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Un-canned laughter

by Jon Nawn

As the usual slate of summer blockbusters scrambles for our attention, an art form that replaces CGI explosions with explosive hilarity is getting a home at the Drexel Gateway: live improvised comedy.

Every Friday in May, moviegoers will be lured by bursts of laughter to the theater's performance spaces to enjoy genuine spontaneity. Two troupes, Johnny Longform and Ohio State University's 8th Floor Improv Comedy Group, will be on hand to entertain the spectrum of the Gateway's clientele.

For young adults and OSU students, the 16-plus members of 8th Floor will put on a decidedly PG-13-rated evening of sketch comedy—edgy but not vulgar.

Meanwhile, Johnny Longform, working for the service Dating Directions, will help singles mingle by providing that instantly revealing common ground so crucial to flirting: laughter. (Cocktails, arguably just as crucial, are also available.)

The 8th Floor Improv Comedy Group was started by friends Nate Sherman, Drew Tarvin, Moran Lowe and Chris Lochinsky. Living together on the eighth floor of the OSU dorm Taylor Tower, they found that they shared a love of improv and stand-up comedy.

Gaining momentum since their freshman year, the 8th Floor now boasts matching T-shirts and business cards, an office in the student union and a bevy of off-campus gigs. It's an OSU tradition in the making.

Drexel events coordinator Kelli Busbey is proud to offer support. "It just makes sense," she said. "We're a local, independent film house, and they're an up-and-coming performance group. We're giving them a place to show their art."

The group is popping off two performances every Friday, at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; admission is $5.

Meanwhile, upstairs in the theater's swank Lava Lounge on the last Friday of every month, five seasoned improvisers coax reticent young professionals into saying the first thing that comes to their minds. Unlike their regular Wednesday night shows at North Campus coffee/art hut Kafe Kerouac, Johnny Longform's Dating Directions shows flow much easier because of the eager audience participation.

"It's a way for them to get to know each other without introducing each other," says Johnny Longform founding member Mark Soloff.

Singles gladly shell out $15 to sit cabaret-style while the comics help break the ice. Emcee and improviser Joe Teeters hustles the show along, introducing familiar games such as "Party Quirks" and "World's Worst."

Stand-up comedian and musician George Caleodis fills in the gaps with acoustic guitar strumming while stand-up comics Michael Malone and Jay Hendren round out the cast and serve as Johnny Longform's away team at the Drexel.

"I'm very excited about Friday nights in May here at the theater. I think this is going to build awareness for other arts organizations about our space," says Busbey.

The improv troupes are equally optimistic about their future at the theater. "We'd be happy to do shows there all summer," says 8th Floor member Max Koknar.

Regarding the audiences for Johnny Longform's gigs, Soloff is certainly not worried about waning attendance. He notes, "People become single every day."

For now, the future of the Columbus improv scene seems bright. Instead of passively soaking up franchise flicks on Friday nights, Gateway-goers now have the option of participating in their own entertainment.

For more info about improv at the Gateway, click to gatewaytheater.com

May 5, 2006