About Us



The Oberlin College Improv Conference (OCIC) is an annual event with wide-reaching interdisciplinary objectives. There are already a myriad of extremely successful Improv Conferences across the country, but OCIC distances itself from these conventional events in two distinct ways. Firstly, OCIC strives to present and study Improvisation in Theater, Dance and Music as both an invaluable technique within these subjects, and as an emerging art form unique unto itself. Secondly, this conference offers its attendees a perspective that traditional conferences have all but ignored: the Social issues of Improvisation. Why do some people do Improv? Why do some people steer clear of it? How are specific social, ethnic, or cultural (just to name a few) sub-groups portrayed or represented, and what does this tell us about ourselves? These are but a sampling of the questions OCIC hopes to ask and develop, even if not answer.

The first annual OCIC (Spring 2001) centered on issues of Race in Improv, and was by all accounts, a great success. With the assistance of Jeff Wirth, Oui Be Negroes and Salsation! we laughed, worked, and discussed our way to a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by minority improvisers both on the stage and off. We spent many rigorous but enjoyable hours learning new techniques in Character Development, Space-guided Movement, and Spontaneous Musicality. Professionals, alumni, and students from Oberlin and beyond taught and learned from each other.

Now OCIC is hoping to out-do itself, moving to issues of Sexuality and Gender in Improvisation. To accomplish this, we have sought out some of the greatest talents in Improv and invited them to come and give their perspectives on the ramifications of being a "Male Improviser", a "Female Improviser", a "Queer Improviser", or a "Straight Improviser". How do these identities act as labels, and what effect do they have in the limelight as well as backstage? Along with this and other discussions, those who wish to join the conference can benefit from these improvisers' extensive skills in varied facets of Improvisation.

The Conference will consist of Student and Alumni Workshops, a Professional Performance, Student Performances, Professional Workshops, an all-night Improv Jam, and Panel Discussions on this year's topic. The Professional Performance is of special interest this year, as it will feature the reunion of one of the most successful improv groups to grace the stage: Zumpf. It is our hope that OCIC 2002 will be even more of a success than OCIC 2001.

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