ImprovThis Club opens new show “Where Am I, Who Are You?” in Johnson TheaterEach semester, the club creates a new improvisational theater show and holds auditions for new actors.
Sydney Meetze
Staff Writer
The first performance of this semester’s Improv Show was held in the Johnson Studio Theater on March 27 at 3:00pm. The show, which is titled “Where Am I, Who Are You?” was titled collaboratively through votes by members of the ImprovThis Club.
“Coming up with a name is such a difficult process,” said Kai Brooks, member and actor in the show. “We come up with so many things on the spot, so why is finding a name so hard? Since we were all confused, we created a title that equally expressed that confusion.”
While sponsored and promoted by the ImprovThis club, the show was performed by a few members known as the Improv Troupe.
“The troupe (is) a subsection of the club that meets outside of the club hours,” said Connor Rothberg, a musical theater major and the director of the improv show. “We hold auditions for the troupe at the beginning of each semester, as it’s a new cast and show each semester.”
This semester, the show is made up of a variety of games.
“Every improv show is different! But (…) we will usually play three to four short form improv games followed by a long form improv game,” said Christian Inman, a theater major and actor for the troupe. “Short form improv games tend to be fast paced, super exaggerated, and over the top, (however) long form games are my favorite! The one we performed for our first show and will be performing in our second show is called ‘The Harold.’”
Dee Ateca, another member of the troupe, said the opening game helps develop the direction of the rest of the games.
‘The Harold’ begins with an opening game like ‘Eulogy’ where we have to hold a funeral for an object, or idea. From that first game we gather ideas and concepts for the rest of the game, getting into pairs to do individual recurring ‘beats’ and playing group games between each section.”
“I think the first show went really well,” Ateca said. “There were a few mishaps, but we really relied on each other as a troupe.”
Reliance on the other troupe members seems to be a recurring theme within the group.
“As someone who has been in (the troupe) four times now, (there is) always a sense of community,” Inman said. “Whether we like it or not, we all become closer in the process of the show and that is because improv is an intimate thing. You are creating something every rehearsal with these people, and you have to let your guard down … you have to understand one another on such a level that you could predict what they are going to say.”
”I feel like our strongest trait as a troupe is our overall chemistry,” Ateca said. “Everyone is willing to listen to each other’s ideas and build off of them, which creates great scenes.”
Both the Improv Troupe and the ImprovThis club seem to be hotspots for the creative community on campus.
“Going to improv club every Thursday has made so many (of my) relationships stronger,” Brooks said. “It’s something I look forward to every week!”
“Improv (is) something that I don’t have to worry about at all because I know I can go and just let loose, have fun, and laugh. It has also helped me really feel like a part of a campus community,” said Ateca. Inman has also found community through the Improv club. “Without the troupe, I wouldn’t have made some of the friends I have made today,” Inman said.
Troupe director Rothberg wants all to know that they are invited to visit the club.
“Improv is very welcoming to all, no matter the skill level! Please feel free to drop by and try out improv,” said Rothberg. The club meets in Johnson 117 on Thursdays from 10:30pm to 12:00am.
The final performance will be shown in the Johnson Theater at 3:00pm on April 3rd. Lainey Williams, secretary of the ImprovThis club, encourages everyone to attend the show. “I definitely think this is something you should come to because each show is a once in a lifetime experience,” Williams said. Why would you not take (the opportunity) to laugh?”
