Comedy team heads to GVSU

Courtesy / Spotlight Productions
Mission IMPROVable comedy group.

Courtesy / Spotlight Productions Mission IMPROVable comedy group.

Erika Collin

For the first time ever, the entertainers who were named Campus Activities Magazine’s entertainers of the year are performing at Grand Valley State University.

The Mission IMPROVable comedy team will be in the Kirkhof Center’s Grand River Room on Wednesday, Feb. 5 from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. This unique and fast-paced comedy show, originated in Chicago, is one similar to the popular television show “Whose Line is it Anyway?” and involves interaction and participation from the audience.

“They’re really interactive with the audience,” said Ashley Grzywacz, events and traditions chair of Spotlight Productions.

Grzywacz decided to book the comedy team after she was drawn to the theme that Mission IMPROVable had to offer and the reason behind the name; the four members call themselves “agents” and they take missions from the crowd.

“Most of the comedy shows that we have hosted at GVSU, they have guests that they’ll bring up on stage, but it only involves a select few people. Whereas this can involve everyone,” Grzywacz said. “I think that that offers a different feel compared to our other shows that we do.”

GVSU is showing an interest in improvisation other places on campus as well. Just this fall, students started the Subject to Change improv comedy team. They practice every Sunday and focus on things like character work and trust exercises in order to prepare for shows in the future.

“What I love about improvisation is that it’s different every single time,” club president Lewis Stone said. “There’s no lines. There’s nothing. It’s just you and your skills and readiness and you just go out there.”

Stone plans to attend the Mission IMPROVable show and will encourage his teammates to attend, as well.

“It’s always fun to watch improv teams perform. It’s always interesting to see what their style is,” Stone said.

The doors will open at 8:30 p.m., and admission is free.

“It being an improv show, it’s completely new,” Grzywacz said. “It allows the audience to be a part of their own show.”