Once upon a time in a far-off land called Reno, seven wannabe comedians were brought together by fate. In this case, fate takes the form of flamingly flamboyant fairy godmother Ginger Devine who directs the seven to an open mic night that changes their lives forever.

So goes the dramatized version of the mostly true story about The Utility Players, a local troupe of performers who share a love of on-stage antics. This semi-autobiographical tale, “Improv: The Musical,” will be performed tonight at the Siena Hotel Spa Casino as part of the final days of this year’s Artown.

The brainchild of Ohio native Jessica Levity, the Utility Players is the culmination of her dream to start a comedy troupe. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 2008, she chose Reno to start her life after studying philosophy and not having a set direction. She began managing the Studio on 4th in Reno, which led her to meet numerous performers in the area. Levity said she had done every kind of comedy in college, from improv to stand-up to sketch to emceeing events. After leaving campus, the desire to be on the stage instead of managing it overtook her.

Levity called some of the actors she had met and also recruited her best friend growing up, Ariel Lea, and best friend from college, Christopher Daniels, to come to Reno to help her. Each of the players in the group bring their own brand of humor to the mix: Shane Tolomeo and Brandon Iron are the comic book geeks (Marvel comics only, they say); Ian Sorensen and Amanda Alvey are the pop culture experts; Daniels and Joseph Garton are the “Disney queens”; and Levity is the glue that holds it all together with her own brand of goofiness. She said she has no real comedic focus but that she plays the role of court jester by simply offering her own observations on life and the humor around her.

For “Improv: The Musical,” all the actors contributed their bits to the story and Tolomeo then brought it together into a script. While written lines may contradict the title of the production, Levity said the play contains built-in moments for spontaneity — certain songs, audience participation and the like — where the improvisation will take over. As a result, this one-night-only run would never be the same twice if it ever got the chance.

While this musical is based on real life, it is a life that is far from over. Levity’s life and the lives of her co-performers are still being scripted as they try to find their places in the arts world of Reno and possibly beyond.

These 20-somethings play themselves and get to show off some of their own talents, whether it be singing, impressions or their individual comedic rhythm and style. Sorensen and Alvey take their real-life shared love of television’s “30 Rock” to the stage to create an endearing friendship while Daniels, who also directs the play, takes his real life experience as a drag queen to portray himself — a fairy playing a fairy godmother, as it were.

Whatever their style, the characters are all trying to overcome a sense of isolation as they chase their dreams of making people laugh.

“We’re funnier together than we are apart,” Levity said of the group’s bond and abilities. “The sum is greater than its parts.”

“It’s always been true but especially now with the recession and everything like that we have to be serious and there’s this pressure to be serious, make decisions about our life to have career and have a family,” Daniels said. “If you have ambitions and dreams that are far-fetched your family and friends say, ‘Well, is this really the time to take the risk?’

“I’m really hoping when people leave the musiclal,” Daniels continued, “people will be encouraged to follow their dreams and realize how happy they can be staying true to that and living their lives authentically ... not a preset cookie cutter life they think they have to live.”

“Improv: The Musical” is tonight at 7 p.m. in the Siena’s Casino Ballroom. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit www.utilityplayerscomedy.com.