2008 Woodie Awards
Improv Troupe
Group combines humor with competition
Mark Freeman
Issue date: 10/17/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
If laughter is the best medicine, then the Improvisational Troupe (Improv) holds the cure to many an ailment. Improv, as captain Billy San Juan '08 explains, is "short for 'improvisation,' a form of theater that is not scripted." It relies upon quick thinking and a sharp wit, as actors must create a scene or character without help and then try to please an audience.
San Juan said that Improv is very similar to the hit comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? Players will compete in intra-team games and regular competitions. In the first type, the Improv Troupe "will just act out scenes and play non-competitive games," while the latter type "will be scored according to audience applause." Audience participation is crucial, especially in the form of "suggestions for acting scenarios," which are also employed in Whose Line, said San Juan.
Since Improv is new to Saint Mary's this year, it is actively looking for members, which San Juan divides into two categories: "Clownfish" and "Anemone." As San Juan said, "Clownfish will be the performers" while Anemone are those who "want to be part of the club/troupe, but prefer to be in the audience." The names are important because "it is a symbiotic relationship between the two;" the performers would be "nothing without the audience and vice versa," he said. Since no one will be forced to act, San Juan encourages even the less extroverted to join.
Students should "be on the lookout" for posters advertising the Troupe's first meeting, San Juan said. Though the club doesn't have a permanent location yet, they already have a moderator, Professor Christi Scott, a former improv referee. San Juan thinks the club will most likely meet on Fridays, with meetings consisting of "a short training session for new techniques," followed by an "open practice session where people will be able to play the games."
For some, Improv may seem ridiculous, but for San Juan, it holds immense appeal. While being on stage without a script may be an "uncomfortable situation," San Juan relishes the fact that he can rely on his teammates to help him complete a scene. Improv fosters teamwork and coordination, much like an athletic sport. But being team captain doesn't necessarily mean he is the wittiest. For San Juan, "the Improv Team isn't about one particular funny person, it's about a group of people coming together for one common goal: laughter."
San Juan said that Improv is very similar to the hit comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? Players will compete in intra-team games and regular competitions. In the first type, the Improv Troupe "will just act out scenes and play non-competitive games," while the latter type "will be scored according to audience applause." Audience participation is crucial, especially in the form of "suggestions for acting scenarios," which are also employed in Whose Line, said San Juan.
Since Improv is new to Saint Mary's this year, it is actively looking for members, which San Juan divides into two categories: "Clownfish" and "Anemone." As San Juan said, "Clownfish will be the performers" while Anemone are those who "want to be part of the club/troupe, but prefer to be in the audience." The names are important because "it is a symbiotic relationship between the two;" the performers would be "nothing without the audience and vice versa," he said. Since no one will be forced to act, San Juan encourages even the less extroverted to join.
Students should "be on the lookout" for posters advertising the Troupe's first meeting, San Juan said. Though the club doesn't have a permanent location yet, they already have a moderator, Professor Christi Scott, a former improv referee. San Juan thinks the club will most likely meet on Fridays, with meetings consisting of "a short training session for new techniques," followed by an "open practice session where people will be able to play the games."
For some, Improv may seem ridiculous, but for San Juan, it holds immense appeal. While being on stage without a script may be an "uncomfortable situation," San Juan relishes the fact that he can rely on his teammates to help him complete a scene. Improv fosters teamwork and coordination, much like an athletic sport. But being team captain doesn't necessarily mean he is the wittiest. For San Juan, "the Improv Team isn't about one particular funny person, it's about a group of people coming together for one common goal: laughter."