Mesa Legend - ARCHIVES - Vol. 39, Issue 7


Volume 39, Issue 7. Today is .

You are viewing
Volume 39, Issue 7
December 4, 2001

To return to the current issue please click here.

Bringing improv to Mesa
Coffee house hosts bimonthly act featuring ‘Off the Cuff’ performances

By Brenda Faires
Mesa Legend

Mesa Youtheatre presents Off the Cuff, an improvisational acting, dancing and music troupe that incorporates audience participation for the whole family.

Off the Cuff performs at Coffee Talk in Mesa the first and third Fridays of each month at 8 p.m.

The show is performed in an outdoor manor with colorful lighting and music that follows with the script of the show.

Off the Cuff includes 22 actors and performers providing free entertainment within the city of Mesa. Among them are three actors from MCC.

Priscella Todd has been performing with Off the Cuff for one year, while both Joel Cranson and Nathan Blaine are in their first few months.

"The best part about doing improvisational comedy is that I get to be the class clown and not get into trouble," Blaine said.

To prepare himself, Blaine watches comedy shows and critiques any life situation to turn it into an act for his show. "I try to create comedy out of everything," he said.

Shalynn Reynolds, director of Off the Cuff Improvisational Company and an instructor at the Mesa Arts Center, said the show is for the community.

"The show affects the community in such a wonderful way by not only providing free entertainment but keeping it clean for the entire family," Reynolds said.

Off the Cuff takes suggestions from the audience and at the end of each show they have an audience participation segment.

The audience then has a chance to come up on stage and join in the improvisation.

"We try very hard to keep our shows family oriented so the whole family can join in the fun," Cranson said.

This is Cranson’s first season with Off the Cuff but he has been acting and directing shows for 3 years.

"We meet a couple hours before show time to physically and vocally prepare ourselves," he said.

Todd said she has made several memorable friendships through Off the Cuff.