Improv Team hosts weekly shows on Mondays, that are full of comedy and games
Mt.A’s Improv Club, formally known as MTA Presents, is an on-campus, student-run group that hosts practices and shows of improvisational theatre. This semester, the group kicked off with weekly shows on Monday evenings from 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Their shows are open for all students to come watch and participate from the crowd. In an interview with The Argosy, Rowan Brosha, one of the group’s leaders, outlined what it is like in improv practices, shows, auditions, and other upcoming events.
Improv, or improvisational theatre, is a type of comedic theatre in which the performance is entirely made up on the spot. For an improv group like MTA Presents, this involves creating acting performances without any kind of script or preparation, building off of each other’s improvised acting to create scenes and moments of humour. To guide the show, the team often plays games that prompt the actors and move the scenes forward.
MTA Presents was founded around 20 years ago by Justin Collette, who is now an established actor, writer, and musician, and most notably toured on Broadway in the musical Beetlejuice as the titular character. Since its founding, MTA Presents has always had a passionate group of actors continuing the club, and this year is no exception. This year, the group has three leaders and around 20 general members that meet every week. According to Brosha, meetings are “based off of the availability of current members,” and this semester that has been on Friday evenings. In the past, improv shows always took place on Wednesdays, and last year it was every other Wednesday. In accordance to the members availability, however, shows are now performed every Monday.
A typical improv show at The Pond involves playing common improv games brought in by the leaders and other experienced members.The games played during the performance are meant to generate comedic acting, introducing various comedic scenarios for the actors to explore and perform. Prompts include may relationship dynamics, like mother and daughter and random words may be added in the middle of a scene to shake it up. Some games involve little audience participation and are instead dictated by one of the group’s leaders, who may pause a scene and ask performers to improvise something different. Brosha explains practices and shows are not too dissimilar, as the group simply practices games in a less stressful environment and “perform for each other.” Brosha says, “anyone who goes to an improv show knows we are not a formal bunch. We very much like to just have fun with it.”
At the beginning of each school year, and occasionally each semester, MTA Presents holds auditions for students interested in joining the team. New students in September may sign up at Mt.A’s Clubs and Societies Fair to get emailed information about meetings and auditions. Brosha highlights no prior experience is required to join, and all students are welcome. The audition is “essentially com[ing] to [the] first practice of the year”, according to Brosha, giving the teams leaders an opportunity to assess prospects’ showmanship, collaborative energy, effort, and willingness to learn. Returning members do not have to audition again, and can help assess for new members at team auditions through a voting process. This year, the team has grown to around 20 members, including several who had no prior experience with improv acting.
What is next for MTA Presents? Other than their weekly shows, Brosha highlights there are other improv and social events upcoming and to keep an eye on their Instagram (@mtapresents). For students interested in attending a performance, look forward to plenty of opportunities to support the team and enjoy a night of improvised comedy.