[media-credit name=”Jenny Lewis” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]

by Leah Budson
Improvisation gives someone the ability “to be whatever he or she wants” because the acting is not scripted, said junior Nick Rodriguez, who will be directing “Improv Jam.”
“For example, I could be a popcorn machine if I wanted to,” he said.
In addition to directing “Improv Jam,” Rodriguez is the assistant director of “Spontaneous Generation,” another improvisational production, that went up Wednesday, March 28 through Saturday, March 31 in the little theatre.
“Improv Jam” is Wednesday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the little theatre. Unlike other Theatre Ink productions, anyone who wants to be in the show may sign up to perform. Audience members will also be invited to participate during some sections of the performance.
In order to participate in “Improv Jam,” “I would recommend being at improv club once or twice to learn what the games are. Afterwards, there will be a sign up sheet on the callboard outside of the little theatre, and one can just walk up and put their name down,” said Rodriguez.
Improv club meets during X-block Mondays and Thursdays in the little theatre. Many club members performed Tuesday, Dec. 20 for the first “Improv Jam” of the school year.
The main difference between “Spontaneous Generation” and “Improv Jam” is that anyone can be in “Improv Jam,” whereas only 12 students were accepted for “Spontaneous Generation” this year, according to Rodriguez.
Rodriguez also described “Improv Jam” as being “more laid back, with more audience participation” than “Spontaneous Generation.”
In addition to improv games, Rodriguez anticipates that students in “Improv Jam” will perform a few open scenes.
“Open scenes are the longest form of improv that we do–-it’s just two or three people up on stage having a literally open scene, with no guidelines,” said Rodriguez.