Indyprov
INDYPROV began through a series of workshops conducted by David Brunoehler in October, 2003 at Crackers Comedy Club in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Brunoehler, an Indianapolis native, was a founding member of the troupe “Interplay” and had co-founded the National Improv Theatre in New York City. Brunoehler also performed for Paul Newman and Ron Howard. Several members of the class were led and encouraged by Brunoehler to form an improvisational troupe. INDYPROV performed for the first time at “El Sol de Tala” on December 15, 2003. INDYPROV continued to perform at “El Sol de Tala” for several months and followed up with a long-running show at “The Funny Bone Comedy Club” in Indianapolis. INDYPROV has since performed at multiple venues in Indiana including: Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Metro Nightclub, Canary Café and currently at Talbott Street Nightclub and Theatre on the Square. INDYPROV has also performed for NUVO, Boy Scouts of America, and Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival’s production of “Fractions of Desire”, based on the classic Tennessee Williams’ play “A Streetcar Named Desire”. INDYPROV has also performed in New York City and in January 2009, they opened the comedy festival "Improvapalooza" in Louisville, Kentucky. INDYPROV has two original cast members (Niki Warner and William C. Skaggs). One additional cast member (Jerry Johnson) was added after the second set of classes conducted by Brunoehler.
Emmy Award Nomination
INDYPROV filmed a segment for PBS affiliate, WFYI’s "Across Indiana" during the summer of 2006 entitled “For A First-Rate First Date” and received the news from the show’s Executive Producer regarding the Emmy nomination. After attending one of the troupe's shows, Simmons approached INDYPROV and asked them to create a tongue-in-cheek piece based on an article they’d received that listed West Lafayette, Indiana as one of the top ten cities in America for singles.
Mock-U-Dramedy
Mock-U-Dramedies was a show conceived by INDYPROV for the 2006 Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival. The show received 4.5 stars from NUVO_(newspaper). The show was then again produced to open the comedy festival "Improvapalooza" in Louisville, Kentucky. The troupe plans to perform the show for the 2009 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. In the show, the audience will give the troupe suggestions and they will interweave scenes together to make documentary. A "director" acts as the host fast-forwarding and rewinding through his latest film.
Laff-a-thon
Laff-a-thon was created in 2007 by INDYPROV as a twelve hour "marathon-type" charity show to benefit HIV/AIDS prevention organization, the Damien Center. The event returned in February 2009 and benefited twelve national and local charities. For the first time in 2009, Indianapolis Comedysportz performed with INDYPROV at Theatre on the Square on Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis which is one of the Indianapolis Cultural Districts.
The 2009 list of charities benefiting from laff-a-thon was:
- Indy Pit Crew
- Gleaners Food Bank
- Theatre on the Square
- American Stroke Association/American Heart Association
- Dayspring Center
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
- Indiana Youth Group
- Humane Society of Indianapolis
- United Christmas Service
- MJF Foundation
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Gennesaret Free Clinic
References
- INDYPROV's Emmy Award Nominated segment for "Across Indiana" on WFYI-FM.
- INDYPROV review in the production of "Christmas Belles" in NUVO_(newspaper).
- INDYPROV Holiday Show Video Preview in NUVO_(newspaper).
- INDYPROV opens "Improv-a-loosa".