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Local troupes get into the act of unscripted comedy

By Deborah Voorhees
The Dallas Morning News

Not long ago, only students of acting knew what improvisation was all about. Troupes such as Chicago’s Second City and Los Angeles’ The Groundlings changed that, and now unscripted comedy is enjoying another growth spurt. Even television is catching on: ABC’s Whose Line Is It Anyway? has given on-the-spot comedy a weekly prime-time slot, and Drew Carey built a recent live broadcast of his sitcom around improv bits.

Locally, audiences are growing more familiar with the format, and more troupes dedicates to the craft are cropping up. On any weekend, as many as six troupes may be performing in the Dallas-Forth Worth area.
The attraction for the audience chance to see funny people react to the unexpected with raw, unedited material. For the actor, it’s an intense mental workout – and there are no line rehearsals.
Watching improv is a bit like going to a rodeo. There will be a few good rides, several near misses and a lot of wrecks. To add enjoyment, bring 20 of your closest friends – and leave your inhibitions at the door. Here’s a who’s who of area improv:

Four Day Weekend
Seasoned professionals are the most important ingredients in an improv group. Working on the fly is no way for newbies to cut their teeth (for the audience’s sake). Four Day Weekend touts David Wilk, Troy Grant, Frank Ford, Oliver Tull, David Ahearn, and Paul Slavens. The first three have studied at Second City Conservatory in Chicago, and all have experience in several areas such as stand-up comedy, stage acting, television and film. This is as good as improv gets.