Annual 24-hour IMPROVathon Gives Laughs and Gives Back

by April Bayer

The Concordia IMPROVables provided entertainment for the Seward community and collected donations for local charities during its annual 24-hour IMPROVathon, which began in Janzow Top at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 18, and ended at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 19.

The day-long event of comedic improvisation games and sketches takes place every year and involves every member of IMPROVables as well as audience volunteers.“It’s literally 24 hours of sheer improv, so you get to see us at our high points and our low points,” said junior Emily Kollbaum, IMPROVables panel member. “It gives us a chance to experiment with new games for the audience. It’s an experience for everyone.”

At 7 p.m. on Friday, two teams of eight troupe members challenged each other in an improv competition hosted by senior Andrew Crist.This year’s guest judges included Director of Student Development Rehema Kavugha, Assistant Professor of Theology Russ Sommerfeld, and former IMPROVables member and Concordia alumna Natalie Rehbein.

The performance provided many new members of the IMPROVables with the chance to perform onstage for the first time.

“The biggest thing about the IMPROVathon is that it’s where a lot of (new members) get their first real stage experience. You get to see so many new faces,” said Paul Nelson, a junior and IMPROVables panel member. “I’m very excited about our freshman class. We’ve probably doubled in size this year. [The new members] have definitely got some spark.”

Each year, the troupe uses the event to experiment with new improv games, sometimes combining two games into one scene or coming up with something completely new.

Audience participation is encouraged, and the IMPROVables hope that audience members are inspired to try improv themselves.

“Improv has a sense of freedom,” Kollbaum said. “You’re not confined to a script…or boundaries…or a classroom…or guidelines on homework. You go and you release everything. Sometimes it’s wild and crazy. Sometimes it’s soft and sad. It’s amazing to see what comes out of it.”

The IMPROVathon also serves a purpose beyond entertainment by raising awareness and collecting donations for local charities.

In previous years, the IMPROVables collected donations for the families of students in need and hosted a clothing drive for the People’s City Mission in Lincoln.

This year, the group collected canned goods for the St. John Pantry at St. John Lutheran Church and a clothing drive for Seward Foster Friends, an organization that distributes clothing and hygiene products to local foster children.

The event also included a booth providing information about the Concordia’s new chapter of To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), a group dedicated to suicide prevention and raising awareness about addiction and self-harm.