Improv, an experience you won’t forget at Charlotte Comedy Theater

One of the Charlotte Comedy Theater players intoned during Friday’s show, and the room erupted in hysterical laughter. The type of floor shaking, jump up and hoot, laughter that can only come from the specific alchemy of chance, timing and delivery so unique to a good improv show. This was my first Charlotte Comedy Theater performance, and it was unforgettable.

There is a certain contagious energy that comes from performing. Doing your thing in front of an audience is a rush! And just like any rush, it can be addictive, and infectious.

At Charlotte Comedy Theatre, the energy of the players permeates the room and is felt by everyone, performers and attendees alike. The audience is such an integral part of every show, they are spontaneously scooped up in a whirlwind of involvement and carried along with the inherent momentum of each performance.

“We share our energy with the audience, we are creating this with them.” says Charlotte Comedy Theater founder, Keli Semelsberger.

Keli started Charlotte Comedy Theater shortly after moving to Charlotte by way of Chicago in early 2003. In Chicago, Keli studied with the greats like Amy Poehler and Del Close and she brought her expertise to the Queen City, where she recruited and trained an incredible group of people to play with.

Currently, Charlotte Comedy Theater has 33 performers, and a few dozen more moving through the ranks of CCT’s improv classes.

In order to become an on stage performer with CCT, you have to pass three tiers of classes, each class lasts about six weeks. In the classes you will learn the basics of improv, and in the process you might also learn a little bit about yourself.  The way Keli teaches improv, incorporates large doses of psychology and philosophy.

“Improv is all about the surrendering of the ego…it teaches you to say yes. When you say yes, doors are opened.” says Keli.

CCT also offers corporate workshops where they teach the tenets of improv, with a focus on your company’s goals. “Improv really helps with brainstorming, because it allows you to step away from the obvious, but still be connected to the idea.” says Jason Spooner a 10-year veteran of Charlotte Comedy Theater.

Charlotte Comedy Theater members are an eclectic bunch ranging from truck drivers to marketing strategists, everyone brings a unique perspective to the group, and everyone has their own reasons for wanting to “play”.

“I felt like I had some talent that I wasn’t using” said Brian Briscoe one of the stand-out stars from Friday’s performance as we talked out on the patio after the show. He had to leave early because he was driving a long haul truck to Texas the next day.

Being on stage can be intimidating, particularly when there are so many unknown variables. But at Charlotte Comedy Theatre every one of the performer’s has each other’s back. “Our biggest rule is we take care of one another” says Keli.

“Teamwork is a huge part of improv” says Jason. “It’s not always about you. When the team looks good, you look good.”

At the end of June, CCT will be hosting their biggest show of the year, a little get together they call ‘The Playoffs”. Although most performances feature the players working together and supporting each other, at “The Playoffs” they are divided into teams and compete for laughs, and “audience points”. Nothing is off-limits at “The Playoffs” — electric dog collars and onstage head shavings have all made appearances in years past.

There are two main types of improv…long-form and short-form. Short-form improv is based on quick games like the kind you would see on “Whose Line is it Anyway?”. Long-Form Improv is much more difficult to perform. “It is a higher art, and it’s improv at its best.” says Keli.

Charlotte Comedy Theater performs both long and short form improv, it just depends on the crowd and on the night. Most shows are an hour and a half long. The show I saw last Friday was short-form. It was hilarious. Keli, hosted the entire evening and it was chock full of laughs.

I was amazed at the energy in the room throughout the show, it was like there were live wires throughout, keeping everyone completely enthralled. Keli kept the crowd directly involved by asking for ideas, lines, scenarios, etc, for the actors to play off. It was incredibly entertaining, and the thing is, until recently I had no idea Charlotte even had an improv theater, and a really good one at that.

The next time you are looking for something fun and exciting to do on a Friday or Saturday night, check out Charlotte Comedy Theater. It is an experience you won’t soon forget. Who knows you might even catch the bug and start practicing improv yourself.

Connect with Charlotte Comedy Theater

Website <br/>Facebook
Twitter