Valley Improv: “Creating Theater on the Spot”
Valley Improv Holiday Extravaganza, December 10 at Sawtooth
For an audience, part of the fun of going to the theater is not knowing what to expect. But picture being on stage as an actor, with no script, no rehearsal to speak of, and little idea of what will happen next, and for the duration of the entire production. Such courage! Gives me cotton-mouth just thinking about it.
Ben Guaraldi has held the reins at Valley Improv since 2019. He trained and performed with Improv Boston, The Tribe, and Bay Area Theater Sports. He seemed just the person, then, to ask for a definition of the art of improv:
“Improv is the art and sport of creating theater on the spot, working with no script, set design, or props (but often with audience suggestions) to present narratives that can be hilarious, surprising, and even moving.”
Say “improv” and many will free associate with “Second City,” the famous Chicago theater troupe that has spawned the careers of too many comedians to list. (But here’s a sample: Joan Rivers, Stephen Colbert, Alan Alda, Steve Carell.) In addition, there seems to have been a direct pipeline from Second City to—of course—Saturday Night Live: Belushi, Aykroyd, Radner, Poehler, Murray, and more.
According to Ben, our own Valley Improv was founded in 2008 by Rebecca Byars, an alum of Second City.
For the belts-and-suspenders crowd (I include myself), the whole flying-without-a-net thing can sound scary. I asked Ben what propels people to join Valley Improv:
“Members of our troupe join—and stay—for all sorts of reasons. People enjoy being on stage, making people laugh, learning improv skills, being in a community, creating collaboratively, challenging themselves, doing something different than their day job, or simply having a fun and welcoming place to be when we practice each week.”
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And what, if any, are the particular backgrounds of the current twenty-four members?
“ . . . about half had some experience with improv before joining, ranging from a class or two to expert-level performance. About a quarter had theater experience but no improv, and about a quarter had no background in improv or theater at all.”
What’s up next? After feeling the effects of closure during the pandemic times, Valley Improv has been making its way back. “We’re cooking now, though!” says Ben. “Our holiday extravaganza will be our 17th show in 2025!”
About that show: “Valley Improv Holiday Extravaganza” is on Wednesday, December 10, at 8:00 p.m. at Sawtooth Kitchen in Hanover, New Hampshire. Tickets are $10, on sale on-line via the website and at the door. “Our biggest cast ever will turn suggestions from any holiday you celebrate into a night of spontaneous comedy, festive characters, and merry mayhem!”
I sure hope someone thinks to include Festivus.
(Photos courtesy of Valley Improv)
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And in case you are wondering . . . Susan B. Apel shuttered a lifelong career as a law professor to continue an interest (since kindergarten) in writing. Her freelance business, The Next Word, includes literary and feature writing; her work has appeared in a variety of lit mags and other publications including Art New England, The Woven Tale Press, The Arts Fuse, Next Avenue, and Persimmon Tree. She connects with her neighbors through Artful, her blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley. She’s in love with the written word.