Cast members in next week's Off the Cuff improvisational comedy performance will be saying "yes, and..." all evening, collecting laughs and funds for a local theater group.
Improv group leader Tim Thomas said a rule of thumb for improv actors is to never say no.
"You try not to ask a question," he said. "You simply say yes to whatever is given and to you and then you add on to it. And that's where a lot of the humor comes from."
Thomas said fans of the TV show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" can expect a similar performance. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11-12 at Scene One Theatre, 623 Ohio St. Tickets are $15; 75 percent of the profits go back to the theater, and the remaining 25 percent is split among the Off the Cuff cast members.
This is the group's first performance after a three-year hiatus.
Thomas initially formed Off the Cuff in Columbia a handful of years ago and did performances with the group of actors at various theater companies and businesses in the Mid-Missouri area, including Scene One and Capital City Productions in Jefferson City. The bulk of the proceeds, sometimes more than $1,000 per show, always goes back to the hosting group.
After Thomas moved to Illinois in 2018, the Columbia group was rebranded under different leadership. Now back in Missouri, working for a radio station in Sedalia, Thomas wanted to get back to his improv roots and restart the group. But not wanting to over-saturate the improv market in Columbia, he reached out to Mark Wegman with Scene One who readily accepted his request to base the improv group out of the Ohio Street theater.
Auditions were held in October, and Jefferson City's first improv comedy troupe was formed.
Thomas said the group features seven or eight cast members ranging in age from their 20s through 50s. They mostly live in the Jefferson City area and come from a wide variety of backgrounds -- some are local actors while others are new to the craft.
"I've found sometimes the best improv actors are just those who are just good actors. You may not have improv training but you have the instinct of an actor. You understand characters and stage directions," he said. "But those who want to learn and don't have training, I can work with them, too. You will find people are far more talented sometimes than they give themselves credit for."
The group rehearses for a few hours a week, and Thomas said they are ready for an audience.
"A big selling point for the actors is, 'well, you don't have to memorize anything.' We do have to rehearse because the more you work with actors, you find out their strengths," he said, noting some actors are good at building characters while other are quick on their feet for rapid-fire games.
Next week's shows will feature 20 games along with a few musical numbers. Thomas serves as the director, announcing the game's premise and its rules before turning the actors loose.
"My job as the director is to try and figure out who is best in what game and where I can allow the actors to be the stars," he said. "It's never about the glory for me; it's about getting up there and allowing them to perform and hopefully make people laugh."
The evenings will also feature local celebrity guests joining in on the fun. Radio personality Erin Hart from 94.3 KAT Country will play along during the Friday night show, and on Saturday, look for Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin.
Given the dates of the show, Thomas said performances will have a loose Valentine's Day theme. Though with nothing scripted, the show can move in any number of directions. He does aim to keep the performances clean, avoiding hot button issues or anything too racy. It's appropriate for those 16 and older.
Shrunken Head Mobile Bar & Tropical Drinks will be on site both nights serving adult beverages.
"We do get funnier the more people drink," he said, "and we do plan to get suggestions from the audience. Audience participation is certainly highly encouraged."
Though based at Scene One for this first show, Thomas hopes to expand and perform at other area theaters or for business and nonprofit events. With no show royalties or set required, improv performances are an easy fundraising option, Thomas said. Look for the Off the Cuff Improv Group on Facebook to stay up to date with their performances.
Off the Cuff is still looking for more members to join the group for future shows. Reach out to Thomas on his Radio Tim Thomas Facebook page or through www.radiotimthomas.com.
Tickets for next week's shows can be purchased through Scene One Theatre; contact 573-635-6713 or [email protected].