Improv at the Jungle: Off Book is Improv Gold!

In the wake of the tragedy that was the closure of the newly relocated HUGE Improv Theater, the Jungle Theater has stepped up and provided a new home for some of HUGE’s resident shows. One such show is Off Book which I experienced last night for the first time, the next performance will be March 3rd. Off Book is unlike the other Improv I’ve reviewed, though to be honest most of the improv I have reviewed has its own unique angle like this does. Off Book divides its performers into two group. Group one is “Off book” which in theater terms means an Actor has learned his lines, so these artists have memorized a scene from a play. Group two is so far off book that they have never even seen the book. Not only do they have no lines memorized, but they don’t even know what play their fellow actors have memorized. The players take the stage together, one scripted, one unscripted and try to perform a scene from a play. Hilarity does indeed ensue. I think this may be the best Improv I’ve ever seen. Actually, Off Book hands down this is the best Improv show I’ve ever seen.

I’m going to list the lineup from the program and those who know some of the local Actors and Improv Performers will see why this was so fantastic.

ACT I
The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov
Actor: Christina Baldwin
Improviser: Alsa Bruno

The Great Nebula in Orion by Lanford Wilson
Actor: Emily Grodzik
Improviser: Molly Ritchie

Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons by Sam Steiner
Actor: Cheryl Willis
Improviser: Tom Reed

ACT II
The Motherfucker with the Hat by Stephen Adly Guirgis
Actor: James Rodriguez
Improviser: Chris Rodriguez

The Flick by Annie Baker
Actor: Destiny Davison
Improviser: Taj Ruler

Stage Kiss by Sarah Ruhl
Actor: Michael Rogers
Improviser: Jill Bernard

Each scene had the audience howling with laughter and it’s hard to single any out, but if I had to choose a scene that was most likely to make you wet your pants it would be the pairing of Destiny Davidson, who somehow mostly kept it together and didn’t start outright laughing, and the hurricane of hilarity that is Taj Ruler. There’s no point in going into details of what we saw beyond the format because the glorious thing about improv is also the terrible thing about improv, it’s a one time thing! Which is why I’ve decided, now that I’ve found this show, I’m never missing another one. Thank you to The Jungle Theater for giving this show a new home, hopefully a long term home!

Destiny Davison and Taj Ruler Photo by Evelyn Vocu

For more information about Off Book and other Improv at the Jungle shows and to purchase tickets for the March 3rd show and other Jungle events go to https://www.jungletheater.org/improv-at-the-jungle

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Holiday Office Party Delivers the Improv Laughs at Strike Theater!

This was my second year attending Holiday Office Party at Strike Theater. This is a long form improvisational comedy, which means everything you see at your show is being made up on the spot and that all of it fits together as one cohesive story. So that means two things, first and most importantly, if you love it, you can go again and see a completely new show! Secondly, anything I tell you specifically wouldn’t matter because those jokes wouldn’t appear at another performance. So what can I tell you besides that the performance I saw was really funny? Well, there is the set up which you should be able to inuit from the title. Essentially, we are watching a group of coworkers at their company holiday party. Each of the performers becomes a character which they develop over the course of the show. Much of the humor comes from clever call backs to things that happened earlier. For instance, at our performance one of the characters, played by Anna Tobin, explains to her coworkers that she is an orphan. Every detail of her story is brought up again later in the show building on the groundwork that Tobin set up at the beginning. That running gag throughout the show referenced not only by her character but others not even in scenes with her adds to the sense of this as a story unfolding before us rather than just improv moments. That’s what the best Improv performers bring to a show, not just a quick wit but the ability to create an arc for the character within the improvisational framework of a piece.

So I’ve seen some great improv at theaters like Strike, where Holiday Office Party is running, and the sadly closed Huge Improv Theater in Uptown. I’ve also seen some not so great improv, so how do you know what improv to spend your hard earned money and precious time on? Well the best way to hedge your bets is become familiar with the performers and producers of improv and watch for their shows. Holiday Office Party is produced and directed by Mike Fotis who is one of the co-founders of Strike Theater. I’ve seen Mike perform in the shows he’s created before so I know from those that he’s a good bet. Fotis appears in this show but he’s directing the show by the use of lights. So basically the performers know during specific video text prompts what the next scene will be, for example it might say “the party continues”. The performers know to form small groups in designated areas of the stage and when Mike turns the light on their area that is their cue to speak. Fotis then determines when a scene has run its course and will turn the lights off and redirect us to another group. So that’s a name for the improv novices to remember Mike Fotis. When you see him, he’s either performing or behind the scenes you’ll know you are in good hands. In fact, since he’s directing the show he’s on stage much less than the other performers, but when he jumps in, the energy on stage gets an adrenaline shot. He’s been doing improv for a long time and his skills are on another level.

But here’s the thing, Fotis is a guy who works with and casts the best, there isn’t anyone in the cast who didn’t have a great show. There was one recurring scene clearly based on the Pam and Jim trope of the office co-workers who should be together but never quite get up the courage to move beyond flirting. The performers Sam Baker-Harris and Nels Lennes take on that role this year and the talk in our car on the way home was “are they a couple in real life?” because we were all buying the attraction. In the end, my wife convinced us they weren’t because they didn’t kiss at the end, but they sure seemed like they wanted too. The entire cast comes up with funny moments throughout but I can’t describe everyone’s bit; however, they were all fantastic and hilarious so I do want to mention everyone in the cast. Along with those already mentioned the cast included Erik Hoversten, Kerri O’Halloran, Christian Unser, Heather Meyer, Nels Lennes, Jonathan Adri Feld, Gubby Kubik-Nielsen, Matt Prindle, Lacey Mamak and Amee Nefzger Banks. The show runs for three more performances December 22nd, December 27th and December 28th at 7:30 PM. For more information about this and other shows at Strike Theater and to purchase tickets go to https://www.strike.theater/shows.html

This Holiday season why not start a new tradition of taking in a live theater production with family and friends? It’s a great way to create lasting memories and will give you something to look forward to every year as you experience the magic of live theater. Whether your budget is large or small, there is a show for you. Looking for gift ideas? Don’t we all have enough “stuff”? Give the gift of live theater, go to your favorite theaters website, see what shows they have coming up in the new year and give the gift of an experience over material.

Wish You Were Here Improv Comedy About Loss and Friendship at Strike Theater in NE Minneapolis

Strike Theater sits in the middle of a long long building that is not filled with other theaters. It’s a massive building on a long dark seemingly deserted street in NE Minneapolis. It doesn’t look like the building a theater should be in, it looks like a place you go to have something welded, like for a trailer or something? Anyway, follow your GPS and don’t second guess it, there’s a sign to assure you that you are in the right place. Once inside you’ll feel like you are in a more familiar space, unless of course you are a welder by trade in which case, this might feel really disorienting to you. But I think that’s a relatively small number of you, most have been to other black box theaters and the site of the the concession area and small theater with chairs lined up in front of a designated performance space or “stage” in theater speak. Chances are if you are at Strike you have come to laugh, and In my experience it’s a good bet you will.

The show I took in tonight is one they have performed before and it’s titled Wish You Were Here. It’s a long form Improv comedy in which on any given night the member of the cast who is dead changes. The structure is that a group of friends have gathered in memory of their departed friend. We get flashbacks of the dead friend sometimes monologuing sometimes interacting with characters. Those alternate with the present gathering, where everyone tries to establish characters of their own while also trying to get a read on the characters their fellow performers are creating. It generally leads to a few moments that don’t go anywhere but more often than not things build upon what has come before and there tend to be some running jokes that work and that everyone can utilize at some point. The problem with improv is that what I saw tonight will be different than what you see Friday or Saturday night. For one, a different member of the cast will be dead, may they rest in peace. So describing specific bits, or characters is fruitless. But the premise and the cast are what make a show like this work. The premise is as good as any others it’s riff with possibilities and has the potential to get into so really black comedy.

The cast is filled with folks you’ve seen in other shows around town at Strike, Phoenix and Huge and many other places and changes somewhat between shows. Ours included the multitalented and family favorite Shanan Custer. Our Dead friend was Madde Gibba, with a hilarious recurring bit of making her friends look right in her eyes as she did things, like eat soup, or pee in the ocean. Also in the cast list are Molly chase, Javier Morillo, Duck Washington, Katy Kessler, Eric Heiberg, Rita Boersma, and Sam Landman. The last is a reminder to always ask who the cast is for each night and always pick the one Sam Landman is in. I didn’t get Landman and it was still a good time with lots of laughs. Odds are in your favor now that you will get Landman and or Duck Washington another favorite. Wish You Were Here runs Friday and Saturday evening at 7:30 at Strike Theater for not a lot more information, but to purchase tickets go to https://www.strike.theater/shows.html

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I am also a member of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers (TCTB), where you can read roundups of shows by my colleagues and I when you follow us on facebook @TwinCitiesTheaterBloggers. We also produce the podcast Twin Cities Theater Chat!! which you can access through this link or wherever you enjoy podcasts https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/ . We post biweekly longer form episodes that will focus on interviews and discussions around theater topics. There is also shorter episodes in which we Bloggers tell you what we think you should get out and see as well as what we have on our schedules that we are most looking forward too.

Holiday Office Party at Strike Theater the Best Office Party You’ll Ever Attend… Granted, Not a High Bar. But Seriously, it’s Hilarious!!!

Holiday Office Party is a long form improvisational comedy which means everything you see at your show is being made up on the spot and that all of it fits together as one cohesive story. So that means two things, First and most importantly, if you love it, you can go again and see a completely new show! Secondly, anything I tell you specifically wouldn’t matter because those jokes wouldn’t appear at another performance. So what can I tell you besides that the performance I saw was really funny? Well, there is the set up which you should be able to inuit from the title. Essentially we are watching a group of coworkers at their company holiday party. Each of the performers becomes a character which they develop over the course of the show. Much of the humor comes from clever call backs to things that happened earlier. For instance, at our performance one of the characters, played by Anna Tobin, states she has a shellfish allergy. That allergy will be a running gag throughout the show referenced not only by that character but others not even in scenes with her. That’s what the best Improv performers bring to a show, not just a quick wit but the ability to create an arc for the character within the improvisational framework of a piece.

So I’ve seen some great improv at theaters like Strike, where Holiday Office Party is running, and Huge Improv Theater in Uptown. I’ve also seen some not so great improv, so how do you know what improv to spend your hard earned money and precious time on? Well the best way to hedge your bets is become familiar with the performers and producers of improv and watch for their shows. Holiday Office Party is produced and directed by Mike Fotis who is one of the co-founders of Strike Theater. I’ve seen Mike perform and the shows he’s created before so I know from those that he’s a good bet. Fotis doesn’t appear in this show but he’s up in the tech booth directing the show by the use of lights. So basically the performers know during specific video text prompts what the next scene will be, for example it might say small talk and mingling. The performers know to form small groups in designated areas of the stage and when Mike turns the light on their area that is their cue to speak. Fotis then determines when a scene has run its course and will turn the lights off and redirect us to another group. So that’s a name for the improv novices to remember Mike Fotis and when you see he’s either performing or behind the scenes you’ll know you are in good hands.

Aside from Mike there was another name that made me jump at this as one to see, Sam Landman. Since the first time I saw him at the Twin Cities Horror Fest in 2019 I knew he was someone to follow. I’ve seen him do improv at both Strike and Huge and he’s one of the best in town. He’s a performer who understands that whether you are acting in a play, a scripted comedy sketch, or doing improv, the best humor comes from characters, not jokes. One liners can be really funny on their own to be sure, but they are better when they build off of a characters personality. But here’s the thing, Fotis is a guy who works with and casts the best, there isn’t anyone in the cast who didn’t have a great show. There was one recurring scene clearly based on the Pam and Jim trope of the office co-workers who should be together but never quite get up the courage to move beyond flirting. The performers Gubby Kubik Nielsen and Lacey Mamak never quite found that perfect little thing to hook their scene on but were such engaging performers that it still worked. Nielsen in particular has a quality that made them the perfect performer for that role. Something in the eyes, so alive and sparkling with fun and mischief. Part of being an effective performer, especially in a show like this where you are one of nearly a dozen actors and the show is only an hour long, is knowing what your strengths are and playing to those. Nielsen knows how to use her eyes the looks she sends Mamak shout “you’re not imagining this, I’m feeling it too”. Ryan Robert Nelson went another route. His character slowly got a little drunk over the course of the show, but that wasn’t really his characters arc, he didn’t seem to really have one. Then, he sat to record a video message for Jerry who is retiring and he launched into a hot air balloon story that ends up being a confession that brought down the house. So all the little comments and bits he did earlier laid the groundwork that he’d had enough to drink to lose his inhibitions and decision making skills enough to unburden himself of his deep dark secret on his coworkers retirement video.

I can’t describe everyone’s shining moments but there were all fantastic and hilarious so I do want to mention everyone in the cast. Along with those already mentioned the cast included Erik Hoversten, Kerri Ann OHalloran, Christian Unser, Jerry Heather Meyer, Nels Lennes and Bailey Murphy. The cast changes from night to night, you will see some or all of the above when you go as well as Matt Prindle and Amee Nefzger Banks. The show runs for three more performances Thursday December 21st thru Saturday December 23rd at 7:30 PM. For more information about this and other shows at Strike Theater and to purchase tickets go to https://www.strike.theater/shows.html

Family Dinner and The Mess That Follows at HUGE Improv in Uptown

Last night I attended a double feature of Improvisational comedy at HUGE Improv Theater in Uptown. This was not my first ever experience with Improv, aside from what I’ve seen in films Don’t Think Twice or on TV Whose Line is it Anyway? I attended a Improv show in High school and much more recently attended a Comedy Sportz show with the family. But I think it’s fair to say this is still not a performance style or type of show that I’m very familiar with. Which is what made this evening particularly exciting for me. I love theater that’s why I’m doing this is the first place. What I’ve found really exciting in these first few months of reviewing are all the forms I’m being exposed to that are outside of my area of familiarity. Whether it be modern dance, shadow puppetry, interactive, or like last night improv, I’m fascinated by the skill and creativity on display all around the Twin Cities. HUGE Improv is a nice half moon shaped theater, packed a little too tightly with chairs. Easy to excuse as I’m sure they want to fit as many folks in as they can. But if you are on the big and/or tall side like I am, get there early and secure an aisle seat. Like every theater in the Twin Cities they have a nice selection in the theater of craft beers and wine for the drinkers and in the lobby a delicious selection of sodas and flavored waters for the NA’s like me. Being in Uptown, the other nice thing about this theater is they have a parking lot, an overflow lot, along with the usual street parking as well.

Last night I witnessed one of the most terrifying, at least in my mind, types of performance. Improvisation as you probably know means they are creating the show as they go along, there is no script. Anyone can do improv, but it takes a special skill set to do it well. You have to be a naturally funny person, you have to think of funny things to say on the spot, throughout the performance. But that isn’t all, it’s not about simply saying one liners, you have to also react to and feed your co-improvisers. When the improv is working it’s because the performers are building off of each other, and feeding each other lines that have possabilities. Lines that can contribute to a narrative, whether it be a 10 second bit or a 10 minute scene. You have to give the other performer something to play off of. I don’t imagine selfish performers are very good at improv, you cannot always be taking from the the others you have to be generous and giving in order to make it flow. You also have to have a good memory. In a longer scene you have to remember what has happened, who the relationships are between the characters, and even what their names are. There are a lot of balls to keep in the air. To me this would feel like starring in a play, opening night packed house, curtain rises, and you realize you haven’t even read the script. If the performers on stage didn’t make it look so easy and seem to be having so much fun, it would probably create anxiety and panic attacks in half the audience.

The first show was Family Dinner which was created by Molly Ritchie years ago and has become a Twin Cites tradition, this show basically sells out every performance so book ahead. Actually stop reading and buy your tickets now and then come back and finish the review. Ok, did you book? Good! OK, spoilers ahead, that’s a little joke. The beauty of a show like Family Dinner is you can see it every year, in fact, you can see every performance every year and everytime it will be new. This show is what they refer to as long form improvisation. There is a general idea, in this case, a family getting together for a holiday meal. Before the show audience members write down suggestions for secrets the members of the family might have. At the beginning, the director looks at the chosen secrets on a screen and taps the performer she wants to use that secret. Once each performer has a secret the scenes start and trust me hilarity ensues. There is one scripted line in the entire show and that is at the end of Act 1, someone says “Dinner is ready”. There is a brief intermission where a dining room table is set and food is placed on the table. When Act 2 begins the entire cast is at the table actually eating real food and continuing on the narrative they created in Act 1. There is no point in telling you the plot as it will be different every time (see earlier in the review and do try and follow along). What I can tell you is the cast was full of very funny and extremely talented performers. They are: Sam Landman, Vann Daley, Janay Henry, Katy Kessler, Laura Berger, Maureen Lyon Tubbs and Rita Boersma.

The Mess, the second show I took in, was more of a stream of consciousness affair. When it started I wasn’t sure if it really worked. The performers seemed to start ideas and trade a line or two and then others would come on and try something else, even if it didn’t seem like the others had finished their thought or idea. This continued for a few minutes and I started to worry this was going to be too fragmented. But then it seemed like the group struck on an idea they all liked and they ran with it for awhile, from then on they would switch to new ideas or scenes but they more or less played out like sketches, some shorter than others but not just one throw away line after another. I don’t know what the actual process is but I assume the performers have worked together enough that they just have a sense what doesn’t have legs and what does. I wasn’t aware of suggestions being taken from the audience, so I assume they were just riffing on their own ideas. Improvisation as a performance skill must take practice to get really good at, and I suspect working with the same group of performers assists in developing an intuitive sense of what ideas have potential and when an idea has been milked for all it can be and is ready to be discarded and a new scene begun. Improv would terrify me, but based on the performers body language I think there must be something very rewarding and fulfilling about it if you have the gift and have developed the talent. Rita Boersma, Mike Fotis, Eric Knobel, Molly Ritchie, James Rone and Jake Scott are The Mess and they seemed to have a telepathic link that told them when to switch it up.

Of the two shows I would recommend Family Dinner first, basically so you won’t feel bad for having bought your tickets already when I suggested it above. Also It looks like The Mess has a standing show every Saturday night so you’ll have a chance once you are hooked on Improv to take it in. I couldn’t tell you which show I laughed at more, I think my narrative attuned brain appreciated the singular story of Family Dinner, but some of the funniest lines came from The Mess. All in all I recommend following my lead and taking in the double feature. For more about the Shows and to purchase tickets visit HUGE Improv Theater at http://www.hugetheater.com/ Family Dinner runs Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 PM through the rest of December. The Mess performs every Saturday night at 9:30 PM.