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Improv comedy makes an art of mimicking life

From left, Sara Karp, Mike Mellen, Meghan Klein and Laurel Balciunas perform as the Fearless Improv Brigade on stage at Surfside Playhouse. TOM WILBY PHOTOS

Improv comedy makes an art of mimicking life

Mario Busacca, founder the Fearless Improv Brigade, urges his students to get a grip on their fears and come loose with improv.

Every morning, we never really know what will be headed our way. Nor do we know what we will have to do to, hopefully, come out laughing at the end. That’s what makes improvisational comedy — improv, for short — so relatable. 

“Everybody improvises, every day,” said Mario Busacca, leader of Surfside Playhouse’s Fearless Improv Brigade, or Fibbers. 

When it comes to improv, Space Coast residents and visitors have their pick of venues that work hard to showcase improv, in all its forms. 

Dr. Adam Stevens has been involved in improv for more than 10 years. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Port Canaveral veterinarian enjoys playing subjects — such as animals.

For three years, he was a member of the Meet Me Half Way troupe at Adlib Theatre in Winter Park. Unfortunately, the pandemic caused the demise of that group. But not to worry — Stevens is also a longtime member of the Fibbers, a group alive and well, and performing three to four shows annually at Surfside in Cocoa Beach. The Fibbers also write and produce original, semi-improvised murder mystery dinners at Arts for All studio in Melbourne.

After college, Stevens was looking for a creative outlet that would channel his inner child. He found it in improv. “I saw an opportunity to be a kid again and tap into my vivid imagination,” he said.

Improv has certainly provided Stevens with an eclectic choice of characters to play, including a desperate, middle-aged cougar on a speed dating event at the zoo; a self-conscious rose interacting with two chocolate mints on a hotel bed; and a piece of luggage forgotten at baggage claim, along with his tote bag pal.

The classes taught by Fibbers leader Busacca have helped many improvisers get into the “minds” of characters — even if they’re inanimate objects. 

Busacca notes that improv is funny, but it’s not a joke. “Everybody thinks it’s standup comedy, and that’s not correct,” he said. “We don’t tell jokes; we tell stories.”

Busacca, center in red, is surrounded by Fibbers, from left, Matt Walton, Balciunas, Mike Mellen, Klein, Sarah Karp, John Karp, VanZino and Jason Mellon.

TWO APPROACHES

VanZino and Balciunas ham it up during an improv production of Night of the Laughing Dead at Surfside Playhouse.

Improv comes in short-form and long-form varieties. Most audiences are familiar with the short form, thanks to the popular television show Whose Line Is It Anyway? Short form consists of quick, self-contained scenes, often driven by audience suggestions. [Fun fact: Whose Line star Wayne Brady honed his improv skills for several years at SAK Comedy Lab in Orlando, just as Busacca did.]

Long-form improv, on the other hand, is, well, longer. It starts with an idea or an audience suggestion and takes off for the entire performance, as actors weave — or at least try to weave — a cohesive narrative. A Fibbers show, such as the recent Halloween offering, The Night of the Laughing Dead, is a fine example of long form.

Be it short or long, improv always involves the unexpected, both for audience and cast. “With improv you never know where the story is going,” Bussacca explained.

However, once you get into the groove of the unexpected, the magic begins. “Improv empowers people to get out of their shells,” said Aaron Karnes, artistic director of Funky Dog Improv.

Unlike the Fibbers, which must coordinate with the regular programming at Surfside, Funky Dog is just about improv. Period. The comedy club, in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne, hosts short-form shows — usually sellouts — every Saturday at 7 p.m. The nonprofit organization also offers classes for both beginner and advanced improvisors. 

LIFE LESSONS

The audience is an integral part of the improv experience. At Surfside’s Night of the Laughing Dead, City of Melbourne council member Rachael Bassett arrived “burning at the stake.”

Melbourne resident Kayla McCarty has been attending Funky Dog classes once a week for more than a year and has participated in the Saturday shows — from both the cast and audience sides. For McCarty, improv is fun and rewarding.

“I was interested in improv because it looked like the performers were having a genuinely good time and because it is a creative activity that is completely engaging — almost like a meditation-type feeling,” McCarty said. “I’ve gained confidence getting up on stage and being in front of people.”

Stevens also believes improv has provided him with valuable life skills. “Improv has made me a better listener and empathetic human in general,” he said.

Improv can even help you at work. Take speech and language pathologist Marni Nixon, for example. Her association with improv started in New England, where she saw how her sister came out of her shell after improv classes. When Nixon moved to Brevard, she connected with Funky Dog.

“Improv is really useful in what I do,” said the Melbourne Village resident. “I have used improv games with my patients with dementia. It also helps me to go with the flow, to see other perspectives and to take a minute before responding.”

Even her 14-year-old son, who has ADHD, benefits. “It helps him to better listen and respond to people, and to better interact with his emotions,” Nixon said. 

TEAM EFFORT

A good improviser is not about the “I” but rather the “we.” 

“The goal is not to make yourself look good, but rather to make your partners look good,” Busacca said. “To be successful, you have to give up control. The fun is in building the story together.”

Improv may appear spontaneous, but even spontaneity requires rehearsing, to hone skills. The idea of not being told what to say can be terrifying, so classes focus on developing skill sets, such as environment building and character development.

Like the improvisers, improv audiences are special because they, too, are part of the show. “Audience participation is super important,” said Karnes.

Improv audiences tend to be more raucous, and eager to be part of the mayhem. 

“Our audiences are amazing, especially when they get to join us on stage or help inspire a scene,” Stevens said. “And although jokes can sometimes get a laugh, it’s much more rewarding when you’re able to display vulnerability and honesty in a scene. That’s when the audience connects on a deeper level and becomes truly invested.”

Mario Busacca of Fearless Improv Brigade helps his Fibbers gather their wits pre production.

Where to find Improv in Brevard

Arts for All Studio

This visual and performing arts studio offers a variety of programs designed to nurture creativity, build confidence and foster a sense of community. Among the extensive scope of offerings are improv murder mystery dinners. Fibbers member Sarah Karp is co-founder of the Studio, headquartered at 784 N. Apollo Blvd., Melbourne. For more information, see artsforallstudio.com or call 321-427-2606.

Fearless Improv Brigade

Classes using improvisational techniques are conducted at Surfside Playhouse, 301 Ramp Road, Cocoa Beach. Classes are open to all who wish to have fun and learn something new. The courses last for 10 to 15 sessions depending on the semester. Sessions are held Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Beginners start on Mondays with more advanced students attending on Wednesdays. Cost is $40 for adults and $25 for students. For more information, visit fearlessimprov.org. For upcoming Fibbers shows at Surfside, see surfsideplayhouse.com.

Funky Dog Improv

The Funky Dog Improv theater is located at 587 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Melbourne. Every Saturday at 7 p.m., Funky Dog hosts two-hour, completely unscripted shows based on audience input. Tickets are $25. Funky Dog’s On the Leash improv classes teach students how to remove filters that inhibit freedom of expression, openness and creativity. Prospective students are encouraged to attend the drop-in class held at 7 p.m. on the last Friday of the month. The fee is $20. For more information, visit funkydogfl.com or call 321-345-6657.

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