The Armando Diaz Experience, Theatrical Movement, and Hootenanny (Mondays at 8:30 at iO) is like a weekly "Who's Who" of Chicago Improv. Though the cast changes weekly, you're guaranteed to see some of the iO's best improvisers out there each week "doin' their thang".

"Armando", for short, is a long-form improvisational piece that draws its inspirations from the monologues of that week's "Armando Diaz." Back in the early days of the show, former iO improviser and co-founder of New York's Magnet Theater, Armando Diaz would always deliver the monologues, but in his absence the role of Armando is filled by a rotating cast of monologists.

When The Bastion caught "Armando," Deep Schwa member Brett Lyons was our monologist, and he was a delight. The audience suggestion for the evening was "high school," and Lyons entertained the audience with tales of his hi-jinks and shenanigans from back in the day. Lyons wasn't afraid to venture into embarrassing territory, sharing tales of his stint as "mayor for the day" and also a three-day prom getaway in exciting Merrillville, Indiana.

The improvisors took Lyons' stories and crafted some hilarious and absurd scenes. Among the standouts were a couple of pranksters who struggled to phase their boss with poorly thought out pranks and a teenage girl hitchhiker who tried escaping after her prom date wouldn't let her leave their extended prom weekend. There was also an inexplicable recurrence of "Tyra Mail" ( "America's Next Top Model" fans know what we're talking about), which confused and delighted both improvisors and audience alike.

"The Armando Diaz Experience..." has an open run, so anytime you're jonesing for some comedy goodness on a Monday night, just head over to the iO- there is also free post-show pizza, if you needed any further motivation to catch the show.

- Dyan Flores