The art of improvisation (improv) is a wacky art indeed.
The theater slowly fills up with comedy fans, and with them comes anticipation for the show to begin.
The small but welcoming Bovine Metropolis Theater, located at 1527 Champa Street, has many improv acts for its enthusiastic fan base to enjoy. Among these performances was Thomas Jefferson High School’s very own Improvable. Improvable is TJ’s Improv Club, and performing improv comedy has been a hobby of theirs for quite a while. “I joined it last year because I enjoyed watching TV shows like Hollywood Squares. I saw a promotion for it on the Spartan Edition and figured hey, why not,” said TJ Senior and Improv Club Member, Jarl Logan Dane.
Improv is a very interesting comedy form that starts with a simple subject (anything a person can think of) and creates comedy around that topic. At the show, an audience member shouted out “squirrels”. This was the base subject for TJ’s Improvable performance. Starting with squirrels, moving on to a sadistic company and cloning machines, and ending with the enslavement of old people, Improvable kept the comedy fresh and unexpected. The show included a few other acts like Semi-Colon and Killscreen.
TJ Special Education Paraprofessional Travis Grant founded the TJ Improv Club, and has been doing improv for three years. “I started with stand up, but I wanted to improve, and improv has helped me with that,” said Grant. The club began in October 2010, and has been growing ever since then.
The Improvables is a very opening and accepting club. People who want to sign up can simply join; there are no requirements. “I joined at the beginning of the school year because I was looking for something to do; I’m funny and can do things on the spot,” said TJ Sophomore Zachary Clementz.
Improvable has performed at the Bovine Metropolis Theater (among other acts) many times before. Grant has a past with the theater, and this gives him a place to help his club practice. “I graduated from the Bovine Metropolis Theater’s improv school, so I often schedule things with them,” said Grant.
The club’s favorite activity is performing at the theater. “The performance went very well, I believe. Our club is getting good at building off experience, and off of what somebody says,” said Dane. Many group members who may have been shy in the past have now overcome their stage fright because of their presence in the shows.
Improv is a mysterious comedy that one must experience to understand. People who have never seen it done should consider seeing an improv comedy show someday. When asked to define improv, Grant responded, “You can’t! It’s whatever first comes to mind, and what you make of it.”
People who do improv don’t necessarily have to be funny, “It’s really just about communication, and funny is an after thought.” said Dane.
However, be prepared to go with whatever comes to mind. “It’s on-the-spot comedy without a script,” said Clementz. The Improv Club’s next show is in April at TJ’s very own theater, and what better way can you experience improv than with your school’s own Improvable?
