Kenneth Nichols
Appeared in the Syracuse New Times, July 2004.
Josh Grosvent and Shawn Graham never had trouble talking their way out of making people laugh. Both comedians, Grosvent and Graham are longtime friends and comedians who teamed up at Oswego State University to lead the Shaun Cassidy Fan Club Improv Comedy Troupe, recently named a national 'Cool Club' by MSN.com. The thirteen-year-old troupe flourished under their guidance, getting paid gigs across the state. The high point came when the troupe brought the New York Comedy Club their first improv show sell-out.
Improv comedy is an interactive form of live entertainment in which the audience has a big effect on the show. Based on audience suggestions and feedback, improv comedians perform sketches or even long-form plays. Much of improv's excitement is derived from the fact that the performers have no idea what is going to happen, as everything is made up on the spot. Skilled comedians make it so seamless that some people swear the show must be worked out beforehand, though it is not. The form as we know it originated with Del Close at Second City in Chicago, and later, Toronto. A list of Second City alumni reads like a Who's Who of Comedy: Mike Myers, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Chris Farley, Amy Sedaris, Dan Castellaneta...the list goes on. So many great actors come out of improv because it requires quick thinking, earnest characterization and a fearless demeanor.
Improv comedy has felt a recent surge in popularity thanks to the success of the British and American versions of "Whose Line is it Anyway?". Professional improv troupes are thriving, particularly in New York City, where the Upright Citizens Brigade has established their own theater.
Now Grosvent and Graham are bringing their knowledge to the people in "Improv Your Life", a seven-week improv comedy course given in conjunction with the Town of Clay Recreation Department. Classes will be held at the Clay Parks Ampitheatre, and shall begin the week of July twelfth in two age groups. 13 to 18-year-olds will meet every Monday from 6-8 p.m., while an adult class will meet every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. There is a cost of forty dollars per person, which includes classes, and the performance at the end of the course. “Forty dollars was the absolute minimum we could charge because we wanted to make it more affordable so more people could sign up. Some theatre summer courses cost several hundred dollars,” says Grosvent. Not only can everyone benefit from the class in added confidence and quick thinking, but everyone can afford it as well.
Attendees of the class will learn that improv comedy is not all fun and games. Concentration and discipline are important parts of being funny. The wacky freedom improv imparts can help young and old in several ways. Learning the basics of improv comedy can be a big asset at work. Public speaking is often cited as most Americans' number one fear. Performance improves when one is not so scared of standing before large groups of people. "It’s really great to see someone come out of their shell,” Graham says. “One of my favorite things is seeing the pearl that was hiding inside the clam.”
Improv comedy is also a good team builder. Trust is required when you are onstage without a script. You must trust others to maintain a scene, and notice what you are trying to accomplish, and help it along. Once improv comedians have worked together long enough, a form of telepathy takes hold. Of this telepathy, Grosvent says, “When you work with someone for so long, it’s impossible not to know what they’re thinking on stage. It’s a lot of the reason people think it’s scripted. We just know each other that well. It’s tough to find that kind of connection in the comedy world.”
The most important reason for an improv class is for fun. Graham agrees, saying, “I’ve always said that if you are not enjoying something, then it probably isn’t worth your time. I take all of these skills and apply them almost every day to mundane tasks.”
Before leading The Shaun Cassidy Fan Club Improv Comedy Troupe, Grosvent already had a long career as a performer and comedian. The Standard Oil Records band “Touched by an Uncle” was a fixture on the Syracuse music scene, combining acoustic guitar, trumpet and irreverent lyrics to tickle the funny bone. In the past year, Grosvent has refined his standup comedy, performing at places in Rochester, New York City, and at Syracuse University.
In addition to helping run the troupe with Grosvent in college, Shawn Graham also taught several workshops for high school students while attending Oswego State. He is eagerly anticipating a return to teaching: “It’s very special to have the opportunity to teach something that you love. I’ve been looking forward to this course all summer. I’m eager to share what I have.”
Improving and influencing the world of comedy is something of a crusade for Grosvent. “Improv has gotten really tacky and unfunny. We want to teach the new school of improv comedy to new faces and make it fun to watch and perform again.”
One of Graham’s goals in teaching the course is to reinforce the rules that performers must follow. “There’s a discernible framework to improv. We’ll teach them the rules in such a way that no one will be able to tell they are in place.”
Those wishing to take part in the improv class may call the Town of Clay Recreation Department at (315) 652-3800 or e-mail Shawn at kungfuimprov@yahoo.com. More information can also be found at www.oswego.edu/~grosvent.
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SIDEBAR WITH TERMS
Any specialized endeavor has a set of terms used by those in the know. Here are some words used in improv comedy:
Warp: Named for the warps in the Super Mario Brothers games, an improv warp is when a player says or does something that wasn't improvised on the spot. Usually these are borrowed from something funny someone else did earlier.
Sketch: Some improv comedians call what they do 'games'. 'Sketches' is a better term, reinforcing the scenework and earnestness of the effort.
Harold: Long-form improv, usually taking on a familiar form, like a talk show or slasher movie.
Block: When a performer contradicts what a fellow performer has done, this stops a scene cold.
Second Support: Setting up and progressing a scene for another performer, even if it sacrifices how funny you are.
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