PC|Bluestocking

For those of you who aren’t aware, PC is lucky enough to have an improv group; Improv Underground. The name might be a bit misleading however they don’t actually perform underground. The group started back during the 2006-2007 college year and they started performing in Inklings (which is kind of underground); however since then Inklings has been condemned and now they perform in the bookstore which is an awesome venue.

For this article I interviewed Rachel Smith, one of the founding members of Improv Underground and a senior. Talking to Rachel gave me a better understand on what Improv really is and how it is performed. I hope that many of you are familiar with the TV show Whose Line is it Anyway? It’s an Improv show. The Improv Underground shows are structured in a similar way. They have specific games that they play and to practice for shows they run through drills. This isn’t to say that the show is scripted, because it’s not. Everything is made up on the fly, but the actors and actresses are better prepared than one would think. There is a method to their madness.

The crew doesn’t just perform. No. They have weekly practice where they are drilled on basic elements of scenes. Then the week of the show the team has extra practice and is also in charge of putting the stage and all of the sound equipment up.

When I asked Rachel about performing and what to keep in mind and how it made her feel she said that you always have to “keep up that energy and keep up a positive force” otherwise scenes aren’t as engaging. She said that to do well a performer must stay on their toes and always support their partner in the scene.  Rachel said that “[Improv] is like nothing else. It’s the best form of theater out there because anything can happen.”

So, you are in luck. There are a handful of shows left this year. Check them out. It is an awesome way to spend an hour of your Saturday night. If you have questions or need information be on the lookout for fliers around campus and check out Hal’s e-mails. Improv might just be PC’s best-kept secret… But it shouldn’t be a secret anymore.

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