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SPOTLIGHT: Group plays on the cutting edge without a net

(11/08/90 10:00am)

If anyone had entered Houston Hall Auditorium Monday night, they might have been a little surprised to discover students squirming on the dirty stage. And jousting with each other using 10-foot poles. And zooming around the room on mountain bikes. And doing their best to be funny. But it was just another rehearsal for Without a Net, the University's only improvisational comedy troupe -- whose fall show, Dial M for iMprov, opens tonight. While the essence of improv necessarily lacks structure, hours of practice are required in order to determine the practicality and humor of each routine. The company was founded in 1985 by two enterprising students who staged their first improvisational debut following a dismal opening of collaborative one-act plays. The enthusiastic reception of their humor fueled their desire to create the group. Since that time, performers have created a list of games or scenes to perform, with titles such as What Happens Next?, Dueling Storytellers, and Blob. Within the limited framework of these scenarios, the actors improvise a skit on the spur of the moment relying on a word from the audience and a random tune decided by the pianist. According to group members, audience participation is crucial to each performance. "The audience says something and then sees it on stage," College junior Adam Abraham said. "They feel that they are shaping the show and it makes it funnier." "[Audience participation makes it] a lot more fun than sitting still and trying to be quiet," added College sophomore Yasmin Tuazon. The group also relies on weekly performances to tone up their skills. College senior Stuart Gibbs, the "Head Moron" of the troupe, added they are also asked to perform at a variety of University functions. An avoidance of raunchy humor may be the reason. "The troupe tries not to be offensive," four-year veteran Brad Krumholtz explained. "There are so many ways to get cheap laughs. We want our humor to be intelligent." College junior Kent Davis added that the skits are based solely on the power of the imagination. "Some weirdo, bizarro realities are created on stage, [such as] alternate dimensions and mutant mushrooms from Venus.," Davis said. The show opens tonight at 8:00 p.m. and plays Saturday night at 7:00 and 9:30 p.m. in Houston Hall Auditorium. Tickets are $5 and on sale on Locust Walk. Free Sunday night performances in High Rise East Rathskellar will commence next semester.

https://www.thedp.com/article/1990/11/spotlight_group_plays_on_the_cutting_edge_without_a_net

'Greek Week' activities begin

(10/02/90 9:00am)

problems during rally on Green With an impassioned speech from Leona Smith, a dedicated advocate for the homeless, approximately 200 fraternity and sorority members launched Greek Week '90 yesterday with an afternoon rally on College Green. Using the title of Phil Collins' song about homelessness "Another Day in Paradise" as a theme, Greek leaders highlighted their goal of uniting students to help solve problems within the University and West Philadelphia community. "Today may be another day in paradise, but for others it's another day in hell," said Phi Sigma Sigma sorority member Kim Brodkin at the rally, calling for all members of fraternities and sororities to actively participate in community service. Smith, who is currently the President of the National Union of the Homeless, addressed students with a heartfelt plea to help stave off the rapidly mounting homeless crisis. Smith herself was homeless on the streets of Philadelphia at the age of 15. "We are all one paycheck away from being homeless," warned Smith. "What people need is a hand up, not a hand-out." In addition, the rally included a speech by the chairpersons of the newly founded Greek Social Action Committee. Allison Abell and Jeff Furman, both College juniors, said they hope to create a greater awareness of the cultural diversity at the University and utilize already existing resources to combat problems in the surrounding community. "For years the Greek system has existed as a social outlet but the inherent and force and number of it demands much more," said Furman, a member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. Greek Week continues today with a clean-a-thon by fraternity and sorority members at and around the University.

https://www.thedp.com/article/1990/10/greek_week_activities_begin

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