AH YEAH

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!

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

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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

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!