Where’s that spooky laughter coming from? Look no further than Zenprov Comedy’s special Halloween show “Welcome To The Funhouse” on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 pm at The Mary Fisher Theater in Sedona.
“Zenprov is the best comedy troupe in Arizona,” said Mr. Patrick Schweiss, Executive Director of the Sedona International Film Festival. “People were laughing so hard at their last show their cheeks were hurting.”
Zenprov Comedy has been compared to the Drew Carey TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” where experienced improvisers perform fast-paced comedic scenes created in the moment based on audience suggestions. Unlike sketch or standup comedy, nothing is scripted or rehearsed beforehand.
“Halloween is our favorite time to perform because there is so much material. Getting up in front of an audience with nothing prepared is scary enough. Adding a few monsters, creepy situations, and corn-syrup filled candies with razor blades, and it gets very funny, very fast” said Derek Dujardin, the troupe’s director.
Dujardin also said they’ll perform an old audience favorite “Sound Effects” where the audience members will create the sound effects for a haunted house and the actors will have to justify the creepy sound (good or bad) into an established scene. Also, troupe will stage “Sedona Realty” where a Sedona realtor will do his best to sell a haunted home to unsuspecting buyers with a lot wrong with the house. The troupe will also perform a long-form “Harold” based something audience says they are afraid of.
Zenprov Comedy embraces the Del Close method of improv acting, which emphasizes the “group mind” that mysteriously develops during a performance. Miraculously, the player’s minds fuse together to create a “super mind” where they practically finish each other’s sentences—and often do. Laughter ensues.
“Improv is a unique theatrical experience where audience and actors come together to create something magical and extremely alive right there in the moment,” said Shaeri Richards, troupe member. “And it’s funny, too.”
The super minds of Zenprov are Derek Dujardin, Shaeri Richards, Chris Redish, Shaunn Cochran, Tom Shoemaker, Betty Testa, Linda Roemer and Mary Carder. This one-night-only performance is expected to sell out so please purchase tickets early.
Shows are PG-13 and run approximately 90 minutes. Visit www.ZenprovComedy.com to learn more.