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Sindy Huang
Maggie Leigh Zargo, a senior studying foreign languages and literature, complains about "back in my day,” as the Comedic Improvisational Alliance closes their practice session on Feb. 1 in Caldwell Hall by complaining about how random concepts were better back in “the good old days.”
A group that is fun, casual, relevant, informative and conveniently located on West Campus: Does such a marvel exist? Yes, the Comedic Improvisation Alliance, also known as the CIA, is all those things and more.
“My absolute favorite thing about this club is that since I’ve started and up until now this has [become] more of a family — we’re a fairly tight-knit group — and I’ve met some of my best friends here,” said event coordinator Daniel Wilson, a junior studying communication.
Participating regularly in an activity like comedic improvisation, which requires leaving your comfort zone far behind and coming out of your shell, is a great way to form close relationships, according to CIA members.
“Having seen this club through several iterations, I have to say that no matter who is in it, no matter who is running it, it’s always a group of friends first and improvisers second […] doing improv together forms a bond,” said James Austin,* former president of the CIA.
A typical practice involves playing warmup games to get the comedic energy flowing, some tips or instruction from the practice leader of the day, and of course, time devoted to developing the skill of improv. Following the brief instruction or advice from the practice leader, a group discussion follows. Contrary to what one might expect from a club with such a lighthearted purpose, group conversations can become technical and passionate by turns. For instance, a discussion might center around the precise cues and signals involved in determining when a performer should introduce a new character to a scene, and involve a myriad of technical terms, or group members could passionately debate the merits of Elmo as a comedic figure, with sweeping gestures and great enthusiasm.
These practices occur Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6–8 p.m. in Caldwell G109, and there are several shows per semester as well. For the busy college student, it might be hard to carve out that much time, but the CIA is equally welcoming to prospective members who need or want to be casual about attendance.
“The time commitment is what you want it to be,” Austin said.
While those who attend practice more frequently are more likely to be part of performances, the club has several members in good standing who are only able to make practices occasionally. The CIA club members encourages anyone with even a passing interest to try it out.
Even those who don’t think that improv comedy sounds appealing may still want to check out the club, though, because the skill of improvisation has many practical applications in day-to-day life. The ability to think on your feet and formulate answers quickly has endless applications to personal, professional and academic life.
“Improv is a pretty useful life skill,” said director Patrick Povinelli, a senior studying nuclear engineering. “It’s made me better at talking to people — way better at job interviews too — and way better at being on a stage. Not only does the club offer a way to learn these skills in a fun environment, members have recently begun teaching workshops in public speaking classes toward the same end.
Last semester, a few members of the group gave a single workshop to a public speaking class. The workshop consisted of a brief presentation on the skill of improv and games to help the students start to develop the skill themselves. Since last semester, the program has snowballed, and the group is now presenting in many public speaking classes. This week alone there are seven workshops on the slate. The CIA is also doing a workshop as part of Make-A-Thon. Additionally, the club is affiliated with Comedy Worx, a local Improv Theatre, where several members are active volunteers.
Anyone interested in learning more about the club should check out their next show, which is free to attend, on Friday, Feb. 24at 7:00 p.m. in Park Shops 210. The club also has a social media presence through Facebook (facebook.com/ncsuCIA) and Twitter (@CIAimprovNCSU). Questions should be directed to theciawantsyou@gmail.com.
*Editor’s Note: This article originally misstated the name of James Austin.