“An Evening of Improv” at WAPAEC

WASHINGTON - The Washington Area Performing Arts and Events Center (WAPAEC) is bringing comedy and improvisational theater to Washington with 'An Evening of Improv” this Saturday.

The production is the community's version of sketch comedy show 'Saturday Night Live” and will feature performers from Washington, Washington High School students and acting team 'Improv Incubator” from Cedar Rapids.

Local performers include Ed Colby, Tom Dawson, Christ Hanson, Mike McNurlen, Eric Hanson, Vern Miller, Brett Pierson and Greg Wiley.

Pierson, who also serves as the speech coach and drama director for WHS, said the show is a great opportunity for students to improve and practice their improv skills in front of an audience outside of a competition.

Students Emmy Geyer, Molly Klinzman, Jenna Messer and Matthew Osborn will be performing in the first act of 'An Evening of Improv.”

'Audiences can definitely expect some entertaining scenes, creativity and lots of pop culture references,” Geyer said.

For Klinzman and Messer, who are new to the speech team and improv, the show is one of their first public performances.

'This is going to be my first very public showcase. I'm not nervous, I'm just really excited,” Messer said.

'It's also nerve-wracking,” Klinzman added.

The three students will perform as a team and described their dynamic on stage as 'like a family.” In the lead up to the show, the students practiced several times a week. On the night of, the team will be given three scene options and some prep time before performing.

Pierson said from the adult performers audiences can also expect some portions of the show to resemble 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?” as well as various improv games.

'It'll be fun. One of the things I love about performing for this community is that I feel lucky. I feel lucky that we have people who support the arts the way they do, who supported the auditorium, that support community theater. I hope people enjoy it. I like performing here because the community appreciates it and they support not just the kids but also the community arts as well,” Pierson said.

The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Washington Area Performing Arts and Events Center. Tickets are available online at WashingtonAuditorium.org. Tickets also will be available at the door.