By Kelsey Stewart
Do you need a fun night out? Come to the Rock Cafe, which is located on the first floor of the campus center, and see the group that started back in 2005, Western New England University improvisational comedy troupe: Improv on the Rocks.
Shows begin around 8 p.m., once monthly on Friday nights. Their goal is to bring laughter to their community. Each performance is a show to provide entertainment.
The shows consist of short-form and long-form improv with sketch comedy in December. What is a show like? They involve the audience by asking them to give them words to base the skits off. They even have the audience join the show. Most skits are games for the improv members to face off with each other.
Improv on the Rocks work hard three times a week to provide their fellow community with the best improv around. To quote Connor Bryant, one of the officers: “We also usually enter an improv competition called the college comedy festival in Boston at a theater named Improv Boston!”He continues, “However, with the pandemic, we have been unable to enter any competitions. We’re hoping to find somewhere to go out and perform this semester though!”
What is the troupe like? Well, there is a comedic, supportive, swell and quirky group of people. The troupe says this group is empowering, and is close. Many members say it’s the best part of their day. Performing to them is thrilling, fun, and exciting.
Many members say they owe to the group for helping them with the social skills many lost due to COVID-19 quarantine. Even helping with classes when presenting to the class. Improv on the Rocks is not just a group that practices and performs together; they are a group of best friends, like a small family. The group holds a sense of chemistry that allows them to perform with each other.
By performing in the shows, the troupe says it’s a creativity outlet, a place to grow as a person. These skills learned here can help you once you start your work career. To quote an alumni, Bryan Robison, “In a conflict situation, this group taught me to stay calm and not stress.” If you’re looking to join this fun, exciting group, they hold auditions for a few weeks in the fall semesters.
Now you must audition, but that doesn’t mean that you’re not welcome. Anyone can join their troupe. Once you’re a part of this fun filled group, it’s simple. You’ll practice and pick up the old tradition they have and the skills you need. They will teach you everything you need to know.
Once the skills are down, you’ll start your performance portions in their monthly shows. Don’t worry either about remembering lines, they don’t have any. Messing up? You can’t because you can always tie it into the shows as a character. The only limit is your imagination.
Shows are held to provide entertainment for the Golden Bear community and families, but that has been hard to do since the COVID-19 guidelines. So how would they ever be able to reach the community? By joining WNEK and GBTV, they broadcast their performances to the public.
Members state that “our families can now see what we do.” If you can’t make it physically to the shows, Golden Bear Television has started live streaming their performances on Youtube. The troupe also provides QR codes with the live stream link on the posters that show their advertisement so everyone has an opportunity to watch. Don’t forget to follow their Instagram, @improvondarocks.
