Here are a few tips that can assist in your efforts when auditioning!

1) Be present! Think of improv auditions like a musical jam session and  just go with the flow. When you try to force the music it never sounds right, but when you just let it happen, it’s pure nirvana! Well do that. Let it happen by being present!
2) Don’t force the funny! Please, please, please, don’t try to be funny! It’s never funny when you try to force the funny. It comes across as “LOOK AT ME I’M FUNNY!! NOW LAUGH!” If that happened in a ComedySportz show, the audience (“Loyal Fans”) would cross their arms and become defensive or defiant. The funniest things happen, when you are not “forcing” the funny. Stay out of your mind. Thinking of the next thing to say while in a show, instead of simply responding, is writing script. And in going to your mind, you often do not hear what is actually happening and by the time you add the your line of thought, the line you just scripted in your head, the moment has passed, and it’s no longer going to be funny.
3) Support the players with whom you are working. Make them shine more than you want to shine. Make ‘em look marvelous! The auditioners always notice team work.
4) Fail! Don’t be afraid to fail. If you do, enjoy the moment. Generally, when a mistake happens in the show, the audience laughs. It tends to be comedy gold. So, accept it, embrace it, let it happen, and continue. If you act like it was a mistake, if you have that look of “failure” or “sorry” on your face shake it off, otherwise, it comes across as “I’m not good enough” and of course, you are.
5) HAVE FUN!!!!

Over the course of the weekend, we had a scene that ended with the song Circle of Life from the Lion King. Our own Aaron Grant and his new baby Jackson, were in the audience watching. Compelled by the music Aaron walked up onto the field with Jackson above his head as if he were indeed Simba. All the players, instantly and instinctively acted as animals and bowed at the young kings feet.

Then we celebrated a 50th anniversary for a private party, cus we do that sort of thing. The party was all afternoon, and the fabulous food was catered. We sampled! It was yummy! Word has it that everyone had a good time. Well, that’s what the little Mrs.’ told her husband to say, and he did so right on cue.

The weekend was completed with a Loyal Fan proposing to his girl friend during a show. We got them both on the stage as volunteers for a game, which ended with him getting down on one knee and popping the question. She said yes, and everyone applauded! It was quite the amazing moment and our first engagement in our new theatre.

Yup! It truly was a weekend celebrating A Circle of Life!

ComedySportz Improv Theatre of Richmond is set to open our doors again! We’ve been in spring training 
brushing up on those improv skills. We have a bunch of new players and the return of many of the regulars you’ve grown to love over the years.

We thank you for giving us the feed back we needed in compiling the research for our new location. Reading your comments and input was very informative, and some of you are very humorous! What tickled us the most was that many of you requested that we set our new home in Short Pump, but then we had equal responses to “Hell no don’t go to Short Pump!” We actually settled for a location in the West End about 5 miles away from Short Pump at the Gold’s Gym Plaza. You may know this plaza as the old Loehmann’s Plaza or the West Tower Plaza or where the West Tower Movie theatres are, or the place to get Gelati Celesti ice cream, or the place with the Starbucks!

You might be asking “What’s going to be different about this ComedySportz theatre?”

Well, we’re going to focus on the shows and not the food! We know our strengths and it ain’t running a restaurant. If you want food tho, there a number of different restaurants in our shopping center such as Peking, Pho City, Quiznos, and Starbucks. And if you’re an ice cream lover you’ll want to make sure to save some room form Gelati Celesti’s! We’ll have some concessions available, but if you want dinner and a show, come and eat and drink at one of our neighbors restaurants, and then come laugh at us!

And perhaps you noticed on the home page of our site that we have a fundraiser and are asking for the support of loyal fans in raising enough to get our theatre started. The fundraiser goes to equipment we’ll be needing for the new CSzRVA theatre such as lights, seats, etc.

That’s it for this bit o newz! Although we would love to hear your comments. What are you looking forward to seeing at the shows? What have you missed? What did you enjoy at our theatre? We love comments!

In just two short weeks we’ll be performing again at the Cultural Arts Center of Glen Allen.  It will be the night before Halloween, October 30 at 7:00 and we’re looking forward to playing all of our spooky games. The players are getting ready and excited for this trick or treat occasion; mainly because the games in this show are more dangerous then most games we perform.  Food and beverage is provided by Catering by Jill, so come hungry.

Besides our ComedySportz shows at Cultural Arts Center of Glen Allen you can still catch a bunch of the players performing at Art6. If you’re on Facebook you can find out more information by joining the Richmond Comedy Coalition, or Art6. And the Random Acts Boys have landed at HaTTheatre so if you get a chance check them out.

What else is on the horizon you might ask? Well, glad you did! The RiF, The Richmond Improv Festival is just a few short weeks away! This year the RiF will be held at CenterStage and Capital Alehouse and runs from November 5 – 7.  We are very excited as we have 22 troupe from all across the east coast performing in the festival.  Check out the schedule!

This year we have some great sponsors for the RiF such as CenterStage, Capital Alehouse, Hilton Garden Inn, and The Richmond Jaycees.  If your company is interested in becoming a sponsor contact us at dave@shavefx.com for information and details.

We look forward to seeing you all and having you laugh with us again!

Well, we want to use this forum to inform our fans of what is and will be happening in our future as it unfolds. We hope you’ll stay tuned for the next chapter of our story.

As of March 28 2009, we have closed the theatre. We want to thank all of you that come out to see our shows during the last few months. The last weekend, according to many of the performers and fans was EPIC. The performers and the staff, have made the ComedySportz Improv Theatre an amazing performance venue for the Richmond Community. Personally, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for their ability, dedication and professionalism, and wish to thank them all for their outstanding performance and service. And to you, our loyal fans, thank you from the bottom of our funny bone for all the support you have given us over the years. To you we offer a standing ovation!

At this point we are collecting our restaurant and theatre belongings to ready ourselves for our online auction that will be provided by At Your Bidding.  If you’re in the market for restaurant items, or are interested in collecting memorabilia you might want to visit the auction and place your bids.

What’s next…well…we’re lining up our Kids Camp Programs and will be launching all the dates and information in the next newsletter. If you are not receiving our newsletter please add your information to our contact us page.

Also, we want to remind our fans that though we do not have a theatre we are still available for hire. We can come to you and perform our show.  Over the past 13 years we’ve performed for  100’s of different clients from Acushnet to VA Lottery, Churches to Hotels, and from the Mountains to the Beaches. If you have an upcoming event and are looking for entertainment that you know is a sure hit, please contact us.

Remember, we provide teambuilding seminars! Not only is improv a great way to refresh your team and communication skills, it is also a great way to reduce stress, and increase presentations skills.

Please check back with us to find out what happening. If you would like follow me on Twitter for the latest braking news in real time. We may not be sure of what’s coming next, but much like our performances we will be ready for the next offer with a Yes And attitude!

In the meantime Loyal Fans, help support Richmond Theatre and Arts. Explore some of the great entertainment this city has to offer! This city is rich and diverse in the arts. Support your local Theatre…go see a show this weekend.

Till next blog entree…remember don’t run with scissors!

Peace and Laughter,

Christine Walters