Guerrilla Comedy Troupe Brings All-New Improvisation Acts to the Stage

by Angela Best

The Guerrilla Comedy Troupe of Baylor University will showcase its all-new improvisation performances at 8:30 and 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, in Theater 11 of the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center on the Baylor campus.
The show will consist of many games similar to those on the television show "Who's Line is it Anyway?" in which the Troupe members take suggestions from the audience and develop the plot and situations around those suggestions.
"All the games are different, and we really rely on the audience's participation to make our show a success," Guerrilla Troupe member Jason Seagraves said. "But that is what is so exciting for the audience, because, like the performers, they have no idea what could happen next."
Some of the Troupe's favorite games include the Ding Game, Sports Casters, Forward and Reverse and Customer Service.
Other games include the line game, in which the audience members write random lines on a piece of paper, and then the performers have to say the lines in the middle of a scene without knowing what they are, and also other games in which an audience member is asked to come down to perform certain functions in the games.
"It's a challenge for us to react to someone that we have never met, and it's funny for the audience to see someone placed on the spot," Seagraves said.
In addition to the games, the Troupe also will perform a couple of skits in the show, one of which is titled "Mafia Thanksgiving."
"It's a scene right in time for the season where a mafia Don has his entire family over for Thanksgiving dinner, and at this dinner he is giving up the family business to one of his sons," Seagraves said.
The Guerrilla Comedy Troupe was formed in 2000 by John Wolfe, a junior business major, who wanted an outlet to perform improvisations and sketch comedy and to joke around with his friends Toby Meuli and DJ Tijerina.
"Those guys were the craziest and zaniest people I have ever met," Seagraves said.
The Troupe currently has 15 members, and has performed at various events, such as the Baylor Premieres, Pigskin, All-University SING, the Dr Pepper Museum anniversary, numerous company parties, as well as at The Hideout in Austin.
Seating for the show is general admission, and signs will be posted within the facility to direct patrons to the proper theater. Tickets will be sold at the door for $2, and Guerilla Troupe merchandise will also be on sale.
For more information, contact Seagraves at 512-818-5972.