Friday, Feb. 22, 2008

High school improv troupes get together for laughs

By ALYSSIA RAMIREZ

Teen Scene Writer

There has always been a competition for laughter between two comedy troupes: Summit’s Illiterate Book Club and Mansfield’s Pipin’ Hot Bowl of Comedy. With the birth of Legacy High School, a new rivalry has sprung from a combination of old Summit improvisers and fresh new faces. They have created Mission: Improvable, the newest addition to improv troupes in Mansfield. Because of the sisterly ties between the troupes’ sponsors, the Improvarama, a co-show rather than the annual showdown, has been created.

“We just wanted to take the element of competition out and just have fun,” said Melissa McIntyre-Craig, the theatre department head at Mansfield High School. “I think it will bring a fresh new energy to improv.”

Cole Christensen, a junior at Legacy High School and past member of Summit’s Illiterate Book Club, thinks collaboration between the troupes was a great idea.

“Both troupes bring a lot to the table and together it will birth a new breed of funny,” said Christensen.

Mission: Improvable team member senior Auston Maughan agrees that an all-around effort is the best choice for the show this year.

“I love (that) it’s not a showdown for the fact that we all can actually work together and combine different forms of comedy,” he said.

With a combination of quirks from both high schools, the show is bound to be a friendly compilation of witty remarks and hilarious stunts.

“When I do (improv), I just let go and that’s when the scene starts moving and people start laughing,” said senior Amanda Meeks, a first-year participant in Pipin’ Hot Bowl of Comedy.

Laughing is the main sound that will be heard flowing out of Legacy High School’s Performing Art Center, starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Admission is $5.