Who are we? We're the goddamned Sunshine Scouts.

CUB SCOUTS

2011-10-17T19:43:00.001-04:00

WE GOT THREE MORE!They be- Sophie MeadeTaylor GreenthalCarla Yengo-Kahnthey are 1st years. they are chill.

OCIC 2011 Schedule!!!

2011-04-04T16:25:00.002-04:00

This is the post detailing the schedule of the Oberlin College Improv Conference 2011!! (See earlier post regarding workshop descriptions.)

Bring your whole troupe for $15/person, or if you're local, participate in a workshop at $5 each.

Email us at sunshinescouts@gmail.com if you'd like to attend! Checks should be paid to Oberlin College and sent (very, very soon) to:

Lillian Grabill
OCMR: 0959
135 West Lorain Street
Oberlin OH
44074-1081
____________

Schedule of Events

Friday, April 15th

4:00-7:00 pm Check in at Wilder Student Union (135 W. Lorain St). You can register for workshops here.

8:00-11:00 PRO SHOW (where you can also register for workshops):
8:00 PM: Octavarius
9:00 PM: pH Productions
10:00 PM: Rare Bird Show

at the Cat in the Cream (180 West Lorain)

11:00pm - ??? – OCIC Party

Saturday, April 16th

see earlier post for workshop descriptions
11:00am-1:00 pm – Professional Workshops (In King )

2:00pm-4:00pm – Professional Workshops (In King )

4:15pm-6:15pm – Professional Workshops (In King)

8:00pm-12:00am – Improv ‘Til You’re Dead (at The Cat in the Cream)- All participating troupes flaunt their stuff and perform their own set!

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday, April 17th

Noon‐1:00: Pizza Picnic and debrief

1:00pm‐3:00pm: Check out and go home

Oberlin College Improv Conference 2011 Details!

2011-04-04T16:13:00.005-04:00

This is the post about workshops!! Workshops take place 11am-1pm, 2-4pm, 4:15-6:15pm. You can register for workshops individually at $5 each. You can either register on Friday, April 15th at the professional troupes show (8pm at the Cat in the Cream) or you can mail in a check (pretty soon!!). Checks should be paid to Oberlin College and sent to:

Lillian Grabill
OCMR: 0959
135 West Lorain Street
Oberlin OH
44074-1081

Below you will find workshop descriptions, categorized by the professional troupe leading the class (Rare Bird Show, Octavarius, pH productions). For a schedule of the workshops, please contact sunshinescouts@gmail.com

OCIC 2011 Workshop Descriptions

Rare Bird Show

JEKYLL/HYDE (2-part workshop that can be taken individually or together. Recommended for
the performer with at least some improv experience).
JEKYLL-- You love improvisation, but you're not sure you are getting the most out of every scene? What am I doing right? What am I doing wrong? What is my director/coach/teacher/best friend not telling me? Alexis Simpson, loving spirit, will offer firm but gentle feedback that is specifically targeted for you and you alone. True strength comes from knowing your weaknessess.

HYDE-- Your improv is awful. Everyone is bored. Stop it; stop it right now. It isn't your fault that all your other teachers and all your other directors are too nice to tell you that your worst fears are true: YOU AREN'T FUNNY. Worse, YOU AREN'T EVEN INTERESTING. Alexis Simpson will fix that. You will come to this workshop on time. You will do bad scenes. Alexis Simpson, total jerk, will bark mean things that are only mean because they are true. You may cry, which you deserve. So come do your crappy improv so that Alexis can fix it. CAN YOU HANDLE IT?

Improv Grad School
Sure, you're a rockstar on your college improv team. But what's next? Alexis and Nathan are both working actors in Philadelphia and Los Angeles,and they would like to help you navigate the improv world after you graduate. Topics covered. include starting your own troupe, improv in scripted acting, The Industry, different improv schools, and the how & why of the Harold. Workshop will include both a discussion/Q&A portion and an "on your feet" portion (during which the basic structure of the Harold will be covered).

Improv for the Actor
Make sure your pursuit of the funny continues to support your development as an actor. Honest character work, truthful listening skills, and grounded physical work will take your improv and acting to the next level. That judgmental attitude you have about you and your work? We'll examine that self-created philosophy, abolish it and create a view that works for you as an artist, not against you.

Bodies on a Stage
Most improv scenes start with the mind, not the body. You know, a scene starts and it's two people standing talking at one another. What if we try the reverse? What if we lead with the body? All we really have in improv are bodies on the stage anyway (and maybe a few chairs). We'll see how focusing on and leading with the physical body will produce more creative and original work. We'll then take a look at the group as a whole on stage and discover the limitless potential available when multiple bodies are working together to create the scene. Relax your mind and lead with your body.

Octavarius

Improvising with a Robot
Imagine a scene with the greatest improviser in the world, one who can only listen to
exactly what you say and then respond with a clear emotional choice. Do scenes with
R2-D2, and learn to listen in a whole new wa from a robot.

Animalistics
Unique character work is a hallmark of great improv. Learn a fun new way to create
characters without getting in your heard.

The Business of Comedy
Starting out in comedy is a scary thing. You’re all alone. You need a venue. You don’t
have an audience. Talk about how to set up a group. How to find an audience. And
what you’ll need to sacrifice if you want to work with your friends.

Attacking Short Form with a Long Form Mind
Learning and playing by the rules of the game is the first step to successful short form.
But how do you stay away from common tricks and gimmicky scenes? Find the game
within the game and use good scenework to transcend the typical stigma of a short form
show.

Improvised Singing
Talking without a script is scary enough, but singing? Without lyrics? Without a score?
Learn how to start a song, own a song, and finish a song with confidence.

Trust: the Foundation of Ensemble Work
Risk is what separates the best improv from the rest of improv. To take the kind of risks that will drive your show to the next level you need to trust your fellow improvisers with your life. Learn games, skills, and concepts you can bring to your own group to build that kind of trust.

Games in Real Life
Always being ready to play, to go on an adventure, to find something new, even when
you’re not on stage is not only a fun way to live, but a great way to improve your work. Learn how to find games, and translate them on to the stage.

Bringing Yourself to Your Work
You already know your strengths, your weaknesses, you fears. Find new ways to bring
those to the stage in a way that add to your ensemble, adds to the show, and captivates
the audience.

The Importance of Touch
Touch helps create relationships, stage pictures, and great scenes. Learn how to use
touch in your work to get out of your head, and get into stellar scenes.

Hosting a Show
Set yourself up for success. What you do before, between, and after your show helps

prepare the audience to have fun. It can also totally alienate them. Learn how to set
up a show quickly, clearly, and send the audience into the show with anticipation and
energy.

pH Productions

Basics
For every company that is looking to use the skills of improv to sharpen and
expand the abilities of their staff. This is a Level 1 look at the group mind experience of improv. Groups will learn to say yes first and support each other to the fullest.

Character
This is a performer’s workshop. Anyone that has been on stage, whether it be in improv or not, can benefit from this workshop. This gives performers they need to be in touch with their characters from go, knowing who they are from name to the tiniest idiosyncrasies.

Group Work
In improv, the sum is greater than the parts. The ensemble drives the art, not the individual. This workshop celebrates the group aspect of our theater form. Learn how to open yourself up to group work, through exercises and games designed to heighten your ensemble awareness and lower your judgement. Group mind exists! Seek it out!

Women on Top
Explore this unique and creative show that allows women improvisers to shine! Audience participation, personal monologues, group work and scene work are just some of the devices incorporated in Women on Top. The workshop will focus on strengthening those skills and putting the show on it's feet. Let us share one of pH's most successful forms with you!

Faster/Funnier
Never again feel that you are running out of steam or afraid to edit a scene do to lack of material. Here we will teach you to keep the funny of long form rolling at the pace of short form. Your confidence is sure to reach new heights!

Avital Isaacs

Silence and Improv
You talk too much, and so do I. In this workshop, we will learn how less can be more with improv dialogue.When we're all done, you'll be able to build scenes, support your partners, and add information without all that unnecessary chit-chat.

Announcing the 11th annual Oberlin College Improv Conference! The Oberlin College Improv Conference (OCIC) is an annual, student-organized event tha

2011-02-18T21:53:00.001-05:00

The Oberlin College Improv Conference (OCIC) is an annual, student-organized event that offers a dynamic setting for students of improvization to meet and improvise with those from colleges throughout the region. The weekend features workshops taught by an impressive, ever-changing group of professional
improvisers and invites all troupes to perform.

This year, we are welcoming:

Rare Bird Show
pH Productions
Octavarius

When: April 15-17

Price: affordable student prices TBA
**housing provided, but plan to bring a pillow and a sleeping bag!!

Stay tuned for registration in January! We hope you will join us for OCIC 2011!

Questions? Contact Lily at lgrabill@oberlin.edu

We got two more!

2010-09-23T13:05:00.002-04:00

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

brian gale

AND

beth randles!

They were selected out of a huge pool of wonderful funnies, and we're so happy to have em on board. Rehearsals started next week and we're already looking forward to our first show, right before Fall Break in October!

Help The Sunshine Scouts get to Hollywood!

2010-04-01T14:35:00.001-04:00

Hi guys,

The Sunshine Scouts are participating in a web video competition for a site called Showbizzle, created by Charles Rosin, a producer of the original Beverly Hills 90210. We were instructed to create a video on the topic of "Tinseltown comes to your town". Well, here it is!

Please go to the website and vote for us as your favorite video submission. The winner will be flown to LA to talk with producers about creating original content. Please lend your support! You will have to create an account on the site to vote, but that only takes a minute. We really appreciate it!

New Scouts photos

2010-03-05T14:42:00.001-05:00

Ma'ayan Plaut has done it again!

Photos from our February 21 show!

OCIC has a WEBSITE!

2010-03-03T16:49:00.000-05:00

Check us out here:

http://web.me.com/ocic2010/oberlinimprov/Home.html

OCIC on Facebook

2010-03-03T15:14:00.001-05:00

Check us out here!

2010-03-03T14:50:00.002-05:00

HEY GUYS!

Exciting news: We have our lineup for pro performers all set for the 2010 Oberlin College Improv Conference (OCIC)!

Upright Citizens Brigade TourCo
Rare Bird Show
The Irish Mutts

With some special surprises from Scouts alumni: after all, this is our tenth anniversary of being an improv troupe!

How can you get in on this action, you may ask? I'm so glad you asked. Well, this year, the folks at the Oberlin Improv Coalition decided that we wanted to drop prices dramatically this year. Same dazzling talent, same number of workshops being offered, same everything, just with a lighter pricetag.

The full price for the weekend is:
$35 per person for checks sent before April 1
$40 per person for checks sent after April 1
$30 per person for groups of 5 of more!

How sweet is that, kids? Checks should be made payable to Oberlin College and sent to

Avital Isaacs
c/o OCIC 2010
OCMR 1469 Oberlin College
Oberlin OH 44074

More information to come! Questions should be sent to sunshinescouts @ gmail . com!

Photo post!

2010-01-04T15:08:00.005-05:00

Ma'ayan Plaut has taken some great photos of us over the semester! Here are some highlights, and a link to the full set!

Check out the rest here!

Link dump!

2009-11-16T13:31:00.003-05:00

Here are some great things that have been written about the Sunshine Scouts, collected here!

Joe Dawson, a fellow Obie, blogged about our first show this year!

Tess Yanisch, a new Scout, recounts the Chicago competition!

Oberlin College congratulates us!

A good samaritan gives us props!

Ma'ayan Plaut, one of Oberlin's favorite photographers, collects our photos here and here!

VICTORY!

2009-11-15T15:18:00.003-05:00

Well, folks, we did it. The Sunshine Scouts won first place in the Midwest regionals at the Chicago Improv Festival. This means we will be advancing to the finals in February. Thank you to all of the troupes who performed-- we have so much respect for how funny, unique, and clever everyone was.

Check out our longform on video!

Also, vote for The Improv Mafia, who placed second in the competition, so they can advance to the finals!

New photo

2009-10-28T01:32:00.002-04:00

Thanks to Ma'ayan Plaut for taking the photo.

Sunshine Scouts at the Chicago Improv Festival!

2009-10-25T02:02:00.002-04:00

Hi improv kittens!

Sorry it's been so long since I've updated-- I am now the director, so things have been heating up. We have three new Scoutlings:

Tess Yanisch
Isaac Jones
Natalie Nunez

And we love them all so very very much. We had our first show, and as soon as Ma'ayan sends us the photos, we will make sure you get the creme de la creme.

Big doings! The Sunshine Scouts were invited to participate in the Midwest Regional Chicago Improv Festival! We're very excited: this is our first time traveling. Wish us luck!

AH YEAH

2009-07-17T03:14:00.003-04:00

You thought we were done with you? NOPE. SUNSHINE SCOUTS WILL RETURN IN THE FALL. Get a clean pair of pants, you'll need it. Auditions coming soon.

Sunshine Scouts are 40 Yards of Skin!

2009-04-06T20:15:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow, Ben, Sam, and Avital from the Scouts will be performing as 40 Yards of Skin at Little Theater at 9 PM. The event costs $1 and is a fundraiser for the OCIC. We will be followed up by Primitive Streak.

WORKSHOPS WORKSHOPS WORK IS NEVER DONE

2009-04-06T20:09:00.002-04:00

The workshops will be taking place on Saturday, April 18. The time slots will be 11 AM - 1 PM, 2 PM - 4 PM, and 4:15 PM - 6:15 PM. They will be in the King building, room TBA. If you are purchasing a la carte workshops, please know that they are $15 each, or $40 for all three. The way it is broken down this year, there are workshops for all levels, so don't be hesitant if you are relatively green. Experience levels are noted in the descriptions. Here they are!

Remember you have to tell us if you are coming so we can make sure we have a spot for you! So please contact us!

Workshop Titles

11-1
Openings
What the hell is "game"? Finding and playing THE GAME in improv
Strong and Effective Scenework: Moving Forward with Every Step
Improvisational Editing Techniques
2-4
Musical Improv
The Art of Freestyle
The Movie
Abstraction and Experimentation in Improvisational Performance
4:15-6:15
Musical Improv
The Art of Freestyle
Group Games that Kick Ass
The Harold
Workshop Descriptions

Openings: Jim Santangeli of Rogue Elephant

Any experience level

A successful opening accomplishes three things for an improv team. 1. It entertains the audience right off the bat. 2. It helps build a group mind. 3. It generates ideas and themes to play during the show. This 2 hour workshop will be dedicated solely to generating ideas from the opening to initiate better scenes. There are many ways to open a show and we will practice many of them in the workshop. Hell, we might even stumble on a new one.

What the hell is "game"? Finding and playing THE GAME in improv: Nate Smith of Rogue Elephant

Any experience level
This workshop is designed to demystify the concept of "the game" in improv. We'll work on how to identify your funny ideas in a scene then build and explore them in ways that will keep your scenes alive and fun.

Strong and Effective Scenework: Moving Forward with Every Step: Rob Reese of Amnesia Wars

Intermediate to advanced

Rob Reese explores and breaks down players' scenes and moves to the end of a YES for every AND. In depth and intensive scenework with "Excellent personal feedback given in a non-threatening manner". (Deb Caruso, Student. Portland Improvised Theater Fest.) Also includes a discussion of the sometimes confusing, even contradictory "rules" of improv.

Improvisational Editing Techniques: Jared Robinson and Sean Dillon of Amnesia Wars

Any experience level

What makes a longform show move forward? How do you transition from one scene to the next?

Does your troupe use every moment as performance, or do they lose the tempo from scene to scene because the entire group is not tuned in to hearing the beats of the scenes?

In this course we will work on smart, interesting, and fun ways to listen and edit into and out of scenes where the improviser takes the initiative to start a new scene before they know exactly where that scene will go. We will develop techniques to make the move into a new scene the most exciting part of the show and drive the story to new places that will surprise both the audience and the improviser.

Musical Improv: I Eat Pandas!

Intermediate to advanced (see description)

An intensive session where participants will be able to learn the basics of improvised singing from I EAT PANDAS, as well as improve on already possessed musical improv skills (if applicable). Topics to be covered include: recognizing and initiating verse/chorus and tagline songs, infusing songs with character and emotion, and ending songs with style! Although prior singing experience is helpful, it is not required- but participants must be comfortable singing in front of others. Prior (non-singing) improvisational experience, however, is a must, as this workshop will use those skills to enhance the improv singer that lies hidden in all of us!

The Art of Freestyling: Justin Jackson, director of 45kings

Open to anyone who has done at least one improv scene

We will be exploring and expanding ideas, characters and points of view thru freestyle rap.

The Movie: Silija Ozols of Rogue Elephant

Working knowledge of longform recommended

The Movie is a longform improv structure that replicates an entire movie on stage. Students will learn basic movie-form techniques like camera angles, cut-tos, and scene painting that they can apply to any improv scene. Emphasis is on having fun and working together to create an interesting stage picture, as well as using movie techniques to advance the funny idea of a scene.

Abstraction and Experimentation in Improvisational Performance: Rob Reese of Amnesia Wars

Intermediate to advanced- vigorous movement involved so wear comfy clothing!

Combine advanced longform scenework and structures with techniques and styles borrowed (sampled / stolen) from America’s most venerable avant-garde theater companies, such as The Wooster Group and SITI Company. Add abstraction, theatricality, visceral motion and imagery to your improvisation. Students should come dressed and ready to move.

Group Games that Kick Ass: Gavin Speiller of Rogue Elephant

Any experience level

Are you tired of doing group games that are a mess? If you want to play group scenes that are more concise, focused and fun, then this is the workshop for you. Students will learn how to isolate and heighten game as a team and move throughout a scene as one unit.

The Harold: Eddie Dunn of Rogue Elephant

Intermediate to advanced

We will break down the Harold with different exercises to make improv and scene work within this classic longform structure easy and fun.

OCIC laughs in the face of financial turmoil.

2009-03-19T15:44:00.003-04:00

Hey all, here's an update about what we're doing, and how you can be involved in it.

We have a third troupe-- Rogue Elephant from NYC will be joining us. And notes about workshops: While the topics are still rolling in, we know we will have some freestyling workshops as well as musical improv, movement based work, and improv intensives for all skill levels.

I know that given the financial situation, things are getting a little dire, and a lot of people can't really afford to participate fully. If you want to go but can't pay in full, let us know! If you would rather donate your time than pay money, let us know! We are committed to making this work, come hell or high water. The conference has been in existence for ten years now, and we need to really show our support for student-run theater work on campus. If we don't, it will disappear! SO GET MOBILIZED!

We will be here, and we are invested in providing amazing programming. Not just given the present circumstance, but given what there is out there. We are interested in challenging the norms of improv. This year will be very exciting. We want to see you there.

E-mail us at sunshinescouts@gmail.com and let's work it out!

OCIC Updates!

2009-02-15T21:16:00.002-05:00

Oh babies, the conference is simmering in the pot right now, and it's waiting for you to come take a little taste.

We currently have two troupes booked: I Eat Pandas and Amnesia Wars. A third is in the works.

This year, we are offering an economic stimulus deal: If you are confirmed, and we receive your check by March 20, the ticket will only cost $40 per person. This ticket will give you complete access to the following:

1) The professional troupes' shows
2) The exclusive OCIC party
3) Three workshops taught by members of the professional troupes
4) A slot in the Improv Till You're Dead marathon event
5) Free pizza and an invite to join us in our Surprise Sunday events!

I know this is a little pricey, but you really can't get this kind of value anywhere else. If you want to know where to send your checks, e-mail us at sunshinescouts@gmail.com!

OCIC 2009!

2008-12-12T08:40:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone,

OCIC preparation is in full swing. What is the OCIC, you're asking?

The Oberlin College Improv Conference! OCIC is one of the largest student run improv events in the country. It brings together student and professional troupes from all over the country for a weekend of workshops, performances, and silliness. The hallowed event is Improv Till You're Dead, a Saturday night, no-holds-barred improv marathon with all of the student troupes. It's like an automatic improv machine gun.

Every year has brought together a different group of troupes, short- and long-form. We are always interested in new (and new to us) talent. If your school would like to be involved this year, give us a little hooty-hoo over at sunshinescouts (at) gmail (dot) com.

This year's conference will be held April 17-19 all over the Oberlin College campus, and the all-inclusive cost of events will be $45. This includes the professionals show, three Saturday workshops, the OCIC party, Improv Till You're Dead, and the Sunday discussions.

More information as it develops!

WELCOME NEW SCOUTS!

2008-09-07T14:58:00.002-04:00

Sunshine Scouts would like to extend a huge howdy-do to its five new members:

Dashiell Robb
Lily Grabill
Alia Syed
Sam Skove
Moze Halperin

FIVE NEW GOSLINGS!

Auditions this year were fantastic. We saw a lot of talent!

AUDITIONS!

2008-08-29T18:19:00.002-04:00

The Sunshine Scouts are hosting auditions for the new year!

TUESDAY September 2 10 PM to Midnight
WEDNESDAY September 3 10 PM to Midnight

Sign up sheets in Warner, meet in Warner TBA.

This will be the most fun you can have with pants on. Check our FAQ for details.

Photos from our latest show

2007-12-26T12:42:00.000-05:00

The Sunshine Scouts had their last show of the fall semester on December 8, at the Cat in the Cream coffeehouse. Here are a couple of pictures from the show, thanks again to the magnificent Ma'ayan Plaut.

(Not pictured here are Annika Franklin and Sarah Degni, who were both in a production of Measure for Measure. We missed 'em.)

FAQ

2007-12-26T12:16:00.000-05:00

Q: What is longform?

A: As far as what we do goes, longform is a style of improv that more closely resembles the format of a play. There are recurring characters and/or themes that get developed in different types of scenes. Once we get a suggestion, we improv for about 35-50 minutes straight. This is very different from shortform, which relies more on quick games and scenes. Longform is not Whose Line is it Anyway?

Q: How much of Sunshine Scouts shows are improvised?

A: 100% of the content is improvised. Everything that you hear and see the Scouts do is made up on the spot. As a group, we play with different forms (different templates for our longforms) so sometimes we may have decided to have such-and-such kind of scene appear at some point. Other times we throw caution to the wind in a freeform. It all depends. However, our words and actions are all spontaneous and organic... it's improv!

Q: So if it's all made up, why do you rehearse?

A: We don't rehearse, we practice. We do this because we need to build trust among the members of our group. Through practice we learn each other's rhythms and learn how to tap in to a group energy that allows for stellar longforms. We also learn how to develop different parts of ourselves that we can showcase in performance. We also love each other, and go through withdrawal when we're not very, very close.

Q: Is improvising scary?

A: Yes and no. New Scouts may have some fear coming in to the improv process, because it's a unique performance experience. However, with time the improvising becomes a second nature, and we come to need it like breathing.

Q: How often do you have auditions?

A: Scouts auditions generally occur at the beginning of each fall semester. However, given that some members graduate early and other members go abroad, we reserve the right to host auditions in the spring as well. We will keep you updated on that front.

Q: What are auditions like?

A: Fun. No preparations necessary. We will ask you to do a variety of warmups, games, and scenes, both with other auditionees and Scouts members.

Q: But what if I don't have any improv/theater/dance/singing experience? Can I still try out for the Sunshine Scouts?

A: Awesome. Come on down.

Q: How many people are in the Sunshine Scouts each year?

A: That depends. Generally the number is somewhere from 6-10, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been smaller, or larger. The membership ebbs and flows by semester. We never try to meet a quota; rather, we see who would add to the group dynamic.

Q: You're an improv troupe, where's the joke question?

A: Right here. Funny, huh?

Any more questions? Feel free to drop us a line and we'll get back to you as soon as we can!

Scouts linkage

2007-12-26T12:07:00.000-05:00

Due to the nature of improv, there is precious little on the internet about us, but here's what we've got.

http://oberlinimprov.com/home.html

http://oberwiki.net/Sunshine_Scouts

Give it a lil check out.

2007-12-26T11:29:00.000-05:00

(Photo courtesy of Ma'ayan Plaut)

Welcome, cats and kittens, to the blog for the Sunshine Scouts, Oberlin's own longform improv comedy group. Here you will get updates on our sweet happenings, photos from our shows, and information about the Oberlin College Improv Conference (OCIC) in the spring. Feel free to contact us with any questions at SunshineScouts (at) gmail (dot) com.