Poppycock’s 128 E. Front Street 231-941-7632 Until 11 pm Union Street Station 117 S. Union Street 231-941-1930 Until 2 am Rare Bird BrewPub 229 Lake Ave. 231-943-2053 Until 2 am Union Tap & Grill 127 S. Union Street Until 11 pm The Workshop Brewing Co. 221 Garland Street 231-421-8977 Until 12 midnight Closing times are correct to the best of our knowledge. Please call to confirm. 21
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