Joey Scoma

Player Since: 2008

Day Job: Provo City
Hometown:

Favorite thing about CSz:

When no one is looking you like to:

Biggest Influences:

Best Advice for People who want to learn improv: I took the beginner workshop that fall and worked my way into the player practices. I've been performing at ComedySportz Provo for 2 years this November!

What brought you to Comedysportz? In summer 2007, I attended a Yellow # 2 show with a lovely young lady named TeAnna and I fell in love...with ComedySportz

Do you have a background in music, play any instruments? I don't have any musical training but love musical improv especially Rogers and Hammersing.

Which musical game is your favorite? Rogers and Hammersing.

People come see you at ComedySportz when they want to be entertained... what do you do to be entertained? The only thing that's more entertaining to me than ComedySportz Provo is a casual conversation with my siblings. They're all a bunch of pants-peeing crack-ups.

Lots of the players here at ComedySportz are also involved in acting and film are you? There have been a couple opportunities to perform in community theater (A Flickering), a short film festival (When We're Helping We're Happy) and for the LDS Church YouTube ad (Becoming Provident Providers).

When was your first inkling that you were funny? The first time I made a captive audience laugh was in kindergarten for parent's-night. I added a few extra 'you's to the end of "Skinny Marinky Dinky Dink" and the crowd went wild. In 5th grade I started doing stand-up behind the portable class rooms during recess. Word caught on and soon the entire school was sitting at my feet. I didn't know half the references I used and neither did my audience by they all laughed anyway. I did impersonations of Bill Clinton and I even had to deal with hecklers (like John Michael Harris). The recess ladies worked as crowd control. Now I'm in ComedySportz!

Have you ever been scared on stage? I felt stage fright before every show for a year.

Is there anything else you want us to know?

It is such a huge honor to perform with my fellow players. I'm funnier today because of them.

September Player of the Month!!!! Christopher Robin Miller

Player Since: It's been a while... 2003?
Day Job: Actor, Director
Hometown: West Peabody, Massachussetts

Favorite thing about CSz: Wearing sweats on stage. SO COMFY!

When no one is looking you like to: Shower

Biggest Influences: The Muppets, Carol Burnette, Jack Lemmon

Best Advice for People who want to learn improv:

Don't try to be funny and SCENE DRILL!

What prior stage/performing experience did you have before joining ComedySportz

I have been a professional singer, actor and dancer for almost 3 decades before ComedySportz. I did a lot of Musical Theatre and some television as a young man.

I started studying improvisation in 1998 working with Lincoln Hoppe in The Garrens and thenThe Skinny Lincolns for about 5 years.

What brought you to Comedysportz?

We were grandfathered into CSz when Lincoln moved to LA.

It seems you always shine during the musical improvs. Do you have a background in music, play any instruments?

I play enough piano, guitar, bass, saxophone and drums to look like I know what I'm doing for about 5 minutes

Which musical game is your favorite?

Actually, Musical Chairs. It has the potential to be amazing or really suck!

People come see you at ComedySportz when they want to be entertained... what do you do to be entertained?

I like to speed-walk past old people and small children. It makes me feel superior.

Lots of the players here at ComedySportz are also involved in acting and film. Are you?

Yep.

When was your first inkling that you were funny?

I was always amazed at funny people. When I was young I used to just steal material from Sesame Street, Sony and Cher and SNL.

When I told somebody something that was really upsetting to me and they laughed,

I discovered that I just had to be real and most people will laugh at how ridiculous I am.

Have you ever been scared on stage?

I call that "That old familiar feeling."

Is there anything else you want us to know?

I like Gift certificates to The Cheesecake Factory. They're like prison money.

August Player of the Month

Player Since: Summer 2008
Day Job: 6^th grade school teacher
Hometown: Orem, Utah

Favorite thing about CSz: It’s a different performance and experience every time you play

When no one is looking you like to: hit kittens

Biggest Influences: my wife and kids—they keep me going in everything I do. Oh, and Leonardo Dicaprio.

Best Advice for People who want to learn improv: Do not be afraid to fail in what you try and do. Go with what is natural and don’t try to bring the funny. The only time I am funny is when I am not thinking I am.

What prior stage/performing experience did you have before joining ComedySportz: Totally name dropping here, but I am a member of the Hale family and I have been on the stage since I could talk. At first it was required of all the grandkids, but eventually I learned to love it and I have been on stage ever since. I also teach the youth theater workshops at Hale Center Theater Orem.

What brought you to Comedysportz? I have been a long time friend of Curt Doussett and he convinced me to give it a try. I love him and hate him for it.

It seems you always shine during the musical improvs. Do you have a background in music, play any instruments? I shine in the music? That’s sweet—a lie, but still sweet. I was in an A cappella group in high school called “Men Without Pants.” We would perform in assemblies wearing tuxedo tops and boxer shorts. Not that manly of a memory.

Which musical game is your favorite? I love “Rosetta Song” because I can sing in gibberish. It covers up my suck.

People come see you at ComedySportz when they want to be entertained... what do you do to be entertained? I love reading a good book—young adult novels are my favorite (minus Twilight of course) and getting lost in a good movie. Just saw “Inception” and my mind still hurts. I love doing anything with my kids—they are always entertaining.

So, I've seen you play on the red and blue teams but also caught you in the zebra stripes a time or two? Yes, that is correct. Thank you for pointing that out.

Lots of the players here at ComedySportz are also involved in acting and film are you? As I mentioned before, I live at the Hale but also dabble in film here and there. I had small parts in “The R.M.,” “The Home Teachers,” and my claim to fame “The Buttercream Gang” as Gang Member Number 2.

When was your first inkling that you were funny? Still waiting for it.

Have you ever been scared on stage? Every time I perform. I think when you lose that fear you lose the rush of why you are doing it.

Is there anything else you want us to know? Yes.

Player Since: 1999
Day Job: Scrapbook Supplies Salesman
Hometown: Orem, UT

Favorite thing about CSz: Ooh, I like the tortellini, but that's just me.

When no one is looking you like to: Sniff random objects

Biggest Influences: Bill Murray, Steve Martin, My Dad

Best Advice for People Who want to learn improv: Trust your instincts on stage and don't be a "you-know-what"-bag to other performers.

What prior stage/performing experience did you have before joining ComedySportz? Junior High School roles in 'Tom Sawyer', 'Joseph and the ATD', 'The Pied Piper', 'Tied to the Tracks', and 'Ducktails and Bobbysocks'.

What brought you to Comedysportz? Joseph Draschil and destiny

It seems you always shine during the musical improvs. Do you have a background in music, play any instruments? I've always loved choir. My first real exposure to music was when I learned to play trombone in Jr High. I'm obsessed with karaoke.

Which musical game is your favorite? Probably 'Greatest Hits' or 'Rogers & Hammersing', although 'Rosetta Song' is really growing on me.

People come see you at ComedySportz when they want to be entertained... what do you do to be entertained? Consume BYU sports, play with my iPhone, fishing, basketball, karaoke, Billy Joel, little brown packages tied up with string...uhh, what were we talking about?

So, I've seen you play on the red and blue teams but also caught you in the zebra stripes a time or two? I like to ref. To me, reffing is kind of like teaching the lesson in Elders Quorum. I enjoy it from time to time, but too much of it makes me nauseous...And sometime people fall asleep. Seriously though, it requires a little more thinking than I typically like to do on stage and sometimes it starves my insatiable ego.

Lots of the players here at ComedySportz are also involved in acting and film are you? I have never been in a real movie, and I don't aspire to do so. Screen acting isn't really my bag. I don't know. I guess Stage Improv is just kind of like my soul mate, you know? Everything else just falls a little short. Don't tell my wife I said that.

Is there anything else you want us to know? I have a wife, Katie, and two daughters, Lucy and Claire. We're expecting our third next Spring.

MARCH 2009 Player of the Month!

Shaun Johnson

Player Since: April 2007
Day Job: Bus Driver
Hometown: Pleasant Grove, UT

Favorite thing about CSz: Having an outlet for my stupid thoughts

When no one is looking you like to: Pretend that the carpet is hot lava and I can't fall off my bed or I'll die.

Biggest Influences:
Jerry Seinfeld, Michael Jackson, my family and many close friends

Best Advice for People Who want to learn improv:

- Be "YOU the improvisor", not somebody else. Everyone has their style and will perform best if they embrace that.

What brought you to Comedysportz?

- I thought the shows were great and I realized that I was just as attention hungry as all the guys doing the shows...

It seems you always shine during the musical improvs. Do you have a background in music, play any instruments?

- Yes, I love music. I play the guitar and I arrange acapella music sometimes. Most of my theater experience is with musicals and I really love a well-improvised song that makes the audience think, "That MUST have been planned!"

Which musical game is your favorite?

- I enjoy most of them. But I really like "Rodgers & Hammer-sing"

People come see you at ComedySportz when they want to be entertained... what do you do to be entertained?

- Well doing Comedy Sportz is quite entertaining for the players, as well. But like most players, I love movies. And just the simple company of good friends.

So, I've seen you play on the red and blue teams but also caught you in the zebra stripes a time or two? Is playing harder or being the referee? Which do you like doing more?

- Both jobs have their challenges. Being a referee gives an interesting perspective on the show and I really enjoy it. But ultimately I enjoy playing more because I like getting involved in the improvs.

Lots of the players here at ComedySportz are also involved in acting and film are you?

- I'm not into the whole film scene so much. I'm just going to school and trying to have a good time while I do it. As much as I would enjoy doing more film acting, it's just not my focus. We all have to follow our own destinies. It just happens that my destiny is Business Marketing with a Spanish minor...I feel depressed now...

Is there anything else you want us to know?

- When I was 4 years old, I was choking on a penny and my dad picked me up by the feet and shook me upside down til I spit it out. I almost died.

February 2009 Player of the Month!

Jake Van Wagoner

Player Since: 2005
Day Job: Student
Hometown: Grand Junction Colorado
Favorite thing about CSz: Trying new things
When no one is looking you like to: smell the earth
Biggest influences: Matt Griffith and Jordan Huslig

How did you get involved with ComedySportz? I had friends that I was doing a play with that got me stuck in ComedySportz

Have you always wanted to be a entertainer? I honestly used to get thrown in the principles office every day from 1st-5th grade because i was crazy about making my class fellows laugh. SO yes.

In improv what style of games are your favorite to play (ie. musicals, guessing, scenes, etc.)? I love musical games the most probably but I also really enjoy just doing straight up free-range scenes. It is rewarding to get from the first line to the last line of a scene and make everything tie together.

So you like music? Who do you listen to? John Mayer, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Kansas, Led Zepplin, George Harrison, The Beatles, Josh Groban,

Do your improv skills enhance your day to day life? If so, in what way(s)? I love how much my improv skills help me. I am not a fake person by any means, but i enjoy adapting myself to the people i am talking to, and that helps a ton with improv.

We heard you are apart of the local film scene! If you could pick your dream job on a feature film what would it be? I am really shooting to become an actor, cliche? I know, but i am learning how to be a director also so if i suck at acting i can fall back on directing.

January Player of the Month: Mel B!

Player Since: Feb 2003 (Off and on, since I was at grad school in Philly for a few years in there.)
Day Job: Speech-Language Pathologist, part time instructor in Theatre Dept. at BYU
Hometown: San Juan, PR (Believe it or not, I'm actually a quarter Puerto Rican.)
Favorite thing about CSz: The boyz and the laughs. I'm adding years to my life by the week.
When no one is looking you like to: Lick the bowl
Biggest influences: Miss Piggy, cuz she never gives up...c'mere, Kermie... Oh. And my mom.
Best Advice for People Who want to learn improv: Don't try to be funny. Focus on good improv skills like listening, responding, adding, etc. The funny'll come.

When did you first know you wanted to be involved with the theater?

I can remember saying in 2nd grade that when I grew up I wanted to be a famous singer or actress. Now I'm both!

You're a speech pathologist. Do any attributes of improv help you with your job and vice versa?

Oh, man, totally. I actually truly dislike planning, so it's really nice that doing things on the fly comes pretty easily. And in reality with a caseload of 85 kiddies and at least that many reports a week to write, who has time to plan? Occasionally, I'll also whip out an improv warm up like Zip Zap Zop to get my students' chops goin' and they love it.

Do you enjoy doing long form improv (like the Yellow #2 show) or short form (ComedySportz Main event) more? Why?

Oooh. Is this a trick question? Well, okay. You caught me. I came to CSz for the long form shows. I love 'em. Yum. Yum. I love building a story or just really sinking my teeth into a scene that could go for who knows how long. I love the patience and the creating and the who knows what's going to happen next. I also love the moments when we just all seem to be on the same wavelength, we listen, we follow, we give, we take, and brilliance occurs. It's truly delightful. I have to add, though, short form is awesome too. I think I was just intimidated by it in the beginning--the pressure to be funny FAST! But the truth is, if you just listen and respond by adding information, the funny just comes. I've never really considered myself a funny person.

In fact, I originally started doing improv 10 years ago because it was an audition I didn't have to prepare for* (see earlier comment re: distaste for preparation), not because I thought I was funny. I had no expectation of getting into the group*, which I did, but I had promised myself I'd go to any audition that came up to get more experience. It was way out of my comfort zone and my realm of thinking as an actor in training, but it worked. They picked me. Yay! And I LOVE doin' it.

*Sketch/Improv group called The Garrens at BYU

For every women improver at CSz there are seven men. What are the pro's and con's of usually being the only woman on stage?

Pro: The kisses. Con: The kisses. Pro: Less emotional who-ha (ladies, why are we so dramatic?). Con: Um...let me think for a min. Pro: A safe walk to my car after the show. Con: Well, I really can't think of any more cons, except maybe that since I rarely play with girls, when I do it's almost weird. Really, the boyz are great and I just love hangin' with them in and out of ComedySportz. They are delightfully talented people who know how to find the humor in life and share it with others. (The girls do too, I just don't get to see them as often!)

What is your favorite game and why?

Hmmm...so many to choose from... I think I'd have to say Acronym Panel. I just love character games and this one has the added challenge of finding acronyms that match that character. Yummy. It's like eating a juicy peach without a napkin--challenging, and you might drip a little on your shirt, but it sure does taste good.

Anything else you'd like to say?

Thanks for the love! Keep laughing and keep coming. Oh, and iphones are awesome. I just caught up with an old friend AND listened to an episode of This American Life without having to take my gloves off, while shoveling my driveway, with only the simple touch of one button. Beautiful.

Thanks, Mel B.