Calhoun’s “On Tour Company” presents Annual Improvisation Night

Skits, nerves and what happens if something goes wrong

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Sanford H. Calhoun High School was scheduled to host their annual “Evening of Improv” on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m., hosted by the director and members of the “On Tour Company,” before inclement weather forced a rescheduling. This upcoming performance is the third and final of the improvisation shows being held for the 2016-2017 school year.

Salvatore Salerno has been the schools drama teacher and director of the “On Tour Company” for over 30 years. Salerno explained he has been teaching improvisation since the late 1980’s after discovering the concepts of improvisation nights through a book called “Theatre Sports,” while studying in England. A conference was recently held at Calhoun High School at which he then suggested they play some of the games from the book, and decided to perform these with the drama students.

Salerno reported that as preparation, he has his students perform improvisation skits during class time in the weeks leading up to the show. “When we’re practicing in class we go through a list of games and exercises that we use and they will explain what they want, what they like and what they feel comfortable with,” said Salerno. Along with that, Salerno said that he covers all bases of improvisation with his students by surprising them with something new or something they haven’t covered in a while and having them perform it that night.

The students admitted this is one of the most special and nerve-racking nights on stage. Agreeing that, unlike a play or musical, they don’t have any characters to depend on, or a script to memorize; it's all them, they said. Students continued by listing factors such as the lights being on so that they see the audience, or how they split up into teams for the final show while competing against one another, and the team with the highest score wins. Audience reaction is an essential part of improv, according to the students; their feedback fuels the scene so the pressure is on.

“Improvisation,” said Jolie Sangiorgio, 12, “is completely spontaneous, it’s learning the skills and relying on your own thoughts and actions rather than a characters”.

All the students concurred that, while failure may be frightening, it's what makes the show real. “Going wrong sometimes is funny,” said Max Kirby, 11. “You mess up, you say something wrong, you go with it — its improv.”

“With a show that has little structure,” said Nicholas Procopio, 10, “we still have a set of rules to follow.” “CROW” is written across the front of their red t-shirts while the back reads, “Just Say Yes!” They wear the shirts to every show.

“To start a scene, we have to establish a character, relationship, objective and a where,” said Jessica Ehrlich, 12. “We’re always supposed to agree to what the other person says ... just say yes!”

The students agreed that they won’t touch upon the day's more controversial or sensitive topics during a show. “Anything you wouldn’t say to your grandma we wouldn’t say during Improv,” said Mike DeVito, 11.

The students laughed, sharing that their favorite part of improv is having Mr. Salerno on stage with them, including him in a joke whenever they can. Doug Gallo, 11, further explained that having Sal on stage “keeps us in line when we get a little too carried away.”

Smiling, the group said that their teacher “contributes heavily to the energy of the night” and having him perform with them “makes the show even more fun”.