The Oakton Improv team, also called the Improvables, held auditions for their team this past Wednesday. The Improvables put on several shows each year, where they play games and perform scenes, sometimes involving audience participation. Nothing is ever planned and topics are suggested at random by audience members. They also go to competitions, where they perform with improv groups at other schools and are judged by the amount of applause they receive. The auditions were reminiscent of the shows, and participants were called up at random and played the same games the team plays for audiences.

   Anna Goodin is the junior captain of the improv team. She has been on the team since her freshman year, but this will be the first year the team goes to improv competitions. “The ratings for your performance are applause-based,” said Goodin. “If you have an audience that really enjoyed a skit that you did or a game that you played, they’ll vote for you.” She ran the audition and helped choose who will make callbacks. “There’s definitely a difference between people who are trying to be funny and people who are trying to create characters and set up a scene,” she said. “Finding chemistry between actors on stage is definitely an important part of making a good improv team. What I look for personally is someone who is willing to get up on stage and not be afraid to act kind of silly for the sake of a scene.”

The next afternoon,  a stream of students walked into the drama room after school. There was a sizable crowd that took up most of the space. Anna Goodin, as well as the senior captain, Joe Walker, welcomed everyone and began to call up team hopefuls in groups of five to play a game called Space Jump, where one person begins a scene, then another joins them to make a new scene, and so on and so on. Each round was quick-paced, light, and fun, and the participants were enthusiastic.

The next Tuesday, callbacks went up for the next round of auditions. The room, full of hopeful auditioners, had been cut down to twelve people, who will soon audition another time for one more chance to make the final team. As for everyone who didn’t make it, and even people who didn’t audition at all, they can still attend practices, which are open to the public. The first improv show is on October 21st, you won’t want to miss it!