Deceptions to the Rule... the stuff that schemes are made of! originally premiered on May 13, 2005 at the Planet Ant Theatre in Hamtramck MI. During its five-week run at the Planet Ant, the show received critical praise and even garnered a best original comedy nomination from Between The Lines.

Directed by Shawn Handlon, currently a mainstage member of The Second City Detroit, the show was written through improvisation by the cast and crew. When the show debuted at The Planet Ant, it was the theatre's 16th original comedy.

During its initial run, Gem Theatre management saw the performance and later began negotiations to bring the show to its smaller 200 seat Century Theatre. Eventually the pieces all fell into place for opening in the Century Theatre on September 30, 2005.