HHS Improv teams have strong showing at regional competition

Main images (supplied):
At left, Showtime, the HHS Improv junior team (back row from left) Emma Flaxman, Keenan Paterson, Harper Smith, Victoria Russell, Maxwell Hill, Sarah-Emily Waller, Jacob Hunter, coach Kim Russel-Brooks; (front from left) Ethan Hunter and Keegan Chan.
At right, Impact, the HHS Improv senior team (back row from left) Couper Ebbs-Picken, Aria Platts-Boyle, John McBrien, Jordan Ross, Meeda Berg, Dylan Jongers, coach Kim Russel-Brooks; (front from left) Millie Cassie-Batchelor and Colin Welsh

This past weekend, the Huntsville High School (HHS) Improv teams — Impact, the senior team, and Showtime, the junior team — headed north to compete in the Sudbury Regional Canadian Improv Games at the Sudbury Theatre Centre.

Each team consists of eight members plus a substitute and all 16 members go on stage together.

During the weekend of the Regional Tournament the players go to workshops with a mix of players from all over the region to improve their skills and get inspired.

“Improv relies on using the suggestion given by the audience and creating a scene around that suggestion,” said Kim Russel-Brooks, HHS teacher and Improv coach. “Teams are evaluated per scene on their ability to create the scene, move it along, create characters the audience will care about, all while making the artistic choices about staging.”

During the competition, which was spread over three days, each team was to perform four scenes on stage.

“Our team performed theme, life, story and style at the competition,” said Showtime team leader Maxwell Hill.

For “theme”, teams are given one word or one phrase and actors have to make various scenes based on that one word. In “life”, teams have to perform a scene as if it was real life, realistic problems and realistic reactions. In “story”, teams have to have to tell a story with a main character with a problem that they solve; it uses narration. During “style”, students have to act it out in a certain style of plot like vampire drama, horror, or sitcom.

“It’s a lot of fun and I have made so many friends in the improv program,” said Showtime team member Keegan Chan. “It’s brought a lot of people out of their shell and got them performing with ease. It’s a great program to be a part of.”

Both HHS teams placed in the top five at regionals. Impact took home bronze while Showtime placed right behind them in 4th place.

Couper Ebbs-Picken, of team Impact, was also given the “Leadership” award during the ceremony. Ebbs-Picken was nominated by his team for exuding strong leadership, respect and dedication for his team.

Couper Ebbs-Picken receives the leadership award (supplied photo)

“Improv competitions aren’t like most competitions,” said Impact team member Dylan Jongers. “It’s not very competitive and all of the teams get along like family.”

Although neither team received the first place at regionals required to move on to compete in Nationals in Ottawa, they have strong hopes for next year’s Improv games and are already getting excited.

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