ComedySportz Richmond
I might not be a traveled as our guest blogger Mike this year, but I’ve done a fair amount of traveling and performing this year. I count myself blessed for the amount of stages I’ve been allowed to play in 2013. I thought DSI in North Carolina would be the last stop of the year, but a last minute invite to Richmond was something I couldn’t resist. I’d never played in Virginia for one thing and I admit that with a few exceptions, the east coast one area I don’t know as many people.
ComedySportz Richmond has been producing Festivus for three years now, and it’s run as smoothly as much longer running and larger events. The volunteers, staff and performers did a great job of making everyone feel welcome and the audiences have a great time.
ComedySportz Richmond is the kind of inviting theatre more should strive for. ComedySportz shows go down often, but several other shows happen as well. The Coalition Theater is the other improv theater in town, and from what I can see they work together to learn and grow.
The Festival was largely a regional one, (yours truly being the exception). Lots of great shows from North Carolina, D.C., New York and Virginia. Many old friends coming together. So many great shows happened and I noticed that shows were of a much faster pace than I’m used to seeing. Scenes were almost universally fast and hard, but not hasty or sloppy. There was genuine excitement pushing the scenes forward. Of course – Tara DiFrancisco’s headline performance was well earned. Her performance with a member of local group “No String Attached” was patient, and beautiful throughout.
Improv Kung Fu
Workshops happened on Saturday and, with the exception of the master class, were free for registered performers. I didn’t get to take any morning classes, although I heard great things about the workshop from the Nashville Improv Company and I’m certain the others went well. I got to teach “Starting Out Strong” above a Kung Fu dojo to a very cool mixture of performers from various backgrounds. It lead to some really good discussions on finding the meat of a scene and having confidence when starting a show. I hope I brough a fresh perspective to openings.
Between the shows, the volunteers and the workshops, I think it was a great experience for all performers. I’m pretty sure Dave Gau wouldn’t like to be singed out, because everyone from Virginia was willing to put in the sweat to make the festival great, but his leadership was very clear. He inspired those around him on and off stage. Big thanks to him, Zach Arnold, Susan Scoville, Kelly Scruggs,Kim Thurston, Dominic Wall and to the girl who went out of her way to get me my swag bag (which included a DVD of “The Long Kiss Goodnight” with Geena Davis and is thus the greatest festival swag bag ever). If you’re ever in Richmond, drop by and see some great shows.
Oh, and I ripped the arm off a tuxedo.
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Currently Bill is an instructor at The Torch Theatre and producer for the Phoenix Improv Festival. He tours teaching and performing across North America.
