The Drama Nutz are crazy about improv.
The local improv comedy troupe have set themselves up for a busy Fall, with seven shows in five days during Arts Days and regular weekly shows at the NAAG Gallery (255 12C Street North) and Ric’s Grill.
Tonight (OCt. 2) they are performing their murder mystery “ Shower at Mount Olympus” at the NAAG Gallery. it begins at 7 p.m.
“We had seven shows in five days in three different cities,” said David Gabert, troupe general manager at his day job at Fort Whoop-Up.
They recently held auditions and added four new faces to their 12 member fold including two who made their debut at Ric’s Grill.
“ Two of them are alumni from the Loose Moose Theatre in Calgary. So they know the games and they’ve worked together before, which makes it easier,” he said.
“ We just sent a group up to Calgary for the Calgary Improv Festival where they performed at the ImproDepot as part of their local set.
“We learned some new games from them and they learned some of our games,” he said.
They also performed at Ric’s Grill on Wednesday, which is where they plan on having regular shows in addition to their regular Wednesday nights at the NAAG Gallery.
They have stepped up their schedule for practical reasons.
“We’ve got to pay rent at the NAAG where we’re based out of,” he said adding they rehearse regularly every Tuesday at the NAAG Gallery as well as perform there Wednesdays and at a special events like a dinner theatre they held this past Friday, Sept. 27.
“We have 12 cast members and several others who contribute when they can,” he said.
“We have three different shows we offer. The first is Uncensored Improv, which we’re calling Nutz Unshelled, which is like the Bring a Chair Improv. They are very short improv games like the kind on Whose Line is it Anyway. We’ve learned a few more games for it and a few we created ourselves,” he continued.
“ The other show we do is our murder mysteries. Our most popular one is about Greek Gods and Goddesses,” he continued.
They have one coming up on oct. 30 based on zombies.
“ The last one is our Flop or Funny shows. They are shows which anybody can put on. We’ve had an old time radio show, magic shows and stand -up comedy. We did War of the Worlds. It wasn’t funny, but a lot of people said that it made them jump a few times, so in that, we’ve succeeded,” he continued.
They have a stand up comedy show coming up Oct. 16 featuring former Lethbridge resident Mark McCue, Sam Benty and mentalist and new Drama Nutz member Jeff Newman.
“So far, I‘ve enjoyed the old time radio show the most. We put a lot of work into it making sure we had sound effects and things,” he said.
“It’s always a different show. It’s never the same show twice,” he emphasized.
“And they’re early. They begin at 7 p.m. And we’re always done by 9 p.m. So if there is another show at the Slice or something, people can go to it, or they can just go home early if they have to be up for school or work,” he said adding admission is to the shows is cheaper than going to a movie at a big theatre.
They often volunteer their time, skills and energy to help out charitable and community organizations as well as helping out in local schools. For something a little different they will be performing “Hysterical History” — history themed improv at the Galt Museum, Oct. 24
“We can’t afford to donate money, but we have services,” he said.
Other events they have in the works are hosting a comedy open mic on the second last Thursday of every month at Jimmy’s Pub and Brasserie and they are bringing back Tighty Whities— the clown show that won the Lethbridge One Act Play Festival this year. it will be Oct. 24-26 at the NAAG. They will also be performing superhero themed improv at Comic Con, Nov. 1-2.
“We would like to see the Lethbridge theatre community grow. And the best way to do that is to get out there and do it,” he said.
They also have a Halloween show planned for Oct. 30.