EDMOND — OKC Improv, the newest venue for improvisionational comedy and theatre, made its premiere at The Ghostlight Theatre Club, where it will perform regular weekly shows beginning Jan. 15.

Produced by Marcy Fleming, Buck and Clint Vrazel and Eric Webb for Mirror Image Productions, OKC Improv showcases local and regional improvisers who have also appeared at various community functions, festivals and corporate bookings.

Improv is a style of extraneous acting whereby performers create characters, scenes and songs on the spot, usually following a format of short- or long-form games, using suggestions from the audience or predetermined prompts. Drew Carey’s television show, “Whose Line Is It, Anyway?” familiarized Americans with the short-form genre. “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” starring “Seinfeld” co-creator Larry David, features celebrities playing themselves, with the episodes improvised by the actors from an outline created by David.

OKC Improv’s opening night was divided into two performances, featuring the ensembles “Obviously Unrehearsed Improv!” (OUI!), based out of the University of Oklahoma, “Everybody and Their Dog Improv,” and “Red Dirt Improv” (RDI) in the first show. Specialty acts “Twinprov,” RDI’s “The Ones Your Mother Warned You About” and “Brass Balls” appeared in the second show, which I didn’t see, but producer Webb said it was “the livelier of the two shows.”

“OUI!” has been entertaining students and other audiences since 2001. The core players, representing diverse creative and scientific backgrounds and currently working in various academic and professional careers, include Sam Bleckley, Jay Edwards, Ben Ferrone, Ian Keegan, Kenny Madison, Amy McGiffin, Scot McClung and Andrew Perrine.

“Everybody and Their Dog Improv” is Oklahoma’s longest-running troupe, involving more than 30 different players since its founding in 1994. Five of the eight current members, Jeff Burleson, Tiffany Elam, Shane McClure, Zak Miller and Sue Ellen Reiman, offered a mix of short- and long-form skits.

Making its debut in 2008, “Red Dirt Improv” (RDI) performs a unique mix of short- and long-form, musical and competitive improv at the IOP Gallery. Curt Coy, Dave Courtright, James Murray, Buck and Clint Vrazel and Raychel Winstead produced “Improv Festival Oklahoma” and have been performing at other festivals, clubs, art events and private functions across the country.

“The Ones Your Mother Warned You About” is an original two-man, two-woman long-form “RDI” show that works off audience suggestions. Exploring the complex world of relationships, it creates a series of six monologues involving battling couples. Its members are Cristela Carrizales, the Vrazels and Winstead.

Improvisers Carrizales and Burleson recently appeared in Ghostlight’s production of “Fat Pig,” receiving high acclaim in local theater reviews.

Two-of-a kind brothers Buck and Clint Vrazel make up “Twinprov,” specializing in stand-up, sketch and musical comedy. The Vrazels have been performing and teaching improv for nine years and are founding members of “OUI!” and “RDI.” Since their April debut, they have produced three original shows.

In the first performance of the evening, “OUI!” explored the idea of an alternate universe, in which every human decision has an opposite outcome. For another bit, players were divided into three teams. The audience chose “Vikings,” the words “robust” and “fudge” as subject matter and designated its favorite team by a show of applause. Although not on the crowd’s chosen winning team, Kenny Madison was outstanding as a lisping little brother desperately seeking his older sibling’s approval.

“Everybody and Their Dog” displayed a wide range of characters, based on “something tribal elders would agree upon.” Their interpretation of the audience’s nomination, “getting rid of the prostitutes,” had little to do with tribes or elders. Some of the best scenes were brought to life by Elam and Reiman, their witty dialogues centered on Methodists and Lutherans.

The audience, comprised mostly of improvisers waiting to perform, their friends and family, responded heartily to requests for themes. Ghostlight Theatre Club’s intimate atmosphere, with its small stage and cash bar, is a perfect setting for the unabashed adult entertainment OKC Improv provides. At $10 per ticket, it’s affordable, interactive and an interesting alternative to traditional scripted theater. Every aspiring actor can benefit from observing and mastering this art form, as it is increasingly used in films, television shows and commercials.

Like karaoke, improv shows are probably better after a couple of drinks, and the performers’ audacity is to be admired, no matter what. For more info about OKC Improv, go to www.okcimprov.com.



JANET MURPHY PATTERSON is an Edmond resident.