Have you ever seen your dad watching Whose Line is it Anyway?, featuring actors like Wayne Brady pretending to be a submarine commander? Maybe you’ve been scrolling through YouTube and stumbling across CollegeHumor videos of their original shows like Game Changer or Make Some Noise, Where Brennan Lee Mulligan does completely on-point rants while doing a Kermit the Frog impression. You might’ve even seen clips from channels like Shoot From the Hip or Improv Broadway, where all of a sudden, the actors onstage start flailing their arms around and running on all fours. You might be thinking to yourself, “How did they do that? Why did they do that? Was that whole performance pre-planned?”
Well, if you have any interest in improvisational comedy like the above, you’re in luck! The Wayzata High School Theater Department now offers multiple opportunities to learn the entertaining and surprisingly helpful art of improv. You may have seen a class during registration called “Improvisational Comedy Studies”. This course, run by Justin Spooner, offers lessons on improv games, valuable teamwork skills, and just a fun class to fill your time.
If you’ve already taken this class and want to continue with this skill, the Drama Club has a new program that’s just for you. The Wayzata Trojan Horse Improv Club offers educational and performance opportunities for both beginner and experienced improvisers. Meeting every Wednesday in the black box at 7:30 A.M., The Trojan Horse improv troupe will start off your day with a specialty selected improv game to watch or participate in. Each day, a new game is chosen for everyone to try, exercising a specific performative skill or concept.
I interviewed lead coordinator Jed Adamow about the improv club. Jed organizes all of the games and morning exercises on Wednesdays. If you’re hesitant about improv, Adamow says the best way to get into it is to just do it. Things like classes and the improv club are excellent ways to grow your skills, but the only way to start is to, well, start. Adamow’s favorite improv game is The Harold, one of the long form improv games that will be performed at the upcoming show. The Harold is a game that emphasizes character work and plot lines. Sometimes it even turns into something adjacent to an actual play.
I also took some words of wisdom from Gus Lafrance, a new improviser who attends every morning meeting and is on the roster for our next show.
”I like the community around it a lot. It’s very fun. I’ve met a lot of cool people. And then, also, it’s just a general fun thing. All the games we do are very fun.”
also says that the best way to get into improv is to just show up and try your best; a very similar statement to Adamow’s.
”As long as you’re just yourself, and you’re kind and caring, and all of the things, you’re almost guaranteed to get in the live shows. And also, if you just want the experience and you don’t want to be in the show, you can tell them that, and it’s completely fine. And either way, it’s just a really good experience.”
Interested in seeing improvisational comedy in action? Join The Trojan Horse for their second show of the year on March 23rd! The show will take place in the blackbox at 7:30 P.M., starring familiar faces and some new ones as well. The best part? It’s free! Get ready for a wild night filled with fun, games, and most importantly, laughter!
If you’re reading this and have an interest in being in the show some day, all you have to do is be a part of the drama club (no previous experience required) and show up in the blackbox on Wednesday mornings at 7:30 A.M., and the rest of the improv team will gladly show you the ropes and basic improv practices.
“Welcome to the improv club; prepare to get improvised!”
-Riley Mann, probably.
