Originally Posted Apr 19, 2006 – 5:23P [Site News]
Well, I have just uploaded a whole new article about urban improv across the country…and it is probably the funniest subject matter ever. Please do check out all of the videos, I assure you your life is not complete otherwise.

Labels: improv, urban improv, video

Originally Posted Apr 18, 2006
Well, we may have only performed one urban improv event (or stunt, or prank, or goon, whatever flavor you choose,) but there are a number of other schools across the country that have groups similar to ours, as well as a number of independent groups, with varying types of performances. Today, I’ll cover two particularly excellent such groups.

My first example for the day is the UMPatriots, a group at the University of Michigan that has performed three extremely well organized and thought-out stunts:
-“Valentine Ninjas”QT7, the least organized, but most thoroughly cast stunt, consists of a bunch of ninjas busting in on a lecture, throwing chocolates like ninja stars, grappling with each other, screaming, and running out. This one is great spare the utter confusion. I personally enjoy the idea of being able to give the audience something to take away from the experience…even if they will probably eat that something on their way out the door.
-“Superman”QT7 is the simplest, but perhaps the most classic of all of the UMPatriots’ stunts. A student’s cell phone goes off in the front row during class, and he answers it! I have to say, that act alone is dangerous enough. People around here tend to get upset with people whose phones go off during lecture, so answering it would attract shouts of anger and a general air of hatred, in my imagination. Yet, they avoid this issue, when the student yells out “What? I’ll be right there!” and proceeds to rip off his clothes, revealing a Superman uniform underneath…watch this one for the kicker ending.
-“Pac Man”QT7, a video you may have already seen in some format, is one that will go down forever in the memory of urban improvers everywhere as a supreme classic. This stunt features Pac Man running with screams of terror from the red ghost, Blinky, through a library study area and a large computer terminal atrium. This video circulated for a year online before its creators realized their own fame. This is the new version of the video…one viewing will change the meaning of “wakawakawakawaka” forever.

Next comes the legendary New York group Prangstgrüp. These folks, though they are affiliated with the controversial MoveOn.org, present the best-organized, best produced in goons I’ve ever seen. While most of the pranks these guys pull are either devilishly short (see “Rollerblading”) or not actually improv or pranks at all (for simple comedy, in fact, see “Voyeurism,”) what public pranks they perform are exquisitely conceived. Unlike much of the urban improv I personally am used to, these pranks are written, choreographed, and delivered with a whiplash efficiency I can hardly believe. The possible exception to this statement is “Tai Chi”, which is basically just creepy. The two drawbacks of Prangstgrüp are sexual undertones in most of their work and the occasional eccentricity (see “Trucks.”)
-Start off your Prangstgrüp experience with the traditional “Mega Ads.” This one falls into the category of urban improv more comfortably than the rest of their material, so it’s a good place to start.
-“Subway Lectures,” though longer than it should be, is pure genius. Take a class…on the go! Really, if you’re curious, just watch it. Entertaining, and educational!
-Looking for a hip event to attend? Good luck getting into the “Silent Dance Party.” Passerby are baffled by this exclusive outdoor club.
-The two public-prank hits here are undoubtedly “Library Musical” and “Lecture Musical.” If you watch no other videos that I’ve linked to, watch these. Can you imagine studying for an exam in the library, or furiously scribbling notes about special frames of reference when suddenly someone in the room stands up and starts singing about it? Dream no more! I envy their talent, planning, and guts.
-Speaking of guts, you should check out “Shit-Talker,” a series of conversations between people squatting on the toilet. Though this guy asks perfectly reasonable questions, he asks them in the strangest of places…worth a look.

We all can look up to these folks. Comedy at its finest…

Labels: classroom musicals, improv, lecture, michigan, ninjas, pac man, prangstgrup, rollerblading, subway, superman, tai chi, urban improv