Improvables: Moving Day

As of the first Friday in June, the Improvables have moved our home base once again!

BDAC had been a wonderful host and stage for us for more than six years (give or take a year or so, due to a pandemic). However, we were informed earlier this year by the top brass there that they were going to start scheduling other events on Friday nights, as these events tended to bring in more money. This change would require us to either have no show on those Fridays or to find another stage on which to perform. We began looking around locally, and Backstage Performing Arts, a children's/youth theater on the west side of Centerville, agreed to let us do a few trial run shows there.

The results were good, and Backstage was pleased with our being there. As it turns out, a family-friendly improv troupe fits in well with a youth theater, and thus the decision to move was made.

As of this writing, I have performed on the Backstage stage four times. The stage size is good for our type of show, and there is stadium seating, like we used to have at CenterPoint and Rodgers. The acoustics and sound are good. Best of all, many of our audience members have followed us there, and kids who have performed in some of the Backstage shows have also stayed to watch a couple of our performances now.

For those of you keeping track at home, the following have been Improvables hosts since our inception in 2008:

Rodgers Memorial Theatre, Centerville (2008-2010)

CenterPoint Legacy Theater, Centerville (2011-2018)

Playbills Theatre, Clearfield (2013)

Clearfield Community Arts Center, Clearfield (2013-2017)

Bountiful Davis Arts Center, Bountiful (2019-2025)

Backstage Performing Arts, Centerville (2025-present)

We've been all over Davis County these past 17+ years, and fortunately we've developed a fanbase wherever we have gone. Such appears to be the case now after two-plus months into our time at Backstage.

Improvables: Sixteenth Anniversary Show

The Improvables' annual reunion show was held on Friday, March 7, 2025, at Bountiful Davis Art Center. Formerly regular troupe members Biz, Brianne, Bryan, and Steve joined Keenan, Parker, Richard, Scott, and myself on stage for another fantastic show, filled with many chortles and giggles. Keenan, Parker, and I shared MC duties throughout the night.

Among the highlights were Biz spit-cleaning Parker's glasses and Bryan's hair in "Advice Panel," featuring the return of Janice, one of my favorite characters:

... Biz, Bryan, Keenan, and Scott in an ice cream store-based scene of "Director":

... Biz roaming the aisles, talking to random people and objects, while Steve gave a "Press Conference":

... old coot humor and puns in "Back in My Day":

... and an old skool game of "Don't Make Me Heckle" to conclude the evening:

The rest of our game list was rounded out with "Top That," "Novelist," "Mumbling Movie Murder Mystery," "Pieces of Shakespeare," and "Dueling Plays."

It's always good to take the stage with these guys—and it doesn't hurt that two of them are my siblings. It blows my mind that we're now in our 17th year overall of performing for Davis County audiences.

One of these days, they're going to find out that I have absolutely no idea what I am doing.

Improvables: Goodbye, Willis

Our resident musician Willis, a big part of the heart and soul of the Improvables since nearly the very beginning, is moving on to new opportunities on the other side of the country (Boston). At Friday night's performance, we had one last hurrah with him in the form of a farewell show.

Naturally, music was and has been a large part of every show we've done with him over the past 15+ years. This show featured favorites "Musical Fairy Tale," "Oscar-Winning Moment," "Predictive Text Song," and "Sing It!" Willis accompanied each singer on piano, guitar, and melodica.

Chance, Keenan, Parker, Richard, Scott, Tanner, and yours truly as MC rounded out the cast across games of "Late for Work," "Back in My Day," "Lie Detector," "Nine out of Ten," and "Director."

The troupe directors created this keepsake a token of our appreciation for the countless hours and performances Willis has given us over the years.

We wrapped up the show with a final "Greatest Hits of Willis," in which Willis himself was the interviewee and focus of our songs. Randy Newman showed up by popular demand (composer of the "Monk" theme song and songs from the Toy Story films, among many other works, whom I have portrayed frequently over time).

As always with improv, you had to be there. Fortunately, I got to be there on stage with Willis (and these other guys) countless times over the years, each performance a memory I will treasure. We can't really replace someone like Willis, because his skillset is unique. We will continue to have music, however.

Improvables: Fifteenth Anniversary Show

Biz, Brianne, Ian, Ryan, and Steve returned to the stage Friday night for the annual Improvables reunion show. Crazy to think that we started this thing almost 16 years ago. Keenan, Parker, and I joined them for this performance, along with MC Scott and Willis on keys.

Among the many games we played were "Late for Work," "Town Hall," "Film Noir," "World's Worst," "Story Genres," "Novelist," "Musical Understudy," and "Don't Make Me Heckle." We also included another favorite of mine, "Marshmallows," which we played on this night as "Peeps" (with Valentine's Day candy clearance providing the marshmallows).

I am kind of fond of these people—and not just the two I am related to. Together, we have undertaken the greatest creative experience of my life, through hundreds of shows over the years. I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to work with.

Improvables: Megan's Tribute Show

Still reeling from the loss of our dear friend and troupe co-owner Megan, we nevertheless marched forward and put on a tribute show/fundraiser for her daughter, Roxie, on Friday night at the Bountiful Davis Art Center. As they say in show biz, the show must go on. We feel that Megan would've wanted us to put on a funny show even amidst the tears that were collectively shed, and that is what happened.

We shattered out previous attendance record with more than 100 attendees in chairs. Among those present were several of Megan's family members, former students, and other acquaintances. Together, we were able to raise over $1,500, which is also by far our best fundraiser ever.

The show itself included appearances by several improvisers past and present, under the direction of co-MCs Erica and Ricky. Some of my favorite moments included this scene set in a bowling alley/shooting range in "Sing It":

... along with Richard's "Advice Panel" character Shy Jerome:

There were hearty chuckles all around, just like Megan would've wanted there to be. Her departure leaves a large hole in our troupe that will be difficult to fill.

Improvables: Fourteenth Annual Christmas Show

On Friday night at the Bountiful Davis Art Center, it was our annual Christmas Show! The ugly Christmas sweaters were in abundance, but the laughs were even abundant-er.

Don't believe me? Well, you should've been there, by gum.

Improvables: Fourteenth Annual Halloween Show

On Friday night, it was the Improvables' annual Halloween show. We've now had 13 of them altogether (14th annual because of no show in 2020 due to COVID-19).

I dressed up as Dwight Schrute from the TV show "The Office."

 

Tyler dressed up as this burly sailor man and stood outside of BDAC on Main Street, welcoming passersby to come inside to see the show.

Lorin, our MC for the evening, showed off his Mandalorian armor, which was quite impressive. He's been working on this ensemble for many months now.

Parker, as only Parker could do, outdid himself again, appearing as Fidel Castro:

The show itself was well attended once again and was a blast for all of us on stage. I got to play "Replay at Bernie's," "Pieces of Paper," "Changing Styles," and other favorites along with Heather, new dad Keenan, Megan, Parker, Richard, Ricky, and Tyler.

Believe you me, it was another memorable night with the good people (and fans of) the Improvables troupe.

Improvables: Thirteenth Anniversary Show

They are still letting us do live improv these days, pandemic and all. We've done Improvables so long now that we recently passed our 13th anniversary, which at the same time also marked the beginning of our 14th year of performing together in Davis County.

Anyhow, our annual reunion show—canceled last year because of aforementioned circumstances—returned this year and took place on Friday, March 11, at the Bountiful Davis Art Center. Biz, Ian, Ryan, and Steve came back for a night to take the stage along with current players Keenan, Parker, and Ricky, musician Willis, and MC yours truly.

Among the highlights were this game of "Advice Panel," featuring the return of one of my favorite characters: Janice, as played by Biz.

Another was this game of "Greatest Hits," with songs about magicians. It included a song and dance number by Steve as Britney Spears, for which I promised I wouldn't post a picture of online. I guess you'll just have to take my word for it.

All told, it was another enjoyable reunion show for our gang. We're looking forward to the next one in 2023!

Improvables: Thirteenth Annual Christmas Show

Friday was a busy day for the Improvables. At noon, a group of us—Jamie, Kelley, Matt, Richard, and Ricky, with yours truly as MC—put on a lunchtime remote show for the good people of Overstock.com at their SLC headquarters in Midvale. The audience physically seated in the auditorium there never got larger than eight or nine people, because the vast majority were watching from home. For this reason, we each had to carry a mic throughout the performance so those watching remotely could hear us. This presented an unprecedented challenge for us, but it was one that our actors rose to meet, and they put on a great performance.

Then, later that evening, it was our annual Christmas show—our thirteenth annual!—at BDAC. The tacky (ugly) Christmas sweaters were abundant, and Chance, Jamie, Keenan, Megan, Parker, Tanner, and MC Ricky delivered another great evening. I participated by running the sound and music via Bluetooth in the audience (and it was fun to kick back for once and enjoy a show together with JB).

Well, that wraps it up for the year 2021! We now move into our annual winter break, with the next few Fridays off. Becoming a small business owner this year was something I never would have expected,  well, ever, but it has been very rewarding. Plus, my co-owner is my favorite person in the world, and I'm glad we are going on this adventure together.

Improvables: Thirteenth Annual Halloween Show

On Friday night, we held our first Improvables Halloween show in two years! (Just consider the twelfth annual Halloween show to have been performed last year in spirit, I guess?)

It was great to have BDAC full again, both on and off stage, for one of our favorite nights of the year. Our players and audience members alike are both quite amazing human beings who once again brought their A-game with wonderfully creative costumes.

For example, Chance and Anne, pictured here, dressed up as Ben and Leslie from the TV show "Parks and Recreation":

Parker was Dr. Robotnik from Sonic the Hedgehog:

Tessa and Keenan did a Disney's Tarzan-inspired cosplay:

... and Tyler and Tristian were Nintendo Switch controllers:

Yours truly dressed up as Blue Shirt Guy from the summer blockbuster movie Free Guy.

After the show, all troupe members present posed for this picture:

There were laughs aplenty. There were myriad clever moments. There were brilliant songs created, with the help of Willis on keys, right on the spot. As with any improv show, you just had to be there. (If you haven't been yet, well ... why haven't you?)

Improvables: The Improvables Strike Back

After an absence of almost a year-and-a-half from the BDAC stage due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Improvables are back with new, family-friendly improv as of August 6! Our first post-pandemic show before a live audience was an absolute blast. It was great to once again share the stage with Heather, Jamie, Keenan, Lorin, Parker, Richard, and Willis.

Below: Jamie, Parker, and me, in "Dueling Plays"

One thing different about this version of the Improvables is an ownership/leadership change. Cassie let the previous LLC (and other red tape items) lapse, so JB and I stepped in to get things running again. That's, right, we are now small business owners! She has become the business director, and I am the managing director. We are also lucky to have Megan aboard as an assistant managing director.

I can't think of anyone I'd rather run a business with than these good people. My better half is pretty much exactly that in almost every way imaginable.

Improvables: Oscar Night

The annual Academy Awards were held last week, for which a lot of very well-dressed celebrities gave each other awards and then gave speeches about them.

Not to be outdone, the Improvables had our own Oscar Night on the stage at the Bountiful Davis Art Center the Friday night before. It was the first time we've held such a theme night (there are many firsts we've yet to try!), and it turned out to be a total blast.

We all dressed up to the nines for the occasion, which became a tribute to many of our favorite movies. It turns out that we clean up rather nicely.

Keenan, Ricky, and I played on the same team. Our games included "Musical Theme Song" (I was assigned a theme song for the Die Hard franchise), "Scenes Not Seen," "Dueling Plays," "Director," and other favorites. At the end of the performance, members of the audience voted on their favorite game, and we were chosen for "Mumbling Movie Murder Mystery":

I was also chosen for an individual award for "Best Moment" for an improvised Calvin Klein perfume ad in "Movie Pitch Meeting":

Ricky was voted favorite performer of the evening, while audience awards were also given out (Best Suggestion and Best Audience Member). Sure, they were recycled sports trophies purchased at the D.I., but it was still flattering to be selected.

We came, we saw, we laughed a lot. We look forward to our next Oscar Night in 2021.

Improvables: Eleventh Anniversary Show

We members of the Improvables celebrated our eleventh (11th!) anniversary as an improv troupe by holding a reunion show Friday night at the Bountiful Davis Art Center. Returning troupe members Brianne, Ian, Ryan, Scott, and my siblings Biz and Steve joined us on stage, along with Barry, Grant, Guy, and Michael Gibbons on music. Parker was the MC for the evening.

The Gibbons boys on music:

(Honestly, how many Latter-day Saints can say that they have seen a member of their stake presidency play the electric guitar?)

Ian, during his "Lounge Lizards" performance:

MC Parker, Steve, Keenan, and Scott, playing "Marshmallows":

Steve, Keenan, Ian, and Scott, in "Revolver":

The troupe, playing our final game of the night, "World's Worst":

I've been fortunate and blessed indeed to be associated with something as creative, fun, and rewarding as performing with the Improvables, and to have it go on for 11+ years now, to boot, is a rare thing in this business. I look forward to all of the fun we'll have throughout 2020 and again at next year's reunion show.