Melanie PennStaff
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Happy vernal equinox, Improv Shop! 🌷 Also happy birthdays to Ricky Cheers, Achie Barthel, Anthony Alvarez, Sean Marshall, Lindsay Van Quaethem, and everyone else celebrating birthdays this week! 🎂🎂 Here's what's up in and around the joint: CLASS REGISTRATION IS CLOSING - If you're planning to enroll in a class in the March-May session, sign up today or message me with any questions about payment plans etc. There's still some room in Introduction to Sketch Writing and Poetry for Improvisers, and most core classes if you'd like to retake for a discount (not Level 1 though, those are sold the freak out). 🤙 THURSDAY PROGRAMMING - Tonight, Thursday March 19th, is a busy one: House Team Night at 7:00 in mainstage with 2zin Tarandon, Third Wheel, and Idiot Bitch 👩❤️💋👩 The Menagerie at 7:00 in sidestage with Soft Meats, Bored Meeting, Whatever, and Old Friends 👫 The Merry-Go-Round at 9:00 in sidestage with 2zin Tarandon, G.O.R.P., Haute Mess Express, and This Machine 🤖 The Jam at 8:45-ish in mainstage: this is an important one, as the terrific Tristan Sommer will be hosting a Serendipitous Pastiche format ~ signups will be open during House Team Night for all who'd like to play, and then a typical jam format will follow. 🤸 FRIDAY PROGRAMMING - Pretty cool lineup this Friday March 20th: THE ASTERISK* at 7:00 in mainstage ~ this week's theme is drinking holidays not entirely uninspired by Lá Fhéile Pádraig 🍻 Rhyme and Reason at 7:00 in sidestage featuring a new team called Sound and Color plus students of the current Musical Improv Workshop team Oogly Boogly! 👻 Cagematch at 9:00 in mainstage with returning champions Manifesto vs. new challenger Bellbottoms 👖 Scenes From an RV at 9:00 in sidestage 🚐 SATURDAY A.M. JAM - This Saturday March 21st at 9:45am-11:45am is the fourth installment of Elle Morgan's Saturday A.M. Jams! This is a free drop-in workshop for any current students or grads who'd like to get more time in meeting people and running exercises. This week's theme is What - Show Don't Tell. 🫴 See the attached flyer for information! KITTEN YOGA - Another fun event happening this Saturday in Maplewood between 11:00 and 1:00 is a special Kitten Yoga + Sound Bath Fundraiser with Rescue Movement Alliance! See the attached flyer for event information and reserve your spot online if you can make it. If you can't make it Saturday but would like to support Rescue Movement Alliance's mission in rescuing stray animals and expanding their trap-neuter-spay efforts, you can donate directly here. Big thanks to Elizabeth Lindburg for organizing! 🐈 FREESTYLE JAM - It's also the third Saturday of the month, so time for another Freestyle Jam, happening in sidestage at 5:00-6:15! Brandon Bowers facilitates this free, beginner-friendly workshop that combines freestyle rap and longform improvisation. Come try something cool and vulnerable in a super supportive environment. 🙌 SATURDAY PROGRAMMING - This Saturday March 21st is a stacked night for shows: POC Improv League at 7:00 in sidestage The One Four Fives present an Improvised Musical! at 7:00 in mainstage Breast in Show at 7:00 in sidestage Movie the Musical at 9:00 in mainstage MONDAY JAMS - This Monday March 23rd, more miniworkshops at 6:00-6:55 to knock some dust off or make some new friends or both: It's Student Jam with Tara O'Nay! It's Grad Jam with Megs Davis! Big thanks to Tara and Megs for facilitating, and big thanks to everyone for participating. 👯♂️👯♂️👯♂️ MONDAY PROGRAMMING - This Monday March 23rd is at extra special night for four reasons: 1️⃣ It's graduation night for our two Teams Level 2 classes at 7:00 in mainstage, followed by a post-show ceremony and hangout. 🎓 2️⃣ It's our two Teams Level 1 classes' last sidestage showcase before they move onto Teams Level 2 next session. 3️⃣ Before Teams Level 1, there's a special showcase at 7:00 in sidestage by students of this session's Introduction to Sketch Writing! They'll perform table readings of sketches they workshopped in class, so come cheer on their hard work! 4️⃣ After Teams Level 1, School Night returns to 9:00 in sidestage with three more longform teams. Do like me on a school night in 2004 which is go out to Steak 'n Shake after your improv show except instead of Steak 'n' Shake it's The Improv Shop bar and kitchen. TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY - There's a special show next Saturday March 28th featuring all genderqueer performers to celebrate Trans Day of Visibility! In preparation for the show, the cast is gathering audience questions for a Living Room-esque Q&A. If you have any questions about what it’s like to be genderqueer, fill 'em out in the form here! The team will be answering some of your questions as an opening for the show. 🏳️⚧️ Ok that's a wrap for now, gang. Thanks so much for everything you do, and keep up the good work. 🫡