Many students are aware of Moorpark College’s acting and improv classes. However, not everyone has heard about “Improv-a-Sutra;” the college’s improvisational comedy act which performs on campus and at the High Street Theater in the city of Moorpark.

“Improv-a-Sutra is a laugh-riot comedy hit consisting of Moorpark College students who have taken the improv class in the past, present, and future,” says Theater Department Chair John Loprieno.

According to Loprieno, students who show significant talent and ability to work together are selected from acting classes and may then decide whether they want to take part in Improv-a-Sutra.

“I look for a team. I look for people who can play well together,” Loprieno says. “Give and take is a huge part of it, so I look for students who have mastered that.”

Sociology major Brooke Mackenzie, 21, is one such student.
 “When I started improv, I thought it was all about me trying to be funny,” said Brooke. “I didn’t realize that it’s a give and take, and it’s really about the connection you have with your partners. That’s why I like it a lot.”

“Improv helps to be more present, to not judge people, and honestly to act like a kid. It’s an outlet: you get to act kooky and crazy and the scene partner just has to go along with it,” Mackenzie explained. 
“It’s totally a non-mind experience, it’s all body.”

Like Mackenzie, Television major Danielle Swarzman has also volunteered to participate in Improv-a-Sutra. Swarzman claims that she is taking improvisation classes to improve her comedy-writing skills.

“Historically, there have been a lot of really great people, specifically TV writers who have an improv background. I do improv outside of school at the Groundling’s theater in LA, so it was a natural step to take improv at Moorpark,” Swarzman explained.

Swarzman claims that the most challenging part of improv is the unscripted aspect and the need to stay in-character.

“It’s definitely more difficult then it looks,” says Swarzman. “The hardest part, I think, is to capture the point-of-view of the character. Every choice has to line up with every choice before it; a lot of thinking happens that the audience doesn’t see.”

According to Loprieno, audiences can expect to see numerous improv theater games and sketches such as “Change it!,” or “First line, last line.” There will also be audience participation: theatergoers can write lines of dialogue on strips of paper and turn them in to the actors before they take their seats. The lines are then chosen at random and will be integrated into the performances.

Loprieno says that there aren’t any performances scheduled at High Street yet, but that they are expected to take the stage in late April and May. On Tuesday May 6 at 7:30 p.m., audiences can participate in a live comedy event staged by the Improv-a-Sutra crew called “Live at Club M,” which will have a five dollar admission fee.