On the spot with Unscripted

Unscripted invites students to share their comedy improv skills by auditioning on Jan. 15 in the Hyrum Manwaring Center room 369 at 7 p.m.

Unlike Humor Code’s scripted sketch comedies, Unscripted focuses on improvised comedy. Just like it sounds, improv comedy is on-the-spot comedy sketches. No scripts, no practice — just comedy.

Unscripted also provides workshops on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. in MC 369. Anyone interested in learning or growing their improv skills is welcome to attend the workshops.

Porter Smith, a sophomore studying psychology and the marketing manager for Unscripted, began his journey with the improv group by attending the weekly workshops and then auditioning that next semester.

“As a comedy group, we interact with many of the other groups on campus and we all help each other out,” Smith said. “It teaches you how to interact with the school and appreciate more how everything is organized.”

For those interested in auditioning for the team, Smith suggests attending the weekly workshops, but for students that can’t attend, he advises meeting new people every day.

“Improv is based on acting without a script, and if you aren’t comfortable just speaking at random or initiating a conversation, practice,” Smith said. “That will prepare you the most. The improv format can be taught. An open attitude cannot.”

Smith believes improv is part of our everyday lives and is a life skill. In everyday interactions, students rarely have conversations planned out and Murphy’s law — everything can and will go wrong — still comes into play daily.

“Improv skills teach you how to succeed in all of these,” Smith said. “I’ve learned how to take opportunities, excel in job interviews and how to communicate. I’ve learned how to quickly think, and it affects my life in a positive way every single day.”