Syracuse Improv Group Advances To Finals
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
“I think we did pretty well,” said Main On Main’s Todd Lucas. “We’ve got some new members who haven’t been with us very long, but they’re picking it up fast and it’s working out great. One of our strengths is that we get along so well together and we genuinely enjoy performing and just trying to get each other to laugh.”
As for a team weakness, Lucas said that “would be that we need to continue to work on our timing and pacing, in that we need to be more willing to cut ourselves short when we've hit a funny high point. In improv, we have to edit ourselves and someone will call out ‘end scene’ when we think a scene should end. When you’re a performer watching other performers, it’s sometimes hard to step up and ‘end scene’ on someone. You don’t want anyone to feel like you’re stepping on their toes.”
The competition is at the Bristol Opera House at the Elkhart Civic Theatre. Finals this weekend will start at 7:30 p.m.
Six teams, including Main On Main, Syracuse, were scheduled to compete May 2. A team from Chicago, Ill., Business Fish, failed to show. With four teams advancing to finals, that left one team not moving on – and this year that was Disposable Theatre, Valparaiso.
The teams competing this Saturday with Main on Main will be Torp, Benton Harbor, Mich.; Same Difference, Valparaiso; and GoProv, Goshen.
Lucas said for this weekend, Main on Main just needs to work on its timing.
“We need to make it clear to each other that it’s OK to cut someone off if its in the best interest of getting a funny scene,” he said.
The troupes all performed scenes or games based on audience suggestions, with the audience taking an active role in providing ideas for the comedy to be presented.
Main On Main won the event last year.
“Since we won last year, of course, I think there’s a drive for us to win again. But comedy, like any art, can be so subjective, that on any given night, anyone else can be the funniest group, too,” Lucas said. “So it was a great privilege to win last year and we’re going to do our best this year and see what happens. It’s just cool to be back here again this year.”
Lucas said of the three other teams competing Saturday, any one of them could win.
“I think of all the teams as competition. They’re all great, and, frankly, many of them are more experienced than we are, so we can also see it as a night where we can learn some new ‘tricks,’ so to speak,” Lucas said.
Tickets for Saturday night’s show are available at the Elkhart Civic Theatre box office, or online at elkhartcivictheatre.org
For more information about Main On Main, visit its Facebook page at facebook.com/ImprovLoL[[In-content Ad]]
“I think we did pretty well,” said Main On Main’s Todd Lucas. “We’ve got some new members who haven’t been with us very long, but they’re picking it up fast and it’s working out great. One of our strengths is that we get along so well together and we genuinely enjoy performing and just trying to get each other to laugh.”
As for a team weakness, Lucas said that “would be that we need to continue to work on our timing and pacing, in that we need to be more willing to cut ourselves short when we've hit a funny high point. In improv, we have to edit ourselves and someone will call out ‘end scene’ when we think a scene should end. When you’re a performer watching other performers, it’s sometimes hard to step up and ‘end scene’ on someone. You don’t want anyone to feel like you’re stepping on their toes.”
The competition is at the Bristol Opera House at the Elkhart Civic Theatre. Finals this weekend will start at 7:30 p.m.
Six teams, including Main On Main, Syracuse, were scheduled to compete May 2. A team from Chicago, Ill., Business Fish, failed to show. With four teams advancing to finals, that left one team not moving on – and this year that was Disposable Theatre, Valparaiso.
The teams competing this Saturday with Main on Main will be Torp, Benton Harbor, Mich.; Same Difference, Valparaiso; and GoProv, Goshen.
Lucas said for this weekend, Main on Main just needs to work on its timing.
“We need to make it clear to each other that it’s OK to cut someone off if its in the best interest of getting a funny scene,” he said.
The troupes all performed scenes or games based on audience suggestions, with the audience taking an active role in providing ideas for the comedy to be presented.
Main On Main won the event last year.
“Since we won last year, of course, I think there’s a drive for us to win again. But comedy, like any art, can be so subjective, that on any given night, anyone else can be the funniest group, too,” Lucas said. “So it was a great privilege to win last year and we’re going to do our best this year and see what happens. It’s just cool to be back here again this year.”
Lucas said of the three other teams competing Saturday, any one of them could win.
“I think of all the teams as competition. They’re all great, and, frankly, many of them are more experienced than we are, so we can also see it as a night where we can learn some new ‘tricks,’ so to speak,” Lucas said.
Tickets for Saturday night’s show are available at the Elkhart Civic Theatre box office, or online at elkhartcivictheatre.org
For more information about Main On Main, visit its Facebook page at facebook.com/ImprovLoL[[In-content Ad]]
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