COMEDYSPORTZ
ENTER THE WORLD OF COMPETITIVE IMPROV Text by TARA KOTHARI Art by GIAN-PAOLO VON RUDEN
Additional reporting by GIAN- PAOLO VON RUDEN
H
OW DOES A SKETCH it fairly family-friendly. about a person falling in love Paly’s ComedySportz team consists of with a shark turn into a debate 10 members, and meets in the Performing about who is the best grand- Arts Center every Monday to rehearse. child? These are the twists that only improv “We do performances at open mic provides. Musicals and plays showcased at nights locally, and we are working on getPalo Alto High School have always attract- ting matches set up where we compete ed large audiences, but against other sports fewer have been exteams — that’s the posed to the tact and Even though you’re ultimate goal,” humor of ComedySTeam Captain competing, there’s a portz. and Paly senior Sky Starting in Mil- camaraderie with both Croce said. waukee, Wisconsin, in With multiple 1984, ComedySportz teams.” rounds and games — SKY CROCE, senior has been a popular to choose from, forum showcasing theevery member of atrical improvisation talent for years. It is the ComedySportz team has their favora version of competitive improv in which ite event. One game, called Shakespeare teams go head-to-head, competing for the Switch, involves changing from today’s most audience laughter. Many high schools English to Shakespearean English upon the around the United States have their very command of a referee. Another team faown ComedySportz teams, and there are vorite is New Choice, in which the referee a multitude of groups and clubs specifical- changes the actors’ roles and actions at ranly dedicated to this field of improvisation. dom. The combination of activities makes The main goal of the teams is to generate for a uniquely ridiculous and hilarious perthe most audience laughter while keeping formance for the audience.
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GROUP DISCUSSION Members of ComedySportz discuss logistics and give each other valuable feedback as they prepare for a match. Photo by Zoë Wong-VanHaren
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In addition to honing the teams’ theatrical skills, ComedySportz teaches its members valuable life lessons. “It’s a really big community where you trust everyone you are working with, so it’s very much based off of teamwork,” Croce said. Although the competitions always end with one winning team, Croce believes that there is so much more to it than just coming in first place. “I think the real winner is the audience, who gets to see all these quirky shows,” Croce said. “Even though you’re competing, there’s a camaraderie with both teams.” At the end of the day, Paly junior Zoe McCrea says that ComedySportz is just a way to have fun and laugh with friends. “I want to get more people that aren’t just in theater to be interested in it and to come to either improv or try out for the ComedySportz team, because I believe a lot of people would be interested in both,” McCrea said. v
