Rumblings in the Milwaukee comedy community show a growing improv scene, and it’s not surprising to see ComedySportz at the epicenter. The 30-year-old international innovator in short-form competitive improv includes workshops, a venue for other performers and outreach through mobile shows at schools and businesses.
Jack Martin recalls seeing ComedySportz at a work function years ago, and Bob Orvis inviting him to enroll in a workshop.
“I finally had the courage to sign up for a workshop last spring,” Jack says. Before you could say, “Yes, and…,” Jack was smitten. What did he find?
“The freedom to be silly and play make believe with a group of adults! It is also a form of therapy for me whereas a scene may lead into a darker time in my life and I get to share it with my team mates and the audience.” Jack also sensed an appetite for more. “I saw an overwhelming demand from myself and my classmates to learn more; one night a week just wasn’t enough.”
Jack’s introduction to improv coincided with long-form coursework from ComedySportz veterans such as Jacob Bach and Mike Kauth. The Tall Boys Improv troupe of Erik Koconis, James Boland, Lee Rowley and Robby McGhee, coached by Jared Stepp. Began performing more regularly, including monthly shows at ComedySportz.
After a long-form workshop with Jacob, Jack and some of his classmates – Brittany Paa, Jeremy Gilsoul, Evan Schroeder, Kim Trudo Bahr, Nicolai Ketelsen and Julie Hall Cole – formed a group they call 401k.
“Our coach, Jacob D. Bach, referred to us as his retirement fund, so we started calling ourselves, ‘Jacob’s 401(k),'” Jack explains via email. “Some of the members wanted to call us ‘Kidnapped Children’ but 401(k) seemed more politically correct.” (Although funding one’s retirement with ransoms is an intriguing idea. Footnote: the parentheses around the “k” is consistent with the Internal Revenue Service reference. We’ll go with “401k” because that’s what’s on Facebook.)
401k – 8 p.m., Friday, March 6
The new group will be opening for Tall Boys Improv in a $10 show at ComedySportz, 420 S. 1st St. Tall Boys also performs the same place the next night in a showcase following a sold-out three-hour improv workshop.
Tall Boys – 8 p.m., Saturday, March 7
And, if you want to be part of this long-form surge, Milwaukee Comedy is sponsoring a three-week workshop at the Underground Collaborative, led by the aforementioned Lee Rowley, Jared Stepp and the accomplished Amanda Eaton Sinko.
The Building Blocks of Long Form Improv
A step by step process to performing long form improv. Improvisers can get caught up in form but our instructors want you to get a better grasp on scene work which is the true building block of improv. This three part workshop takes focus on creating unique and interesting characters, finding truthful and grounded relationships, and constructing a satisfying show by finding the game, making timely callbacks, and using every part of the buffalo.
The workshop runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on consecutive Mondays, March 16, 23 and 30. The total cost is $40, and the class size is limited. (Click here for details and registration.) The Underground Collaborative is at 161 W. Wisconsin Ave., lower level.