Spring Break
Improv festival aims for laughs
By: Andy Austin
Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: WildLife
Improv festivals originated in 1629 after the legendary Sotrios Stylianos delighted the Queen of Mallorca with his famous "Trapeze Goat" improv sketch, after a rope shortage caused the rescheduling of his hanging. Until the last decade, improv troupes and enthusiasts made the trek to the large island off the coast of Spain for the annual Carnaval de Colgar. Disaster beset the event in 1991 after a tragic methanol-induced hot-air balloon explosion resulted in an "invisible fire" that festival-goers sadly mistook for an impromptu improv sketch, cheering until being ultimately consumed by flames themselves.
…All right, so that story was entirely made up (improv writing), but tomorrow the first ever Gila Monster Improv Festival will actually be taking place here in Tucson.
The two-day festival, hosted by Tucson's Street-Prov Theatre Collective, will feature troupesfrom as far away as Utah and Texas, as well as many improv groups from in-state. Friday night, the UA's Comedy Corner kicks off the festivities, followed by Phoenix's Apollo 12, Street-Prov and Coldtowne from Austin, Texas.
Saturday features The Charles Darwin Experience, also from Tucson, Not Burn Out Just Unscrewed and EXTRAVAGANZA!, where a member from every troupe is thrown onstage and chaos ensues.
The festival culminates with Galapagos, Neutrino Project: Phoenix and Joe Kyle Rogan's one-man show, JoKyR's Wyld.
"Rogan's simply amazing," said Steve Aleck of Street-Prov. "He puts heart and honesty into improv."
Passion like Rogan's is something many improv artists value.
"It's something that has had a tremendous affect on my life," said Boris Glebov, aseven-year veteran of improv (and optical physicist by trade.) "It's helped me be more comfortable in group situations and think faster on my feet."
…All right, so that story was entirely made up (improv writing), but tomorrow the first ever Gila Monster Improv Festival will actually be taking place here in Tucson.
The two-day festival, hosted by Tucson's Street-Prov Theatre Collective, will feature troupes
It can't exist without participation. We try to eliminate the space between us and our audience. It's like they're up on stage and get to be another cast member with us. But if you miss it, it's something original that will never happen again.
Olivia Sanders,festival organizer and Street-Prov perfromer
Saturday features The Charles Darwin Experience, also from Tucson, Not Burn Out Just Unscrewed and EXTRAVAGANZA!, where a member from every troupe is thrown onstage and chaos ensues.
The festival culminates with Galapagos, Neutrino Project: Phoenix and Joe Kyle Rogan's one-man show, JoKyR's Wyld.
"Rogan's simply amazing," said Steve Aleck of Street-Prov. "He puts heart and honesty into improv."
Passion like Rogan's is something many improv artists value.
"It's something that has had a tremendous affect on my life," said Boris Glebov, aseven-year veteran of improv (and optical physicist by trade.) "It's helped me be more comfortable in group situations and think faster on my feet."
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