Two local improv groups will be ‘locking horns’ in a special show set for Oct. 29th in Red Deer College’s Studio D.
Moose Chuckles and performers with Bull Skit Comedy will be featured during the event, which is serving as a kind of fundraiser for members of Moose Chuckles – currently students in RDC’s Theatre Performance and Creation program.
Things get underway at 7:30 p.m.
Created by Emily Seymour, Moose Chuckles consists of five students who are honing their improv skills while juggling their studies. Next spring, for a practicum, the students have to sign on with a theatre company somewhere in Canada for three weeks. Rounding out the troupe are Emily Cupples, Rina Pelletier, Evan Macleod and Mike Moore.
“We are quite an inventive, ambitious class and many of us have our sights set on companies in Toronto or Vancouver to further our education, but because we are students many of us will not have the funds to support our trips,” said Seymour.
“As creator and director of Moose Chuckles, I have decided to begin collecting bottles in my spare time to donate to the class at the end of the year, but Moose Chuckles is also doing (this) special show with Red Deer’s beloved improvisation team Bull Skit on Oct. 29th.
“I see this as an opportunity to invite the community to the college to see what we are working on, and also raise money for the second year field placement project,” she said.
“We thought that because we would be involving an audience, that we would be able to raise funds for our entire class so everyone can go to the places where they want to go.”
As for the show, each team will tackle some material, and then who ‘wins’ a given round will be judged by the applause of the audience.
There is no charge to attend, but folks are invited to not only donate, but also to bring along any bottles that the students can turn in for their fundraising efforts as well.
Seymour said Moose Chuckles is RDC’s first improvisational group in about 10 years. “We’re feeling pretty good about that.” They launched the troupe this past March.
As to the Oct. 29th show, Seymour describes it not only as a means of raising some funds for the group but also as a great way to bolster awareness about Moose Chuckles as well. She’s also anticipating more collaborations with Bull Skit down the road.
For Seymour, Moose Chuckles provides a terrific opportunity to explore other sides of performing other than being involved in productions which are guided by scripts and careful, detailed planning. With improv, a person never quite knows where things will go – which is all part of the joy of it, she said, adding she hopes to go to Second City in Toronto for her practicum next spring.
“It is a bit terrifying not knowing what’s going to happen, or who is going to say what and which situation you will be put in – but that’s all part of the fun.”
For more information about the group or future shows with Bull Skit, find them on facebook under ‘Moose Chuckles Improv’.
editor@reddeerexpress.com
