BY Gabi Chen
Every Tuesday Night from 7:00-8:30pm, the 15 members of the Comedy Troupe and Alex Leydenfrost meet together and play a series of improv games. During this hour and a half, they are developing skills to help them in their writing later in the year.
Leydenfrost was hired ten years ago to help run and direct Comedy Troupe along with his wife, Julia Glander. He ran the Comedy Troupe for 3 years until it fizzled out a few years ago. He is also a professional actor, and directed in 2007 and 2008, but his schedule became too busy for him to continue directing.
This year though, Leydenfrost made his return as co-sponsor of Pioneer Theatre Guild (along with Mysti Plummer and Quinn Strassel), and Comedy Troupe is back. Auditions were held at the beginning of the school year. Leydenfrost said he “picked the 15 kids that showed up to the audition.”
He said he expects that next year will bring more auditionees, and more talent to choose from; “Next year will probably be more challenging as more kids show interest and want to audition. We really can't carry much more than 15.”
Improvisation is acting without a script, where the performer simply goes along with whatever prompt they have been given (if any). Many famous comedians started out doing improv before their career took off. This can be very difficult for young people these days. Many of them avoid face to face interaction and instead hide behind screens. This makes it even more important for them to get their minds working with things like improv.
Leydenfrost thinks that improv is a very important activity for young people , “Improv allows kids to explore the infinite possibilities of creativity.” he said “Letting your imagination take you anywhere it wants to while being fully present with your partners on stage. It also is a great stress release from all of the turmoil of teenage life. Laughing adds years to your lifespan!”
Leydenfrost teaches theatre classes at Tappan Middle School, and says he likes to incorporate lots of improv into his classes there “Improv is great at any age level K-12.”
Please come and support the Comedy Troupe for their first show of the year on December 8 at 7:00pm in the Little Theatre!
Every Tuesday Night from 7:00-8:30pm, the 15 members of the Comedy Troupe and Alex Leydenfrost meet together and play a series of improv games. During this hour and a half, they are developing skills to help them in their writing later in the year.
Leydenfrost was hired ten years ago to help run and direct Comedy Troupe along with his wife, Julia Glander. He ran the Comedy Troupe for 3 years until it fizzled out a few years ago. He is also a professional actor, and directed in 2007 and 2008, but his schedule became too busy for him to continue directing.
This year though, Leydenfrost made his return as co-sponsor of Pioneer Theatre Guild (along with Mysti Plummer and Quinn Strassel), and Comedy Troupe is back. Auditions were held at the beginning of the school year. Leydenfrost said he “picked the 15 kids that showed up to the audition.”
He said he expects that next year will bring more auditionees, and more talent to choose from; “Next year will probably be more challenging as more kids show interest and want to audition. We really can't carry much more than 15.”
Improvisation is acting without a script, where the performer simply goes along with whatever prompt they have been given (if any). Many famous comedians started out doing improv before their career took off. This can be very difficult for young people these days. Many of them avoid face to face interaction and instead hide behind screens. This makes it even more important for them to get their minds working with things like improv.
Leydenfrost thinks that improv is a very important activity for young people , “Improv allows kids to explore the infinite possibilities of creativity.” he said “Letting your imagination take you anywhere it wants to while being fully present with your partners on stage. It also is a great stress release from all of the turmoil of teenage life. Laughing adds years to your lifespan!”
Leydenfrost teaches theatre classes at Tappan Middle School, and says he likes to incorporate lots of improv into his classes there “Improv is great at any age level K-12.”
Please come and support the Comedy Troupe for their first show of the year on December 8 at 7:00pm in the Little Theatre!