Improv Comedy Theater – Hollywood

The Members of RSTC (From top left): Dan Jablons, Jim Meskimen, Rachel Hutcheson, Bob Hutcheson, Tamra Meskimen Alexandria Nassikas, Lori Jablons, Tait Ruppert

Our new show starts Oct. 1st! For details, click here.

Like most people, you've probably heard about Improvisational theatre, gone to an Improv show, or seen Whose Line Is It Anyway? on TV.  People love Improv, and it is becoming more popular than ever.  But not all Improv is created equal.  Far from it. We are The Really Spontaneous Theatre Company, and our shows are like no other - we create totally Improvised one-act plays that will make you rethink any idea you ever had about what Improv can deliver. We have been around.  We honed our skills in New York for ten years before coming west to launch our all-new show.  Our members are seasoned performers, one of whom is well-known to fans of the Whose Line show.  We have developed a style of Improv that delivers a high-quality evening of hilarity, theatricality and invention that is unmatched.  In fact, we may be the best Improv group ever.  And we want you to know about us because we want to make you laugh, and help you discover something new, something really hilarious, really enjoyable, really... spontaneous. We know once you see The Really Spontaneous Theatre Company, you won't think of Improv (or theatre for that matter) in the same way ever again.

Pick of the week Terry Morgan The Really Spontaneous Theatre Company lives up to its name. Utilizing only a title or first line suggested by the audience, the group creates a one-act play. Under the auspices of executive director Tamra Meskimen and director Tait Ruppert, the performance I saw was not only confident and funny but subtle as well. "Should've Turned Left" followed the travails of newly dead Patrick (Jim Meskimen), arguing his case before the Big Guy (Dan Jablons) to be returned to the living and, in the process, discovering what soul-searching really means. Meskimen was quite effective as a man suddenly forced to justify his life, with all the anger, self-doubt and humor that entails. The mordantly hilarious Jablons, as the high-level afterlife exec who finds the whole judgment process very entertaining, was the most consistently amusing performer in all three pieces on the bill. "It's a Boy" concerned two housebound daughters of a very protective Mafia boss, one of whom is receiving an unexpected romantic visitor. This was the strongest of the plays, with Jablons again excellent as the put-upon mobster and Ruppert outstanding as the surprised suitor who ultimately supplies a surprise of his own and has the evening's single best moment. The last piece was an effective demonstration of the commedia dell'arte style, a display of how versatile and smart this company is.

Backstage West/Dramalogue The Really Spontaneous Theatre Company Reviewed By Dany Margolies, October 18, 2001     Directors? They don't need no stinkin'directors. When this troupe improvises one-act plays the action builds, the characters develop, and the scenes block themselves naturally and interestingly. The Really Spontaneous Theatre Company pairs two such one-acts with other improv games for a full evening of intelligent storytelling, jovial but not rowdy humor, and some lessons in theatre magic.     On a stage set with simple blond-wood chairs and matching drop-leaf table, the actors are dressed uniformly in colored shirts, the women in floor-length skirts. Actor and troupe director Tait Ruppert takes audience suggestions for the title of the first one-act. On the evening reviewed, Tamra Meskimen selected four of her fellow company members, silently positioned them onstage, suggested initial activities to them through mime, and brought the lights up on "The Streamlined Actor," which developed into a piece about television executives (Jim Meskimen), managers (Tamra Meskimen), and computer-generated actors (Ruppert). The improvisers give one another their names ("Oh, yes, you're Debra") and identities ("I can't help notice these photos on the walls; you've worked with the best of them"). The Hollywood humor tickled the largely industry audience ("This actor is an android--a machine that looks and acts like a human being." "He's a TV newscaster?"). Jim Meskimen revealed strong miming abilities, pretending to fill a cup with water from an imaginary cooler or toying with nonexistent items on his desk.     The second one-act is based on an opening line suggested by the audience, this night "The bulimic hand organist had a hankering for pizza." Selected by Jim Meskimen and placed onstage for an initial tableau, Ruppert became an English gentleman and award-winning poet, Bob Sherer became a nervous servant, and Alexandria Nassikas became an academic from Oxford sent down to seek return of the award. It's more than phony upper-crust English accents that set the scene here: The actors held themselves and walked with the class of their characters, perfectly mimed polishing weighty silver and writing with quill and ink, and used the language of the place and era, their expressions including "Begin your ablutions, Sir," and "Rouse yourself."     Other improvised scenes include "Books, Books, Books," a television show featuring author interviews based on a book title suggested by the audience. As the author, Ruppert played an appropriately stiff, deeply sighing, dishonorably discharged CIA agent, interviewed by a cheery, conversational Jim Meskimen. A foreign film is improvised by Tamra Meskimen and Ruppert, this night the Italian "Dress for Success," simultaneously translated by Rachel Hutcheson and Sherer. The evening concludes with a song improvised by the troupe (which also includes Bob Hutcheson and Dan Jablons) in tribute to the audiences' favorite thing about the world.     It's not that we can't picture these performers honing their skills between performances. It's just that it looks so, well, spontaneous.     The Really Spontaneous Theatre Company, Sundays at 7 p.m. at The Third Stage, 2811 West Magnolia in Burbank through November 18th. Tickets at the door, $15. Visa/Mastercard. Call for information and reservations, (323) 969-4991. Group rates available.

The Glendale News Press Really Spontaneous Theatre thrives on its Improvisation By David Rambo, Enjoy! "REALLY SPONTANEOUS THEATRE COMPANY -- It's called Improvisational theater -- completely made up on the spur of the moment by actors in front of an audience with no rehearsal, nothing planned. It's also called leaping into thin air without a net.     "The Really Spontaneous Theatre Company, in the midst of an extended run at the Third Stage in Burbank, is a troupe of nine actors who have all worked together in various ensembles for years. As such, there is a shorthand between them when, prompted by suggestions from the audience, they deftly create one-act plays “really spontaneously.”     "In most Improv comedy, a thin premise is machine-gunned with topical references, puns and cartoon characterizations, then ended quickly.     "Not so with this group. These strong, well-trained actors have solid acting credits in a variety of genres. Their Improv work is intelligent, subtle, never manic, never “wild and crazy,” and, as a result, is frequently very funny.     "Most thankfully, this gang doesn't rely on gross-out humor or unmotivated profanity for cheap and easy laughs. No, these guys are smart; they get their cheap and easy laughs in more sophisticated ways... don't worry, there's enough creativity and daring on the stage to send everyone home having laughed solidly for a good portion of the evening.     "The host of the evening is the troupe's dashing artistic director, Tait Ruppert, whose intelligence and energy set the standard for the rest of the group. Equally strong are Jim Meskimen, Tamra Meskimen and Dan Jablons.     "Not everyone enjoys Improv. Every performance is a risk-filled experience for both actors and audience.     "But like all risk-taking, once begun, it's exhilarating to conclude it all safely.     "If you like Improv, The Really Spontaneous Theatre Company is worth checking out. Chances are you'll be surprised and entertained. It's the best live comedy deal in town."