First-year students from the Michigan State University Department Theatre take on improv comedy in the 15th annual Freshman Showcase: "Together We Will Improvise." Performance dates are Dec. 2-5 in Studio 60 of the Auditorium Building. Attendees must be masked for the health and safety of our students.
"Together We Will Improvise" is a light-hearted evening of improvisation to bond the Department of Theatre freshmen on their creative journey through undergrad. The actors will take suggestions from the audience to create a spontaneous, collaborative performance.
Throughout the fall semester, the students attended weekly rehearsals with director Sarah Hendrickson to learn improv comedy skills, build teams, and prepare for the show. Hendrickson says the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic means students are more prepared than ever to embrace the challenges of improv comedy.
“We are in a constantly changing environment that is putting our improvisational skills to the test,” Hendrickson said. “Adapting and surviving in a new world requires courage and imagination, and our freshmen are full of it! The students have done an amazing job preparing for this show. It's been wonderful watching them all grow closer and bond through the rehearsal process.”
Tickets for Together We Will Improvise are $20 for general admission, $18 for MSU faculty and staff and seniors, and $10 for students. Tickets are available online at whartoncenter.com, at the Wharton Center box office, or by calling 1-800-WHARTON.
Performance dates and times
*Thursday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. (Red and Blue Teams)
Friday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m. (Orange and Purple Teams)
Saturday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. (Orange and Blue Teams)
Saturday, Dec. 4, at 8 p.m. (Red and Green Teams)
**Sunday, Dec. 5,, at 2 p.m. (Purple and Green Teams)
* Post-show discussion on Thursday, Dec. 2, (Following the performance)
** Pre-show discussion with the director on Sunday, Dec. 5, at 1:15 p.m.
| Blue Team | Green Team Anna Yarnal Caitlyn Sanders Tia Spicer Audrey Lolli | Orange Team Sam Dobrowolski Jhon Govaere Natalie Palencik Shelby Ginsburg Seray Sezgen |
| Red Team Cayla Hadaway Joshua Powles Kat Poon Ray Snively Toby Sanders | Purple Team Maggie Heil Emilie Burkhart Conner Reilly Grayson Blaske Mandy Marsili |
For more information on the show and other MSU Department of Theatre productions, visit: theatre.msu.edu