Armed Farces improv sure to entertain
A smorgasbord of laughter.
A multimedia extravaganza.
An all-you-can-eat ice cream buffet with a million different topping options, but instead of ice cream, it’s comedy. This is how the Armed Farces Comedy Troupe describes the Variety Show they will be performing in Magnolia Ballroom this Thursday and Friday night at 8:00 p.m.
Seniors Ben Bradberry, Shaun Manny, Ian Custar and Jon Russell and juniors Drake Simons and Justin Miles collectively make up the Armed Farces. They have been working on the comedy show under the direction of junior theater major Elisha Hodgins since early Fall 2008.
“(The Variety Show) is the brainchild of the Armed Farces Troupe. We’ve been planning and writing and wishing and dreaming this thing up since the fall,” Custar said. “We have really come together on this thing more solidly and cohesively than we do working on a regular improv week, and it’s been awesome.”
The show is the first of it’s kind and features several live skits, videos and music. There will also be special appearances by juniors Caleigh Allen and the host of the Armed Farces’ improv events, Erin Williams.
The variety show presents a new way of performing for the Farces.
“(This is) the first time we have really ever performed something of this quality. Usually when we do improv, we show up at Blackbird probably later than we should. We do some warm up games outside in an alley. Then we go inside and make up stuff for almost two hours,” Bradberry said. “Sometimes it’s really good, and other times it is really bad. With this particular show we really had the chance to write down our ideas, second guess, rewrite and edit, which is totally different than what we are used to.”
The show costs $1 and all proceeds will be donated to Darius Goes West, a group dedicated to raising awareness and funds for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Friends of Darius Weems, who suffers from DMD, drove him across the country to MTV’s Pimp My Ride to get his wheel chair “pimped.” They then turned their road trip into a documentary film.
“We knew that we wanted to give the money that we made to charity. Since I know them, I know their dedication for this cause is off the scale,” said Bradberry.
The show is also a farewell to the senior members of the Armed Farces.
“It’s really just a group of six guys that have worked together over the years, practiced improv and love to make people laugh, so this is their chance to share that with everyone,” Hodgins said.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Apr 3 2009. Filed under Features.
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