Annual IMPROVables long-form show honors graduating seniors, welcomes new officers

IMPROVables cast members include Chipper Banks and Nathan Sollberger (back); Caleb Jalas, Joshua Nikodym, and Madee Hudson-Knowlton (middle); and Sarah Stepp and Jason Church (front).

Photo credit: Mi-Ree Zwick

By Mi-Ree Zwick

The IMPROVables hosted their annual long-form show, celebrated graduating students and welcomed a new officer to leadership on April 25 with a performance that students said offered a comedic break from the stresses of schoolwork.

A long-form improv show is a series of scenes that create a cohesive story with a beginning, middle and end. This particular show also included a senior scene, in which the graduating members of the IMPROVables performed a scene together, and the welcoming of new officer Claire Horacek to leadership.

The cast for this show included Caleb Jalas, Madee Hudson-Knowlton, Jason Church, Sarah Stepp, Josh Nikodym, Nathan Sollberger and Chipper Banks. For seniors Jalas and Hudson-Knowlton, this was their final IMPROVables show.

“I am very proud of all of the people in our cast and of our audience as well,” said Hudson-Knowlton. She said that the show itself went very well. Hudson-Knowlton said that it was “such a great way to end my senior year at Concordia, and in theater.”

For members of the IMPROVables, the long-form show was arguably one of the best performances that the troupe had seen. There were many compliments from the audience about the storyline, plot, characterization and improvisation.

Audience member Noah Niederklein said that he thought the cast had many scenes that helped “build this story.”

“They tied into each other well, had a lot of good references, a lot of good foreshadowing, and just really good improv overall tonight,” Niederklein said.

Horacek claimed that she was a “very crazy” audience member and that the show went very well. “There were so many amazing callbacks,” said Horacek. “So many good jokes.”

One of her favorite moments was when Nikodym, who played a king, freaked out over his daughter being engaged to a frog. It was then implied that “she only liked him because he was a frog.” Horacek said that there was “good creativity” and that she really enjoyed this performance.

Audience member Addison Risner came to the show to take her mind off of the approaching “Dead Week,” which is the week before final exams.

“Coming here was a very nice break and a breather,” said Risner. “The show was full of comedy and it just really helped relieve my stress.” She said that her favorite moment was when the dragon pretending to be a human tried to kill the human-sized frog.

Concordia alumnus Alleah Struble came to watch the show.

“I loved when Jason came around the corner and was like: ‘What are you doing out in the woods so late at night?’” Struble said. She also said she enjoyed that he made a callback to the line later on.

While the show was comedic and entertaining, it was also the farewell show for seniors Jalas and Hudson-Knowlton. They improvised their final scene together and were given senior gifts, as is the tradition in the IMPROVables.

Hudson-Knowlton said that the senior gifts were hilarious, and that they perfectly captured her experience with improv during her time here at Concordia.

“It’s a very bittersweet time in my life right now, as I get ready to move onto the next chapter,” said Hudson-Knowlton. “But I feel that Concordia has prepared me very well.” She says that she feels as if her community and her friendships here have supported her through her personal growth and that she knows she will “look back and be so fond of all of the memories” that she has made here.

Jalas is a current officer for the IMPROVables and is leaving “big shoes to fill,” according to Horacek.

“Caleb has been such a blessing to this troupe,” Horacek said. She said that he has been a leader and influenced a lot of this group.

“I want to honor him in my work next year,” said Horacek. “I’m really going to miss him and Madee. They are wonderful improv-ers, and it’s not going to be the same without them.”