WIT NEWS ITEM | 2006 Del Close Marathon Report

Jackie performs at the UCB Theater as part of the Del Close Marathon. See more pics here!

WIT AT THE 2006 DEL CLOSE MARATHON

POSTED 8.3.05

Washington Improv Theater has returned from another successful appearance at the Del Close Marathon in New York City.

WIT was well represented this time around with strong performances from Jackie, Dr. Fantastic, onesixtyone and a two-person version of Biscuitville. WIT shared the stage with a stellar mix of some of the best improvisers in the country for the eighth incarnation of this annual 48 hour improv event.

Here's what a few of the players had this to say about the weekend's experiences. You can also see more pictures from the marathon here, and check back for more postings soon...



MARK CHALFANT
WIT artistic director and onesixtyone player

I was very proud of the way WIT's four shows represented at Del Close. Dr. Fantastic in particular was delightfully freewheeling and fun, and a huge audience fave. Biscuitville was a blast, too.

Other shows that made big impressions on me: "Omelet," a two-woman show from Chicago about two elderly ladies dining at a Denny's; "I Eat Pandas," the 2-player musical directed and musicianized by Travis Ploeger, who is directing this fall's iMusical at WIT; and "Emanciprov," which took contextual, meta-improv someplace (the slave plantation) where I'm not sure it ever needs to go again.



Mike, Tyler, Zhubin, Rory, Molly and Topher pose outside after the Dr. Fantastic show.

RORY SCOVEL
Dr. Fantastic player

I think the coolest thing about the Del Close Marathon is that you get to see so much top level longform improv in such a short amount of time. Its tough to get bored with any of the shows, very easy to get tired trying to see every show. You almost OD on improv but its completely worth it. Paying only 20 dollars for 48 hours of shows is the best first impression a festival could have.

I think another great thing about the marathon is the inspiration it gives me as an improviser. Seeing what other troupes are doing and how out of the box creative they are getting with their formats and shows is truly awesome. Just when you thought you had seen everything that improv could possibly be, someone has thought of a whole new way of playing and the ideas become endless and fun all over again.

There really is an amazing community of improvisers throughout the country where everyone seems to know everyone. I think DC is sort of seen as the little brother trying to play with the big brother when it comes to improv cities like NYC, LA or Chicago. WIT showcased true talent this weekend and I hope it will begin to change that perception for many people. I also think DC is due very soon for their very own entertainment revolution. The more creative and riskier improv troupes in DC can become, the more attraction there will be for people to have a taste test of what we're doing. I hope everyone that attended was really inspired to put some really fun shows together and I can't wait to see them. Del Close Marathon is an amazing experience, def. recommended.


MOLLY WOODS PICS (AND CAPTIONS)
Jackie and Dr. Fantastic player

This year's Del Close was quite exciting for me since it was my first time performing at the UCB. Aside from the face-slapping thrills of performing before a crowd of excellent improvisers with more excellent improvisers, I was really happy with the shows I got to see.

Now, I am not a fan of singing. It freaks me out to be in the same room with someone who is tunelessly singing along to the radio or, say, improvising a song. I Eat Pandas, with iMusical's esteemed Travis Ploeger, made me a believer. I didn't cringe once, and I was up there giving them the standing ovation they so richly deserved. Not only was the singing great, but the improvising itself was incredible, and Glennis McMurray and Eliza Skinner were completely seamless in their transitions from character to character.

Another remarkable show I got to see was Emanciprov -- remarkable in that I couldn't believe what I was watching. Chris Gethard's Daryl Strawberry during Smartest Panel of Experts might be the only sports-related humor I have ever laughed at, and lawsy did I laugh. Hilarious. Also, I went shopping at the Time Warner Center and saw Malan (at Sephora!) and Keith (at Aveda!) from Project Runway. Seriously, almost as exciting as the improv. Sad, but true.


BRIAN COLEMAN
onesixtyone player

I didn't go, but I did order both pizza and Chinese food on the same day.



Colin, Topher and Natasha perform while the rest of the onesixtyoners look on from the wings.

MIKE BASS
onesixtyone and Dr. Fantastic player

Alright... Del Close...

After a long and delayed busride up to NYC on Friday (which included "Almost Heaven", and "The Pink Panther" not once but TWICE!) I was ready for some wicked smart entertainment at the Del Close Marathon.

Highlights throughout the weekend:

Emanciprov - which included Jason Sudeikas, Matt Walsh, and Matt Besser.

Am I a Ghost - did you know they do improv in Rhode Island? I didn't. These guys were great. "The bad news is your wife is dead. But the good news is that she died in a new kind of avalanche and they're naming it after her. The Carol."

I Eat Pandas - Brilliant 2-woman musical. Not only was their singing great, but their story-telling was great. One of the only standing ovations of the weekend. The best part: I Eat Pandas director Travis Ploeger is now directing iMusical here in DC.

Reuben Williams - This UCB troupe was great. So many of UCB's shows are novelty acts in one way or another and these guys just brought great classic ensemble comedy. Very refreshing.

Code Duello - Masterful historical character work. Two guys "re-tell" what led to the duel between friends Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. These guys represented Boston really well.

Wicked F**kin' Queeyah - I basically live for this show. It's much of the inspiration behind Dr. Fantastic. I really missed Amy Poehler though. And Derek Jeter has AIDS.

Community Bike - From Dirty South, these guys were amazingly connected and hilarious.

Fivesome - There's a special place in my heart for Christine Gausas. It's actually right next to Jason Sudeikas.

Overall, I was really excited to see groups from North Carolina, Boston, and DC do really well in front of this audience. We don't have the luxury of using our reputations to our advantage. We had to win over the audience, I think we did.

Dr. Fantastic's show was a hit. Who knew our f-u attitude would be so well received in New York City? The coolest part of the entire weekend for me was when Chris Gethard said we were really great. Coming from Darryl Strawberry himself - what an honor.

The drunks in New York City have more attitude. At 4 AM, a friend and I went to a diner for some pancakes. There was a lady standing in the middle of the cross walk because that's where she was when the "don't walk" lit up. She then cussed out the cars that were trying to avoid her. Yeah... New York drivers suck.

That's pretty much it.


TYLER KORBA
Biscuitville, onesixtyone and Dr. Fantastic player

This was my first time going to Del Close. I'd somehow managed to have something else important going on during the same weekend for the last three years, so I was pretty excited to finally get there.

First up for me on the performance front was Biscuitville on Saturday afternoon. I'd spent Friday night and Saturday morning roaming around the city with my wife and brother-in-law, so my first look at the theater and improv of any kind for the weekend was just before taking the stage myself. It was a little nerve-racking.

I should start off by saying that I'm (still) desperately sad that Katie (Carson) couldn't make the trip to do the show with Mark (Raterman) and I. Mark and I learned on Thursday morning that she was going to have to back out of the trip, and we were bummed. We decided backstage to keep the format the same and give it a try as a two-person show... our first time trying that dynamic together. Considering we only get to see one another at festivals (since Mark is based in Chicago now), we were really pleased with how the show went over. Fun, fun stuff. And a big relief to be so well received by such an improv-savvy crowd.

Following onesixtyone's show at the Abington on Saturday evening, I went back to the UCB Theater and checked out a bunch of teams, including the always-entertaining Baby Wants Candy, UCB's Reuben Williams and Mark's Chicago troupe, Chuckle Sandwich. The backstage area was pretty crowded with performers, but there was a very cool community vibe about the whole thing. Someone had mentioned to me earlier in the night that the one problem with 48 hours of improv is that you don't have any sort of proper after-party to go to and see everyone, but the backstage hang was plenty cool by me. Even though I only knew a handful of players and teams from outside of DC, it was a damn good time just standing around and talking over flat, warm beers.

Sunday Jackie took the stage to some very cool knowing applause and kicked some serious ass. Thankfully, Molly (Woods) and Zhubin (Parang) were up for making it two in a row, and the Dr. Fantastic show that followed went over really well. Just have-a-good-time, anything-goes improv. I was worried we were going to lose the crowd with some of the insider-improv jokes we were making, but they stuck with us for the full half-hour. It was Zhubin's last show with the group (for now), so I was glad he got a solid send-off.

All in all, a real good time. It's great to know everyone else is all fired up with new ideas and ready to throw down for the upcoming run.