by Angie McMahon
3 of the 6 members of 96D were able to travel up to the Hawaii Improv Festival this past weekend. Hosted by On The Spot Improv Troupe, Smashbox Productions, and Improv Hawaii
On Thursday Tom and Angie showed up to the Networking event. Mike was island hopping and not able to make it out. So Jim from Pale Irish Bastards was to kind as to step in and play Mike for the night (since they look so much a like).
The festival kicked off with a very beautiful Hula dance as a way to bless the festival and share with the mainland groups some traditions.
Then the 3rd Annual Improvaganza was kicked off with its first night of show, Hosted by Jordan Soles
First up was Hawaii’s own Teen Improv Group Owltastic. Making there third appearance in the Improvaganza. This 11 person group only has one male member. And they rocked out the Harold! Easily this young group performed some of the best improv I have been witness to. Clearly a wonderful kick off to the fest!
Next up was The Initiative, performing there show “Two Drink Minimum.” The Show revolves around a group of friends who frequent a new singles bar every weekend based off of the audience suggestions. It was slow, patient, smart, and funny!
Then the festivals Executive Producer Garrick Paikai performed his solo show Road Trip. This was my personal favorite show of the festival. Garrick gets a suggestion of a place to start and end his road trip and a place in between. Then he tells the audience to help him on his journey by making sound effects for his show (like the sound of a gun shot for instance). The show was interactive and original. It made me laugh, then choke up, then laugh again. I was lucky enough to catch his show twice during the fest and besides loving the show (and trying to figure out how I could get him to direct me doing it via web cam) my favorite Garrick moment is when 96D warmed up with him before our second night of shows and taught him “Where has my finger been” the popular improv warm up. He loved it!
Finally the night rounded out with Casual Threat Shannon Winpenny, Robb Bonnell, and R.Kevin Garcia Doyle. These three are the vets of the Hawaii Improv scene and they do not disapoint! Fast and Furious play with a heavy hand for the laughs! After there set I met Shannon (the Artistic Director of Hawaii’s first Theater dedicated to Improv The Laugh Track) and found out that our paths have crossed in Chicago many times. She performed on Bevy, a long time friend of CIC’s back in the Frankie J days.
With our first day of Improvaganza under our belts we were ready to hit the stage the next two nights! More to come next week.