World Championships!

This year four of our very own comedians participated in the annual Comedysportz World Championships. Held in Portland, Oregon, this year, our team was in competition with over 30 other Comedysportz clubs. Provo made it to the championship match which is always held against the hosting city. Matt Mattson, Will Rubio, Mark Barret, and Mike Bailey (left to right) had the audience in uproar with their 'Last Second Expert' objections and Matt Mattson's classic 'Randy Newman'. Give these guys kudos if you see them around town or in our very own shows this weekend!

If you have Facebook account, check out this video:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/video/video.php?v=520430401459

May's Player of the Month: Todd Freestone!

Todd isn't one to draw attention to himself on stage. But if you're lucky enough to see a show when Todd is in the cast, you'll notice that he's usually the smartest/funniest/most clever person in the room.
Todd was gracious enough to answer a few questions for the blog.

How did you get into ComedySportz?

Actually, one of those high school buddies, Josh Hiatt, got me started with ComedySportz. He was doing shows and invited me to start doing the workshops, so I did, and one thing led to another, and now I'm here. Before then I had always thought about doing ComedySportz -- I'd come to shows when I was in high school. I doubt that I'd ever give it a shot if Josh wasn't doing it.

You're not a crazy-super showy player--your humor is subtle. One player called you a "comedy sniper." What are your feelings about your sense of humor compared to other players?

I'm pretty comfortable with my sense of humor, but it did take time for me to accept that I'm not a high energy player and that I probably never will be. A lot of the crowd falls in love with the witty, energetic types, which initially made me feel that I needed to find a way to emulate their style. But great performances really come down to being yourself and finding your own niche.

Has your science background helped your comedy?

Yes and no. Science requires creative and conceptual thinking, which is very helpful in improv. Science is also about understanding relationships and explaining them well, which is what also makes a good scene or story. However, science is heavily dependent on procedures and reproducing similar results under similar conditions, which completely opposes that which happens on stage.

When did you first feel like you were in your element on the CSz stage?

The first (and perhaps the last) time I felt like I was in my element was about two years ago. But I find it a good thing to not be in my element much because if I were in my element I would get complacent and resort to a style of improvisation I'd feel comfortable with.

The most exciting stuff that happens on stage usually happens when we're stretching ourselves and doing stuff we're afraid of. Also, the more I concentrate on being at my best, the more self-conscious I become, and I tend to close up. For me, going on stage with a mindset that I'll blunder allows me to be more natural.

Any on-stage horror stories you wish to disclose?

I don't really have any on-stage horror stories. I am a little OCD, so I do get spooked out a little bit when I touch the carpeted stage with my hands, or if I get some hair from a wig in my mouth.

What have you gotten out of ComedySportz?

More than anything, I've learned a lot about myself. Some of the things I've learned have surfaced in this interview, such as the importance of being yourself and being comfortable with who you are. Along with that, I've come recognize strengths I never was aware of.

April's Player of the Month: Scott Champion!

Born in Edmonton, raised in Alberta, this Canadian transplant has been with ComedySportz since 2000. He currently works as the office manager at CSz in addition to doing freelance design and consulting gigs. We knew where he works, so it was easy to have him sit down so we could pick his brain.

You've been with CSz for a long time.

Yeah. But I live here. I didn't come here to go to school.

When did you move to Utah?

I was seventeen. My dad got a job at BYU. My whole family's here, so when I go home for Christmas I have a long drive all the way to Orem.

How did you get involved with ComedySportz?

Long story short: I was the arts editor at the UVSC student newspaper and had heard about ComedySportz. I went to a show at the Wrapsody and it knocked my socks off. I knew I had to do it. But by the time I was available the Wrapsody closed, and ComedySportz disappeared for a few months. It popped back up at the Hale Center Theater. I took the workshops in the summer of 2000 and by September I did my first show at the Hale.

What was your first show like?

Honestly, I don't remember much. I know that I begged Curt to be in a show because I had a girl coming whom I wanted to impress. She ended up being a no-show.

That same girl, however, did come to a show at the club we now have when it first opened. We were playing object freeze, and someone brought a glass domed light fixture from their car. For some reason I put it on my head and it shattered. I stood frozen on stage as blood poured down my face. I don't know which was worse: her not coming to my first show or having her watch me be taken to the emergency room. Either way, I was in agony.

How many shows have you done?

Hundreds. I have no idea of an actual number. And they all kinda' turn into a blur. Every now and then someone who's seen a show will come up to me and make a reference to something funny I (apparently) did. I don't doubt that I did it, but it's impossible to remember everything.

What do you mean?

Improv is a disposable medium: it goes just as fast as it comes. It's of the moment. That's what makes it magical. It's kinda' like toilet paper.

What has been the best thing that has come from doing ComedySportz?

Honestly? I wouldn't have had the opportunities that I've had had it not been for people I met who perform at ComedySportz and work in the local film scene. I wouldn't have been able to do what I've done and, to some extent, am still able to do. Does that make sense?

Sure.

I've also made some incredible friends. Lifelong friends. Quite a few people I would totally rescue from a burning building.

Any advice for our readers?

No.

Ladies' Night at ComedySportz!

Once again ComedySportz will have its semi-annual Ladies' Night on Saturday April 5 at 8:00. That means if you have two X chromosomes, you get 2 for 1 admission!

The 2 for 1 offer isn't available online, so you need to call the ComedySportz office at 801.377.9700 to make your reservation (mention the promotion to get the discount), or you can print out this page and bring it with you when you come to the door.

Remember that Ladies' Night is good for the 8:00 SHOW ONLY. (So really, it's kinda' like Ladies' Hours, but that sounds weird.)

March's Player of the Month: Brett Merritt!

A fixture of local theater, Brett is quite a busy guy. Brett spends his time between working as a copywriter and being a husband and father. He's got his plate full, for sure, but somehow he managed to squeeze in an interview with us. What a swell guy.

You grew up in Orem?

Sorta. I was born in Salt Lake City, moved to Littleton, Colorado, when I was one. I lived there until I was about ten, moved to Meridian, Idaho (just outside Boise) for two years, and then my family settled in Orem. I consider Orem home because that’s were I went to junior high and high school and “grew up” there.

My wife Amelia and I tallied up all the times I’ve moved. I think it was something like twelve times in nineteen years. Even in Orem, I’ve lived in five different houses.

You became a step-dad when you got married two years ago.. How has it been going from living the single life to being the head of a family of four?

I was single for about 35 years. I’ve experienced all the—ahem—glories of single life. But when I got married, my wife already had two great kids. That’s been a huge adjustment. When you get married, you’re adjusting to the person got married to; the two of you are learning things about each other. Add to that two kids, who are individuals and have needs and interests, and it can make for an exciting, electric time bomb that can go off at any second. I think I’ve adjusted to it okay. It’s a lot of fun being a dad.

You’ve been with ComedySportz since 2001. How’d you get involved?

One of my best friends, Jake Suazo--we've known each other since 1997. We actually met on a double date. (We weren’t on the date together.) We got along really well. Eventually our girlfriends broke up with us, and I lost touch with him. I ran into him because we were in the same theater circles in the area. He told me he was doing ComedySportz when it first opened [in 1999]. He said I should come see a show. I did. It was a lot of fun, but I didn’t jump on the workshop wagon—I was doing a lot of theater and going to school; I didn’t think I had the time.

In 2001 I rekindled my friendship with Jake and he told me he was still doing ComedySportz. I started doing workshops in Salt Lake at the Hale Theater in West Valley. That’s actually where I did my first show, at the Hale Theater’s black box theater.

What was your biggest challenge as an improv actor when you first started at CSz?

I can think of two things:

One, I wanted everyone to like me, and that causes a lot of pressure if you do that. Not everyone is going to like you. I had to get over that and not care.

The other thing was I found it really hard to take risks and to put myself out there, playing certain games; things that were outside of my comfort zone. A lot of players have strengths in different areas, and I used to lock up and get really fearful about some of the things I wasn’t as strong. It took me a long time to attack improv without any fear. That was the best thing I ever did. Once I started doing that my shows started getting better, I think I got funnier, and the audience liked me more. I think.

Share with us an improv disaster.

My biggest disasters happen backstage. My most memorable was my fourth show—ever. I think I had been doing ComedySportz for like, a month, and I fell down the stairs during half time and bruised my tailbone and back. I think I still went out and finished the show.

Share with us an experience where everything worked out magically.

There have been a lot of nights where I felt really in sync with everybody on stage, and we could do no wrong. Those are always fun to have.

Have you always wanted to be a performer?

My mom had a dress-up box of old clothes and wigs and jackets and dresses—yes, I wore dresses sometimes—and I’d pretend stuff. I wanted to be Indiana Jones so bad when I was a kid. I had a hat and a whip. That was a huge part of my childhood: being something else. Not for any traumatic reasons; I just loved performing. I was a very shy kid, though, so I never did anything in front of people. I just did it with my brothers and sisters and parents.

I grew up always watching Saturday Night Live and Abbot & Costello and Laurel & Hardy and The Carol Burnett Show. My family loved to laugh. I think I’ve always enjoyed making people laugh in my circle of friends. In the late 80’s I’d get out a video camcorder that weighed as much as I did and my friends and I would shoot skits.

What's the best advice you've received?

Don't be afraid. Fear is the number one killer of dreamers aged 18-36.

Classy improv at dollar movie prices!

That's right, folks. You can come see CSz's Thursday night show, YELLOW #2, for as little as $1.50. Click on the coupon, print it off and bring it with you to one of our shows throughout March. Shows are Thursdays 8:00 pm. Call 801.377.9700 for more info.

Love Stinks. Don't choke on the fumes.

No Valentine? No problem. Spend Single Awareness Day with us this Thursday at 8:00 for a special YELLOW #2 show. We're putting on a special improv show about the highs and lows of dating and romance...or the lack thereof. Admission's only $3. Call 801.377.9700 for more info.