The importance of improv on campus

The value in performing with USD’s improv club 

HALEY JACOBS / ASST. FEATURE EDITOR / THE USD VISTA

After a three-semester hiatus, the USD Improv (improvisation) Club’s return to campus has failed to experience the same student interest and attendance as pre-pandemic times. The club is currently on pause due to low member turnout, but expectations are higher for next semester with plans for increased promotion and anticipation of stronger attendance. For many, the club brings a unique joy and creativity to campus. 

This semester, students will be missing out on the frequent shows put on by the club. Members put their acting and quick-thinking skills to the test by giving impromptu performances based on audience suggestions. The interactive shows are a highlight of being on the team, and the inclusion of the audience makes for a memorable night all around. 

However, the advantages of doing improv include more than just the fun performances.

Emi Doyle, current USD senior and Co-President of the club, shared her thoughts on the extensive benefits   of doing  improv. 

“I think improv is super useful in so many aspects of life. Whether you need to think quickly on your feet in an interview, give an impromptu speech, or come up with clever ways to talk to new friends, being able to think creatively and quickly is super beneficial,” Doyle said. “Also, because we meet during dead hours, it’s a good way for students to have a nice break in-between classes. I know when I’m having a stressful day, being able to let loose and laugh for a bit in the middle of my day is a great stress reliever.” 

Not only does improv help strengthen communication skills and provide students with a break from academic stresses, but it also serves as a confidence booster. Practicing impromptu performing requires learning to trust your mind and body. 

Jason Lowry, USD senior and the other Co-President of the club, shared how improv grew his confidence.

“I think improv has really helped me with being comfortable in my own body. I think that’s the main thing,” Lowry said. “It helps you let yourself go when in front of a crowd and teaches you how to relax in those situations. So it’s been very beneficial for me in that regard.”

Although improv is important, it is understandable why the club’s turnout declined since the return to campus. Students are still easing back into the return of constant social interaction, and the extraversion and vulnerability demanded by improv may be too much too soon. 

Jacob Bruce, of USD’s Department of Theatre, is an experienced improviser and previous faculty advisor for the club. He expressed his thoughts on the club’s low attendance and how that is related to the pandemic. 

“I think that once we get back into the groove of USD, people are going to be like ‘well, what else we got?’ Because right now, everyone’s doing the bare minimum, and they’re still completely overwhelmed,” Bruce said. “People first need to feel like humans again, become humans again, and become college students again, and I get why they’re not right now.” 

Another aspect of low turnout is nervousness and the fear of trying something outside of one’s comfort zone. Many students are hesitant to try a rather vulnerable and on-the-spot activity. However, the mission of the club is that members can participate or watch. It’s encouraged for every member to move at their own speed without any pressure or judgement. 

Bruce offered his perspective on overcoming nervousness based on his experience with improv. 

“In improv, the first and most important goal is to take care of your teammates,” Bruce said. “If you’re too busy taking care of your partner and your partner is too busy taking care of you, then no one is going to have time to feel afraid or self-conscious.”

With students constantly facing such high academic pressures, it is important to have clubs on campus that promote and inspire creativity. Once students overcome the post-quarantine anxieties and first-time nerves of performing, the improv club can enjoy its same success from pre-pandemic life again. Now more than ever,  an improv club on campus should encourage students to fit more fun into their schedules and learn to take themselves a little less seriously.