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: 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.

Why So Serious?

Blogging is not a competition, so I don't mind others doing their thing while I do mine. I am occasionally a bit perturbed when people I consider friends admit that they haven't even bothered to read things I've written while offering a negative or (worse) indifferent opinion on them, based on hearsay or whatever. ("Extremely long posts," offered one person who had "heard" that from another mutual friend.) That stuff bothers me somewhat. But that's their choice. I'm not gonna go key their cars or anything.

Paco Nation is not necessarily a humor column, folks. If you've been following me for any amount of time, you know that by now. My sense of humor is somewhat dry and/or subtle, so if you've read a number of posts and found them to be "just so serious," as another friend remarked, without any kind of humor at all, well, I guess it's just lost on you, and that's OK. Different strokes for different folks.

Truth be told, if you want to see me perform a comedy routine, or at least attempt to, I would invite you to come and check out my improv comedy troupe on any number of Friday nights at the local theater in Centerville, or even on a couple of Saturday nights a month at the somewhat-local theater in Clearfield. There are plenty of opportunities to see me make a nincompoop out of myself, and people occasionally tell me that I do a good job at it. I've been doing this professionally for only the past 11+ years now, so if you've not caught a show in that period of time, I'm sure you'll have plenty of chances in the next 11+ years.

I could go on forever, really! After all, my bones and joints are holding up for someone of my advancing years, and I can physically really do this forever.

*Hearty British chuckles*

Ha ha, no. I try not to take it for granted in any way. Seriously, though, because I'm "just so serious" here, after all, Paco Nation tackles some serious subjects because, well, I've faced some serious demons this year, and also over the past few years, and writing about them is one of my ways of exorcising them. I don't pretend my challenges are any more difficult than anyone else's, but they've been difficult for me. The insights I've gleaned through living with them have taught me a great deal about such things as patience, empathy, understanding, and overall faith in an all-knowing and all-loving God, and these are words I throw in the mix along with my own brand of humor.

It's rarely (if ever) about politics here, Opinionated Person. That's the topic sometimes, but please give me a little credit as your friend as not being so one-dimensional. For my day job, which I'm not ready to quit yet, I even get paid to write things and to review others' writings. I'm a very multi-layered writer, like an onion. An onion that writes. Not the Web site The Onion.

Having said that, and with malice toward none, I remain very grateful for all of my friendships. I'm a tad bit more grateful for those who actually take the time to read things rather laughing off my hobbies and interests as not being worth a moment of their time, but I'm nevertheless grateful for all of them. You bless my life in divers ways. Thank you for going along for the ride here on this blog, which is one just one aspect of my personality.