Improv: National Comedy Theater

It's a superhero situation. By day, you're an average citizen, working at a desk job so to not attract too much attention. By nightfall, the new persona takes over, alive by the darkness. 

By day, Jamie Fox Rice works inconspicuously at a 9-to-5 job with the San Diego City Counsel. However, by night, this government worker unleashes less-than-known her spontaneous energy on stage in front of an eager crowd. Two very different gigs for the same person to partake in. This job entails not knowing what will come next and having a split second to think and react. Fox Rice is an improv performer for The San Diego National Comedy Theater. 

Improv has grown throughout the years to become an integral part of theatre and acting skills. These spontaneous performances have progressively evolved into an independent art form that many consider a worthy show before a paying audience. Drew Carey's hit TV show Who's Line Is It Anyway and its cast of improv pros are the hilarious cast of characters that come to mind when you think of improv comedy. Yet, like the National Comedy Theater, locally based improv comedy clubs are popping up for the neighbors to also experience the art first-hand.

Improvised performances are probably as old as the art of acting itself. The first known improv performances were from the Commedia dell'arte during the 15th and 17th centuries in the streets of Italy. However, it wasn't until the 1890s when improv performances made a breakthrough because of theatrical theorists and directors such as Konstantin Stanislavski and Jacques Copeau. They founded two major streams of acting theory, which both heavily utilized improvisation in acting training and rehearsal. Some individuals also credit Dudley Riggs as the first vaudevillian to use audience suggested themes to create improvised sketches.

For 20 years, The National Comedy Theatre has provided improv comedy featuring professional comedians. These charade actors perform a series of scenes that are based on audience suggestion. And unlike stand up, which can easily cross the line of appropriateness; these shows are fun and appropriate for all ages.

"It's like a sporting event with a referee," says Fox Rice."Points are earned by how much a team is liked by the audience in each round."

Fox Rice grew up around improv and it grew into a skill in her teens. She has been performing improv with the National Comedy Theatre for 10 years and has immersed herself in the activity because of its camaraderie with the performers and her ability to make the audience laugh. Another positive for her is that unlike plays or shows, improv doesn't require remembering lines or costumes.

"We enjoy each other's company and it's like a sport team," says Fox Rice."We rely on each other for success on the stage and we get to know one another."

For, the most part, the improv performers are just average people turned cap crusader by night."Everyone else has regular day obs," says Fox Rice."There are teachers, I'm in politics, the only person who does this full time is the owner."

The National Comedy Theatre also provides workshops, because improv places an emphasis on team building and thinking on the fly. More recently, Fox Rice has noticed there's an increase of individuals taking workshops for public speaking and team-building.

"People learn to speak publicly better and have confidence in the work place," says Fox Rice."And it's working its way into schools. Our comedy is fresh and clean, whereas stand up can cross that line. A 6 year-old to someone as old as 76 are having a blast and laughing the second they walk in and when they leave. We all work 9-to-5 jobs and people identify with us. Half of our business is remotes, which is where we get hired by companies to do team building activities with employees to be energized by team work."

With a show every Friday and Saturday night and once a month at midnight, the National Comedy Theatre provides a must-see show that will leave the audience roaring. Visit Nationalcomedy.com for more information.

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