by Maddie Parise
CMU’s improv club, held in the Moss Performing Arts Center room 136 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, gives students a unique creative outlet. The club, which is currently run by student Justin Whittenburg, uses theatre games to teach and build the skill level of participants in the art of improv.
Improv, which is rooted in the word ‘improvisational,’ is acting that requires quick thinking and is often humorous. The club itself does not do live performances, but enjoys being able to throw around ideas and plots within given scenarios despite their lack of audience.
“[Improv] is the rawest form of acting. Nothing is fabricated; everything is on the spot; everything is fresh,” Whittenburg said. “It’s so easy to love.”
The club was open to only theatre students, but has now branched out to include participants of all majors and skill levels. Whittenburg noted students from all districts of CMU attend, including criminal justice majors and members of the Residence Hall Association. Attendees do not necessarily have to participate either, all are welcome to attend and enjoy an hour of entertainment and laughter.
“It’s fun,” Whittenburg said. “We all learn the basics of improv, anyone and everyone is welcome to join.”
The structure of the club involves a warm-up between attendees followed by multiple improv-based games. “Parallel universe” is one of those games, during which there are two sets of characters who have to switch between scenes using the same positions as the set before it.
Another is called “director,” where a scene is performed and then distinctly altered by the designated director. There is also one called “half life,” where a scene is performed within a shrinking time frame. The unpredictability of the games challenge actors and builds on their talents.
“Improv is the best exercise for an actor both mentally and physically,” member Keith McKay said.
The variety of games allow for vast differences in topics covered by the actors. Walt Disney’s ghost, human scooters and dictators made of cheddar cheese were all subjects covered within one meeting.
“There’s never a wrong answer in improv,” Whittenburg said. “It’s okay if things go badly… It’s okay to fail because it’s funny even when you do.”
Though the meetings do frequently result in fits of laughter courtesy of an unsuspected retort from an actor within a scene, the club thrives on teamwork and emphasizes it often.
“[Improv] has turned into a learning ground where everyone can work together and grow as a group,” Whittenburg said.
Whittenburg noted all the students who attend are not necessarily professional improv actors, but are able to use the club as a starting point to get their name and face out in the theatre community. The club is primarily a venue to meet other like-minded creatives.
“Improv is how I made 80 percent of my friends,” member Joe Castinado said.
For the club members who do excel, however, there is an on campus sketch comedy group that stemmed out from last year.
“Oddly Appropriate really started because of this, it grew so much that we needed an outside group to actually perform in front of people,” Whittenburg said.
The group performs live at CMU’s campus bar, The Point, and also has video sketches available on YouTube.
“[Improv club is] a way to relax and let your goofy out,” member Sydney Growe said.
Improv club gives attendees the opportunity to take a break from studying and classes to express themselves and participate in the unpredictability of theatre and have some fun while gaining new skills.
“Experience what you can do yourself, whether it’s impressions, characters, conflict scenes,” said Whittenburg, “it’s such a collaborative group… it’s such a cool hour-and-a-half to spend.”
