Make ‘em laugh

Drama has a different look at University High School these days. Instead of reading from a script and spending weeks memorizing lines, a group of nine quick-thinking students are looking for laughs by making scenes as they go along. The nine “actletes” are part of the interactive improvisational comedy club at the school called ComedySportz High School League.

In its second year at U-Hi, the high school ComedySportz team performs five times each school year, and every performance is different.

During a performance, two teams of students play improvisational comedy as a sport, competing for laughs and points as they make up scenes, games and songs.

The audience gets to vote on who is the funniest, and most of the scenes and games are based on audience suggestions.

“The game is conformed and is made so it bests suits the audience,” said Brandon Montang, a U-Hi senior and member of the club.

Other team members include Jeremy Welch, Carly Jordan, Amanda McFarland, Andy Funke, Derek Baziotis, Chris Jackson, Madison Frame and Jesse Borden.

Drama teacher Jennifer Hunter is the secret weapon behind the group of comedians, playing referee during the performances by keeping track of points and calling fouls.

Common fouls include brown bag and groaner fouls. In a brown bag foul, actors who use lewd or crude language or behavior (both discouraged) get a brown paper bag placed over their head.

A groaner foul occurs when those on stage make a joke so bad, so terrible, it makes the audience groan.

“It’s supposed to be family friendly, clean fun,” Hunter said. “And these kids do an amazing job.”

The platform for the high school league is based on the official ComedySportz improvisational comedy program, first introduced in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1984. It is the longest running live theater show in Chicago, and Los Angeles. Spokane also has an official team.

The success of high school league has been made possible largely because of Hunter, who is a member and the artistic director of the ComedySportz club in Spokane.

The Spokane team performs on Friday and Saturday nights downtown, and is one of 22 in cities throughout the United States, Ireland and the United Kingdom that have official ComedySportz teams.

Hunter joined the Spokane team two years ago and brought the games to U-Hi where the concept didn’t take long to gain popularity. Right now, it is the only high school ComedySportz team in the Spokane area.

This year, there were four open spots on the high school team, and more than 40 students tried out.

Once a student makes the team they remain on the team for the rest of their high school careers, Hunter said.

The students know 30 different games and usually perform 10 during one performance.

“Because there is no script, it teaches them to think and act quickly,” Hunter said. “It’s really challenging, yet funny.”

Students said the comedy performances have given them increased self-assurance on stage.

“Last year I would have died rather than come on stage without a script,” said Carly Jordan.

“You don’t have to memorize the lines, you just do it, it opens you up and gives you a new sense of confidence,” added Jesse Borden.

They also have better listening and communication skills because the games require a sort of bond between the team members.

“They really listen to each other, and that makes the scenes and the games work,” Hunter said.

Current team members come from a variety of backgrounds, and all are involved in other activities including cheerleading, debate, athletics and band.

“We’re a really diverse group, and we bring lots of different kinds of students to the show,” Montang said.

He said it proves that “theater isn’t just for geeks anymore.”

And it shows.

Last month more than 100 students tried out for a spot in U-Hi’s upcoming production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

“I think it’s because of these kids,” Hunter said. “And we’ll sell more tickets because of these kids. They are awesome.”