The hills aren’t the only thing rolling in Athens: The laughs are too, and you can get in on the raucous fun with Athens’ finest comedians.
Stand-up comedy fans can catch the latest from Blue Pencil Comedy, the student-organized stand-up comedy club, every Saturday night in the Baker University Center student lounge.
Those interested in joining the organization or trying out their own material before the eclectic group can attend the meetings held in Baker Center at 6 p.m. each Monday and Wednesday.
Taylor Reinhart, president of Blue Pencil Comedy and a senior studying English, said that after getting over his initial fear of performing, joining the group provided new experiences that enhanced his college experience.
“I originally went on for the first time and did really badly, but thought I did really well and decided to just stick with it,” Reinhart said. “The lesson learned was that college got a lot better once I was doing things.”
Students looking to explore a completely different, more spontaneous style of comedy can check out the two student troupes that make up OU Improv — Black Sheep Inc. and Six to Midnight — Tuesday nights on the stage of Baker Theatre.
These troupes come together to hone their skills and build chemistry twice a week, with mandatory meetings on Wednesdays.
After losing many of its members to last year’s graduating class, the organization will be looking for new talent in this fall’s incoming class, said Hannah Ticoras, president of OU Improv and a senior studying English. She added that the freeing nature of improv could introduce students to new ways of thinking.
“It basically opened up my mind to things because you have to say everything as it’s happening,” Ticoras said. “It kind of speeds up how you think and frees up the kinds of things that you say in ways that you may not have thought of in high school.”
She also emphasized the importance of not stressing about getting involved, especially for those who think the idea of performing in front of an audience sounds daunting.
“We’re looking for people who are real and can act like themselves and are comfortable with that," Ticoras said. "Relax: It's really the best thing you can do."
jd202409@ohiou.edu
