A NOVEL STRAIN O F COMEDY

IMPROV DUO PANDEMIC! @ THE DISCO PROVES LAUGHTER IS CONTAGIOUS

OMAHA IMPROV DUO PANDEMIC! @ THE DISCO HAVE ENJOYED UPROARIOUS SUCCESS, EARNING RAVE REVIEWS AT THE BACKLINE COMEDY THEATRE AND ‘BEST COMEDY ENSEMBLE’ NODS FROM THE OMAHA ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS AWARDS.

“I never went into it with any expectation it would be anything other than a fun thing I do once in a while,” said Matt Johnson, the other half of Pandemic! @ the Disco. “To see it get that recognition feels really special. It’s v alidating.”

The pair met when Helwig served as music director for a five-person musical improv team that includ ed Johnson.

“Once, only the two of us were available for a show, and we were like, ‘Are we really going to try this ourselves? Okay, I guess we will.’ And it actually worked really well,” Helwi g recalled.

They debuted as a duo in the Backline’s weekly ‘Arena’ series, wherein a democracy of laughs holds court. “You try to keep winning to hold that spot for as long as possible,” she said. “It’s a great way to get featured in a 20-minute slot once a week”

“[We] share a certain passion for storytelling,” Johnson said. “We don’t just do funny musical scenes, we tell a funny musical story with character development and arcs.”

“I think of my work as a storyteller always,” He lwig echoed.

Chemistry and creative dynamism are essential, the pair taking cues not only from each other but from the audience to craft a patchwork narrative via music and com edic timing.

“Because we know each other so well and have been doing improv together so long, we really know where the other thrives,” Helwig said. “I know if I set up something, he’s going to hit a home run.”

Whereas most improv teams practice regularly under a coach, Pandemic is propelled by controlled chaos alone.

Omaha comedian Matt Geiler “has given us notes,” Helwig said, adding, “so I guess in that way he’s a gu est coach.”

“As far as preparing for our own shows,” Johnson said, “we did that at the outset–talking about story structure and wanting certain beats. A few times we’ve revised it over the years. Now we don’t really have to because we’ve done it so many times.”

Despite years of performing together, onstage sparks have n’t fizzled.

“Sometimes I leave the stage feeling there was electricity running through my body,” Helwig said.

“It’s an electric thing happening in the moment,” Johnson affirmed. “Improv is in many ways a conversation between the performers and audience. We do things and we get feedback…and we build from tha t together.”

“We prompt the audience with questions, so we get a lot of information to pull from,” Helwig explained, “and we just r un with it.”

“It’s an intense but ephemeral experience,” Johnson added. “Once that show’s done, it’s gone forever.”

“We have all these ideas laid out but we don’t know what the story’s going to be until we get there,” Helwig said, “except for a villain and a hero. The hero’s tragic flaw prope ls a quest.”

That the storyline and songs are devised on the spot, partly based on audience suggestions, she said, elicits “disbelief” from audiences.

“Especially if they’re unfamiliar with improv, people feel like a magic trick has been pulled on them,” Johnson said.

Backline owner Dylan Rhode admires how the duo comes up with “catchy hooks” and “sincere perspectives,” all with “no fear of going wherever the journey takes them.”

“They are an inspiration to everyone wanting to create improvised musical s,” he said.

Heiwig is also part of “Biscuits,” an improv show that hits the Blackline stage every fourth Friday. Additionally, she coaches the Backline’s musical house team which performs every second and fourth Tuesday and teaches musical improv workshops throughout the Midwest.

She ascribes her penchant for staying busy to her attention-deficit/hyperactivit y disorder.

“I have a theory every improviser has ADHD,” John son laughed.

For his part, Johnson is the creator of an improvised play he hopes to present quarterly, dubbed “Bott le Episode.”

“The gimmick of the show is that I serve the performers actual booze as they come on stage to create characters. It’s all improvised,” he explained.

Improv, like traditional theater, is about “playing pretend,” Johnson said, “but instead of being directed and working from a script, you are the actor, writer, director in a very instanta neous way.”

“The collaboration of ‘writing’ a story together live on stage is so fun,” Helwig said.

Helwig never imagined staying in Omaha beyond a year, but relationships and gigs have kept her here long enough to earn a master’s degree at College of Saint Mary.

She appreciates the “supportive” atmosphere and “many opportunities” af forded her.

“It’s such a family,” she said.

With the bond she and Johnson enjoy, they hope Pandemic! @ The Disco’s creative synergy inspires or perhaps, infects onlookers with a desire to try improv themselves.

“It’s a special thing unlike anything else,” Joh nson said.

Visit backlinecomedy.com for more information.

Crack the code; solve the murder; avert the alien invasion. These are just some of the challenges set forth by area escape rooms. No matter what impossible situation you have to fight your way out of, you and your nearest and dearest can put your gray matter to the test and see if you have what it takes to beat the clock.

1. MIND MELD ESCAPE ROOM

Westwood Plaza, 28199 S 125th St., Omaha mindmeldescaperooms.com

“Somewhat challenging,” “fairly hard,” and “hardest” are just some of the descriptors of the rooms waiting for escape enthusiasts in Westwood Plaza. Think you and yours have what it takes to defeat a rogue wrestler and defuse a bomb? Can you find an ancient artifact on a remote island before a greedy captain loses his patience? The clock is ticking! Open: Thursday—Friday 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday— Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

2. THE ESCAPE OMAHA

Aksarben Village, 6315 Center St., Omaha theescapeomaha.com

Puzzle lovers have four games to choose from with themes like undercover spy, extraterrestrials, mysterious crime scenes, and murderous mad scientists. All experiences are private, and teams of up to seven people have one hour to “unlock” the room. Forget trying to solve anything on your own; you have to work together to crack the clues. Expect plenty of high-energy, raucous screaming as the seconds tick down. Open: Wednesday—Thursday 4 to 10 p.m.; Friday—Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

3. ENTRAP ESCAPE ROOMS 7905 L St., Ralston entrapescaperooms.com

With only 60 minutes to win, every second counts when trying to crack cryptic clues. Whether stranded at an abandoned, vampireinfested castle, trying to pull off the perfect heist, investigating missing person cases, or attending a co-worker’s party at their mansion, you’ll be challenged, mystified, and sometimes bewildered by these enigmatic rooms. Open: Monday—Tuesday 4 to 9 p.m.; Wednesday—Thursday 4 to 9 p.m.; Friday 12—10:30 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

4. GET OUT OMAHA 501 S 13th St., Omaha getoutomaha.com

The current records for some of this escape room’s challenges stand at between 30 to 38 minutes. Think you can beat those numbers? Try your luck escaping from an enemy bunker, restoring a ruined reputation to save a beloved casino, averting an internet blackout, or escaping a villain in a hotel. Getting out is the ultimate goal in this downtown Omaha escape room. Open: Wednesday 3 to 10 p.m.; Thursday 3 to 10 p.m.; Friday 2 to 11 p.m.; Saturday 12 to 11 p.m.; Sunday 12 to 8 p.m.

5. ESCAPE DE FACTO Westroads Mall, 10000 California St., Omaha escapedefacto.com

The Cafe de Pandora provides a unique approach to this genre of entertainment, and the business claims to boast the largest escape room in the country. More abstract, high-tech puzzles provide a true challenge for the clever and the curious, who must work through multiple rooms as well as a large game area to beat the clock. Requests for hints are almost always necessary, so don’t feel shy about asking for help. Open: Monday—Friday 4 to 10:30 p.m.; Saturday—Sunday 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

6. HOUSE OF CONUNDRUM 2564 Leavenworth St., Omaha houseofconundrum.com

Push yourself to the limits of reason and and test your skills at deduction at the escape room that offers eight different puzzles— some of which have room completion rates of only 1% without hints. Room themes run the gamut from Star Trek and Batman to medieval knights and Sherlock Holmes. Open: Monday—Thursday 12 to 9:30 p.m.; Friday 12 to 10:30 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Sunday 1:30 to 9:30 p.m.

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