One weekend left to see The Complete Works of Wllm Shakspr (abridged)!

The Skinny on the Skinny ft. Dave Smith

We are starting a new behind the scenes series featuring your favorite players from The Skinny Improv! Today we are presenting you the interview with Dave Smith!

Sarah Reule talks about Chicago, Bill Murray, and Beetlejuice

Sarah Reule is from Michigan, where she received an M.A. in Theater from Michigan State University. She has performed with The Second City in Chicago. Now she does the MainStage show and teaches improv and acting classes at the Skinny.

Where are you from and how did you end up in Springfield?
I was born and raised in Lansing, Michigan. I followed a boy here when he was offered a contract in Branson. It’s been six weeks, so far so good.
 
Where did you work at before coming here?
I performed with The Second City aboard the cruise ship, The Norwegian Spirit. We toured Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda while performing archived sketches and short form improv to Octogenarians and Spring Break’ers.
 
What brought you to The Skinny Improv?
When I was considering whether or not to move here, I knew I could only survive if I had a creative outlet, preferably doing improv. So, I actually Googled “Springfield Improv” and The Skinny came up. Turns out Jeff Jenkins and I have mutual friends in Chicago, and after doing some recon, I contacted Jeff and begged him to let me play. He obliged.
 
When did you start doing improv?
5 years ago. Chicago is known in the biz as “the funny city,” so as an actress I found myself on a lot of comedic auditions at which they would expect us to improvise, and that terrified me. I don’t like being afraid of things, so I decided to conquer it. I started by studying at the Second City Conservatory, found that I wasn’t too bad at it, and soon after started getting hired for actual gigs. It’s the American Dream!
 
What do you like most about doing improv?
That everything I say is right, as long as I justify it. If only real life were like that.
 
What do you think is most challenging about improv?
Depending on the study being quoted, we remember a dismal 25-50% of what we hear. It takes a lot of concentration to listen and retain the gifts our scene partners give us, but it’s integral to good scene work. We can avoid a lot of painful improv by just actively listening onstage.
 
Who are your influences or role models and why?
I think Bill Murray is the best, and not just because he reminds me of my uncle Larry. Most of my family is hilarious. I’m also a huge fan of Catherine O’Hara, Michael Keaton, and Alec Baldwin… basically the cast of Beetlejuice. Friends was a great example of an ensemble working together, I never get tired of that show (Seasons 4 through 10. Seasons 1-3 are unwatchable).
 
What is your favorite place in Springfield?
The Petland on Battlefield. They let you play with all the puppies, no questions asked.
 
What can make you laugh out loud?
America’s Funniest Home Videos, dry British humour, and never-ending bits with people I like. I’m lucky to have some really funny friends.
 
What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Black Cherry
 
If you could choose one song to describe yourself, what would it be?
Marlene Dietrich’s version of “The Laziest Gal In Town”

Brice Johnson talks about improv skills, the aggro crag, and his grandmother

Brice Johnson practically lives at the Skinny. He plays in Improv Sportz, is currently taking Level 4 improv and is also a great stand up comedian.

Where are you from and how did you end up in Springfield?
I’m hail from Rock Island, Illinois. In 1998, I moved to the Lake of the Ozarks with my Mother and Brother. After demolishing the high school curriculum, I drove to North Carolina and lived with my Father for  about a year. Then 2005 rolled around and I decided to start my adult life in Springfield.

What brought you to The Skinny Improv?
The Skinny hosted The Deadpan Comedy Festival in ’06 and ’07, which were stand up competitions that helped collect pots and pans for less privileged Springfieldians. Needless to say, but the higher ups took a liking to little ol’ Bricy J.

When did you start doing improv?
I did competitive improv at a few acting tournaments in high school. The results were not impressive. I stayed away from it for around eight years until my buddy T-Snod told me about the open auditions being held at the Skinny. I practically live here now. I eat food from the mini fridge and sleep in the corner of the green room.

What do you like most about doing improv?
I love acquiring skills that you can transfer to your everyday life. Listening is undoubtedly the most important skill I have learned since joining the Skinny. I was pretty inept before coming here.

What do you think is most challenging about improv?
The Aggro Crag.

You also do stand-up. Where do you get your inspiration?
It’s steams from the desire to make my grandmother proud of me. I know she would be, but I always try and surpass her expectations and I think that helps set me apart.

What’s your favorite joke from your stand up set?
It’s great to tell a joke or story then get a response I didn’t expect. It’s always something different every night, but those are probably my favorites to tell.

Who are your influences or role models and why?
My Grandmother, Andy Kaufman & George Carlin to name a few. Carlin was the king with his words, Kaufman challenged the norm and my grandmother was simply the most bodacious woman I’ve ever met.

What is your favorite place in Springfield?
I enjoy spending time on the outskirts of town, someplace with flowing water & trees.

What can make you laugh out loud?
The television show Curb Your Enthusiasm. Professional wrestling. Terrible impersonations. And stereotypes, but not all of them…I mean I haven’t heard all of them yet.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Cake Batter, but I’m pretty sure ingesting it gives you diabetes and cancer instantly.

If you could choose one song to describe yourself, what would it be?
The Friendship Song by Ween.

Amber Jones talks about the skinny, positive people, and Chipotle

Amber is the Director of House operations at The Skinny Improv. She is in charge of many things in the theatre. She is also taking improv classes and is currently involved in Level 4 Improv.

Where are you from and how did you end up in Springfield?

I am from Paola, KS.  When I graduated from college (on the east coast), I decided to move back to the mid-west and my aunt called me up and said “hey, apply for a State Job.”  So, I did and Greene County, Missouri was the first place to offer me a job!

What brought you to The Skinny Improv?

I decided that when I moved to Springfield I would try something new.  I enrolled in acting classes at the Springfield Little Theatre and started the very same week I moved.  I specifically told myself that I could never get the courage to do improv, but then I met Jeff, the second class in, and learned about The Skinny Improv.  I decided to check it out…fell in love with it…but was still super shy and hesitant.  So, I opted to enroll in another Springfield Little Theatre class instead of starting improv classes right away.  As fate would have it, Jeff happened to be the teacher…

When did you start doing improv?

Approximately 3 1/2 years ago…I think.  My first class was taught my Mystery Jeff Houghton. He didn’t give me time to be shy and kept me moving and learning.

What do you like the most about doing improv?

I like “the skinny” or the truth of it.  The best scenes and experiences on stage are not the times when I say the funniest lines or have the wittiest comebacks, but when I ground it in realism and can relate to the character or the character’s situation.

What do you think is most challenging about improv?

Trying not think too much.  I over-analyze everything and when I say everything, I mean everything.

Who are your influences or role models and why?

Not anyone in particular, but I admire people who do not apologize for who they are.  I like people that think positive even when the world seems so negative.  People who learn from their mistakes instead of beating themselves over them. People who expect good things and reject the thought that something bad might happen.  I like people who refuse to play it safe and take the chances that need to be taken.  I like people who Dream Big.

What is your favorite place in Springfield?

Chipotle!  Yah u do!

What can make you laugh out loud?

Other people laughing out loud.  Laughter is contagious…all it takes is someone else cracking up!

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

hmmm…I don’t really have one…but I do prefer the vanilla based to the chocolate based flavors…weird!

If you could choose one song to describe yourself, what would it be:

A country song: You Find Out Who Your Friends Are by Tracy Lawrence.  If you know me, google it and find out if you agree!

Tyler Snodgrass talks about making up characters, absurd things, and Nicolas Cage

Tyler plays in Improv Sportz and our award-winning MainStage show. You can also see him performing at some local stand up venues. This Friday, he will be opening for an actress and comedian Loni Love at the Gillioz at 7:30 PM.

Where are you from and how did you end up in Springfield?

I got here by being born here and never leaving. There’s not much more to it than that. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life after high school so I stayed in town and went to MSU. I’m still here and still don’t know what to do with my life and I’m very happy.

Why did you decide to start doing improv?

I first decided to do improv because I thought it would help me with my stand-up comedy. I wanted to be able to come up with more jokes on the spot while performing. But I wanted to learn improv comedy also, because I wanted to be on Whose Line as a kid.

What brought you to The Skinny Improv?

Open auditions! I knew some of the mainstagers at this time from doing stand-up at The Skinny a while back, including Leah Gunn, who I forced into talking me into auditioning. And I made it and have been doing shows since.

What do you like the most about doing improv?

More than anything, I like not having to prepare. I hate memorizing things. I also like getting to work with my friends (adorable!), and getting to come up with characters (ie The Popcorn Peddler, Gary Garrison, and Fat Tyler).

What do you think is the most challenging about improv?

I don’t quite have this issue anymore, but when I first started I thought there were so many things I had to remember while performing. There are a lot of rules and necessities that go into certain games, and improv in general, that one typically would not realize just by watching others perform.

You also do stand up. Which one do you enjoy more, or how these two comedy forms are different for you?

This is a tough question. I don’t really know which one I like more. My first love is stand-up comedy, though. That was my start in comedy, assuming anyone thinks I’m funny. It is hard to compare the two: it’s like comparing apples and David Bowie. They are very different formats, the inspiration comes from different places, the presentation is different, and the preparation processes are nothing alike.

What can make you laugh out loud?

The absurd. I like wild references/connections, the more ridiculous the better. If something makes me laugh and I can’t quite explain why it’s funny, then to me, that is REALLY funny. Arrested Development (the TV show, not the hip hop group), Stella, and really bad action movies (especially ones with Nicolas Cage) do a great job at making me laugh out loud.

Who are your influences or role models and why?

In comedy, I’ve definitely studied a number of people and are continually influenced by them. This includes Zach Galifianakis, Mitch Hedburg, Daniel Tosh, Mike Birbiglia, David Sedaris, Jeff Houghton, as well as the other mainstagers and people I’m lucky enough to perform improv with. Oh, and my parents and grandparents. They are great people and are pretty freaking funny, too.

What is your favorite ice cream?

Pumpkin Pie concrete. Is that ice cream?

Meet Angela Acree!

Angela came to the Skinny this summer wanting to take improv classes. She is currently taking Level 4 improv class and performing at the travel shows and some Thursday night shows as well.

 

Where are you from and how did you end up in Springfield?
About 20 years ago, I was living and working in Atlanta, GA and my parents and brother were talking about moving here from Texas. I wanted to get my MBA, so I checked out SMSU (yeah, it used to be called that back in the day) and decided to move here.

When did you start doing improv?
August 2009

What brought you to The Skinny Improv?
I was telling a friend of mine that I wanted to start doing improv, she “Googled” it and POOF – Skinny Improv came up and we sent an email asking about classes.

What do you like most about doing improv?
Laughing at my classmates, they are hysterical.

Who are your influences or role models and why?
Jeff Jenkins and Dan Clair because they are two of the funniest people I know.

What was the most unusual suggestion you have ever gotten from the audience?
Hmmm…I haven’t really had anything that I thought was an unusual suggestion (does that say something about me?)

What do you think is most challenging about improv?
Trying to stay in the moment and not think too much.

What can make you laugh out loud?
All the folks in my improv group

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate

Dan Clair talks about the Steelers, rehearsals, and good jokes

Dan Clair has been with the Skinny since 2004. In the past he’s performed in Improv Sportz and was also Jeff Houghton’s sidekick in The Mystery Hour. Now he’s one of the performers in our Mainstage show. He also teaches Level 1 improv classes, new round of which starts March 22!

Where are you from and how did you end up in Springfield?

I’m originally from Pittsburgh, PA–home of the Steelers!  I came to Springfield in 2003 to attend Evangel University.

Why did you decide to do improv? How long have you been doing it?

I was always intrigued by “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”, and when I came to Evangel I saw The Skinny Improv at their new student orientation and thought it looked like a ton of fun.

What brought you to The Skinny Improv?

I took the Level 1 Improv class at Evangel as a theatre program pre-requisite, and it was around that time The Skinny was getting ready to open their first theater in the basement of the Holland Building.  I auditioned for Donnybrook (now Improv Sportz) and made the team.  That was the fall of 2004, and I’ve been doing it ever since!

What do you like the most about doing improv?

What I love about improv is that you can take the audience and yourself anywhere–literally anywhere.  If you’re committed to the character and the reality of the scene, you’ll never run out of extraordinary possibilities.

What do you think is the most challenging about improv?

I don’t think improv is very difficult.  A lot of people who don’t do improv might think it’s extremely difficult, while others may think it’s crazy that we even rehearse (“it’s improv–how can you rehearse?? RIGHT?!?!)  Once you have the basics down, it starts to come as second nature.  But since most people including myself are at least partly ADD these days, I’d have to say that actively listening in a scene is the biggest challenge.  Super important, but very challenging.

A few words to someone who just started doing improv?

First of all, have fun.  Why do it if you’re not having fun??  Second, don’t limit yourself to the mundane.  Take chances.  Big chances.  There’s no point in being boring in improv, so if you’re going to fail, you should fail BIG!

What was one of the most unusual suggestions you’ve ever gotten from the audience?

I definitely cannot say it here, as it is inappropriate for the internets.

If not on stage, what do you like doing in your free time?

I love hanging out with good friends.  There’s nothing better, especially when they can genuinely make me laugh.  That’s why I love spending time with everyone at The Skinny–we are always cracking each other up!

If you could do one thing to change the world, what would it be?

To a certain degree, I’m already doing it!  There’s nothing I want more than to bring some joy to people’s lives and show them love, and a great way to do that is with laughter.  You’d be surprised how a person’s whole demeanor can change from the beginning of a show to the end!

What can make you laugh out loud?

Inside jokes with friends can make me do that.  That laughing out loud.  And of course a well placed “That’s what she said” joke.  And also Flight of the Conchords.  And Arrested Development.  Those things all make me laugh.  Laugh out loud.

Who are your influences or role models and why?

I’m definitely influenced by my Skinny Improv elders (Jeff and Jeff).  That goes without saying.  But outside of Springfield, my role models would have to be 2 performers from the IO Theater in Chicago, David Pasquesi and TJ Jagodowski (the blond guy from the Sonic commercials).  They’re definitely the two most talented/gifted/experienced improvisors I’ve ever seen.  They have a show every Wednesday night at IO called TJ and Dave, and it’ll seriously change your life.  I still remember the characters and scenes from their show I saw almost 4 years ago!  Definitely a must-see.

What is your favorite ice cream?

My favorite ice cream is anything that is primarily chocolate in composition.  Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food ranks pretty high up there.

Jimmy Wilson talks about speech&debate, zombies, and golden rules of improv

Jimmy Wilson is one of our Improv Sportz performers. You can also see him hosting or performing during our Pay What You Will Thrusday night shows!

Where are you from and how did you end up in Springfield?

I am from (and currently reside in) Republic, MO. It’s about fifteen miles away, so I end up in Springfield on a daily basis. So don’t hassle me, I’m local.

Why did you decide to start doing improv? How long have you been doing it?

Improv has always been an interest of mine. I started doing Speech & Debate improvisation in junior high, but that’s not real improv. Thirty minutes of preparation doesn’t count.

What brought you to The Skinny Improv?

I first saw the Skinny Improv perform at my high school, but it was in the cafeteria during lunch and nobody could hear what they were saying. So I headed downtown to check them out at their theatre. I liked what I saw. I got my start performing at the Skinny last summer when doing a show at the Landers with Jeff. He invited me to audition for the Improv Sportz team and I’ve been doing shows and taking classes ever since.

What do you like most about doing improv?

The spontaneity. You never know what’s going to happen. Plus, you never get the exact same show. It’s always fresh.

What do you thing is the most challenging about improv?

Grounding scenes in realism. It always seems fun to throw zany ideas out there, but they usually end with the performers and the audience lost in a state of confusion. Don’t go for the laughs, kids. They’ll come from the reality of the scene.

A few words to someone who just started doing improv?

“Yes, and.” That’s the golden rule. It’s important to agree with what is given to you by your fellow performers.

If not on stage, how do you spend your free time?

What’s free time? (Hahaha I’m a riot) Outside of school, working, and various performances and rehearsals, I usually spend my time with friends and catching some concerts on occasion. I also try to play music every now and then. And playing Left 4 Dead. Killing zombies is a great pastime.

What can make you laugh out loud?

Where do I start? I always enjoy a good wisecrack. I love me some sketch comedy; SNL, Kids in the Hall, Mr. Show, Monty Python, All That. The list could go on and on. Pretty much anything outrageous in a normal circumstance cracks me up. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia never fails. 

Who are your influences or role models and why?

The people involved in the mentioned shows above. They reach out to so many lives, bringing laughter to a world that’s not always so humorous.

What is your favorite ice cream?

That’s like asking me the meaning of life. Ice cream is my Achilles’ heel. I eat it all the time, especially during the winter. You can never go wrong with a turtle sundae. Vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, caramel, pecans and a cherry to top it off. Great, now I have to go and get one.

Diary of an Improv Student: The Sounds of Silence

This time in class, we started off the night by laying on the floor, being still and quiet, listening to the sounds around us. We don’t often stop and listen because we are all so busy. But, when we were laying on the stage being very quiet, I could hear things I never paid any attention to before: the heater running at a low hum, the footsteps of Jeff as he walks through the theater, the sounds of laughter from the Level 1 class that just finished class, the psssstttthhh a bottle of Pepsi makes when someone slowly twists off the top. . .and my heartbeat, my breath. I learned the world is a very noisy place.

After the listening, we did an exercise where you whisper repeat your scene partner’s lines before you say your own line. Repeating what the other person says before you say your line makes you slow down and really listen to what the other person is saying. Instead of thinking of what funny thing you can say next, you have to absorb what was just said to you. Slowing things down made everyone’s scenes seem more connected. I liked it a lot.

The next thing Jeff taught us was two person ten minute scenes. Just knowing that you were going to be up there for ten minutes really changed the dynamic of the scene. Most of the time when we are performing it is quick; you never know when someone is going to swipe the scene. (“Swipe the scene” is where someone not in the scene runs across the stage indicates to the audience that the scene is over. It is the group’s equivalent to a director’s final direction “AND, scene.” When you know you are going to be on stage for ten minutes, you take more time exploring the relationship and the situation. I like ten minute scenes. When I first heard Jeff say we were going to do two person ten minute scenes I thought to myself “Holey Moley! What am I going to do for ten minutes?” But, it went by fast and I think Amber and I ended up with a descent scene.

Last night we learned that we are going to have someone named Brian from Improv Olympic in Chicago to come to Skinny and teach us some stuff. Everyone is super excited. I am super excited because everyone else is super excited. Jeff talks about bringing people in from Chicago and Los Angeles to teach us workshops. I really appreciate it and I know it is a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity – so you bet I am going to be there!

by Angela Acree