EXiT 185 Improv Comedy

Ken Ferguson - EXiT 185 Improv Comedy

There is a surge in improv all over the country and rightly so.  It seems that improv is a way to slip artistic creativity “under the door” without pretension and intimidation.

Here are 5 simple reasons why you should take a class!

1.  There are “no rules” in improv.

This is a big one and comes with some debate.  Are there guidelines to increase the quality of improvisation?  Yes, but since you start with usually nothing more than a suggestion of some sort, you are limited only by your imagination.  You can’t break improv.  What a relief!

You are encouraged to be spontaneous without logic.

Say the first, second, or maybe third thing that comes to mind without judgment.  You are not crazy and it is a safe environment since everyone agrees there are no rules.

You are not alone.

Improv is not stand up. You don’t have to be “funny”.  You have other classmates that you create with and because there is no script you simply add your part “brick by brick”. 

You get to play and have fun.

Is there a valley girl dying to get out of you?  Ever want to be a grumpy old man who walked to school in the snow uphill, both ways?  The exercises and games that come with taking a class provide a way to explore some of the characters you have inside you. Come on, you CAN do it.

You practice active listening in a creative way.

Remember the mention of “no script”? Well, since there isn’t a script you are encouraged to listen to your classmates and they in turn listen to you.  Listening skills are so essential yet we don’t seem to have a steady practice of it in our regular lives; at least not without some sort of agenda. 

Improv has become more and more accessible and there are many dedicated and knowledgeable instructors out there ready to get you started.  If you are in my neck of the woods, give me a holler…or just post a comment.

Your first night of Improv performance and you are actually, good old fashioned nervous. You have not felt this way in a long time. Definitely out of the comfort zone, now!

Wait. This is something you wanted to do. It seemed like a good decision a few weeks ago. What will you do? How can you ensure your success?

When you first looked at Improv, you picked a troupe that you liked, and would be comfortable with. You got with a teacher or coach you had some respect for and got some training. Sure you do not know everything that will happen, but you do know a basic framework of how it should work. So what is it you need to do?

COMMIT! That’s right. This is something you can do, and you can control. Decide it will work. Focus on doing your part and rely on your fellow cast members to do their parts. They too, are committed to that show, to that time, to that group.

Suddenly everything is clearer. All you need to do is commit to this. And sure enough, as you meet for the curtain call, your warm-up coach has selected some exercises that help prepare you. Your peers are encouraging and you really are in this thing together.

You get in tune with the cast, get pumped up and run to the stage as the group is introduced, throwing your self in. And lo and behold … it works! The show was fun, the audience enjoyed it and your peers talk about all the unexpected twists and turns. Yeah, this is really fun!

Each show will be different. You will grow and learn many things. But you always return to the basics. And one of the most basic elements for a successful show or rehearsal is, commit to it.

See you at the footlights!

What a journey this has been.  From trying to offer a kid’s improv class 4 years ago through parks and recreation, to taking days off from work to teach middle school drama students, workshops offered at the Paramount, then classes, etc.

It has been a wonderful experience but like many worthwhile endeavors it has been rough going at times.

Over a year ago my classes reached a height that demanded the formation of an improv troupe.

EXiT 185 Improv Comedy Troupe’s name stems from a couple things.

1.  I have had a comedy central sketch show in my memory from many years ago called “EXIT 57″.  Turns out years later I discovered that some of the cast and the director would be improvisors that I would admire and respect.

2.  Having so many talented friends who volunteered in nearly every case to come down and perform over the last few years I was constantly giving directions from Phoenix and repeatedly gave directions to take “Exit 185″.

That is how the name came to be. It wasn’t until afterwords that I was reminded that there is a short form improv comedy game called “185″.  It is more of a warm up and quick thinking, jokey game…e.g. 185 doctors walk in a bar and ask for a glass of water. The bartender says “we don’t have any water” and the 185 doctors says “that’s okay, we don’t believe in giving anything away for free either”….ba da bing…rim shot and thank you Cleveland.

Having performed for a number of years it has been difficult to simply direct the troupe.  After performing in the Phoenix Improv Festival at the Herberger West Stage I knew that it was time to start thinking of new directions.

At the same time some of the troupe members were going through different life events and losing interest in improv.  Sometimes that happens, people go through cycles.  So we lost a few players.

In an effort to re-invigorate our troupe I started sharing some of the directing duties with cast members and joining the players on stage.  What a blast that has been.  I never intended to be solely in control of all directing but it just took time to get there.  Starting with virtually brand new improvisors (except for Stacey Seaman) I felt it necessary to stay in that role until the right time.

Well, now is the time.  The core of EXiT 185 are improvisors who have stuck with me for 1 to 3 years and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Now I am performing more regularly with EXiT 185 Improv Comedy, Valley Fever Improv, and The Remainders….whew.  That doesn’t count all the various one off shows I do when I can with friends.

Two weeks ago we held our very first open auditions for the troupe and what a treat that has been.  It is a new process and I still have a lot to learn BUT we have 6 new players who have started to practice with us.

My goal is to continue to keep things fresh and will invite respected friends to workshop with the troupe and keep bringing their own unique take on improv as an art form.

EXiT 185 exists and yet it is a place I will always be on my way too.  It is a great journey and I am glad to be on it.