Guerrilla Comedy Troupe Brings Improvisational Skits, Games to Stage

by Lauren Venegas, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

The Guerrilla Comedy Troupe of Baylor University will showcase its improvisational talent with performances at 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, and 9:30 and 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at Theater 11 in the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Building on the Baylor campus.

The troupe members make a list of what games they will play and who will play them, however, every act in the performance is improvised. The host asks the audience for a location, a relationship between people playing the games, an activity or even the first line the troupe members have to say, essentially allowing the audience to pick and choose what they want the show to be like.

"Our shows are so much fun because not only is every show different, but they're based entirely on suggestions from the audience," said Guerrilla Troupe member Sky Bennett. "Our audience members can choose anything from the time period that a game takes place to the actual things that they say."

The troupe started in 2000 when John Wolfe, now an alumnus of Baylor, wanted an outlet to perform improvisations and comedy. Wolfe then decided to organize auditions. The troupe started having its own shows in 2005, after collecting fans from its performances at university functions.

The Guerrilla Comedy Troupe currently has nine members and performs throughout the year at various Baylor activities such as at After Dark, Baylor Sing! and Diadeloso. They are looking to have a permanent spot in a downtown Waco location. "We're always looking for more ways to perform and more opportunities to keep people laughing," Bennett said.

Seating for the show is general admission, and tickets will be sold at the door for $3. "Each member of the audience gets to take a piece of the show with them and be a part of something that only they experienced," Bennett said. "Since every show is different, and, often times, completely relies on the creativity of the audience, everyone walks away with their own memories and their own laughs."

The group will hold auditions this Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Building. For more information, contact at by Sky Bennett ,or(254) 710-6805.