Improv Jam 16 builds skills beyond the stage

PHOTO BY MADISON KASPER
The cast of Improv Jam exits the stage after its final bow on Jan. 23.

This year’s Improv Jam went beyond the performance with a pre-show fun fair and two post-show workshops. This Is Improv, an improv company founded by NSU alumnae Angelica and Alexandra Zadak, hosted an improv masterclass on Jan. 23, and performers from The Second City led “Employed: Using Improv Skills in Job Interviews,” on Jan. 31.

Both workshops were organized in partnership with the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center and Gustavo Padrino, general manager of Miniaci, who hopes every show will include an educational component for the students.

Alexandra Zadak said that these additional workshops are designed to extend the impact of Improv Jam beyond a single night.

“Sometimes as humans, we lack communication, especially in the age of technology,” Alexandra Zadak said. “So we have been using improv for anyone in the tech industry or anything like that [to show] how to communicate and how to better understand the world.”

This Is Improv has collaborated with the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts and Stage 2 Productions, NSU’s student-run production company, to present Improv Jam since 2018, when Alexandra Zadak graduated from NSU. She said their focus is on preparing the students for the unpredictable performance.

“We actually do intense rehearsals, which most people don’t expect for improv,” she said. “But we need to build connections between everyone because improv is a very trust-heavy art form.”

Ashley Goehmann, senior communication major and student director of Improv Jam 16, has participated in Improv Jam for three years. She said that the trust between cast members is one of the most important parts of the show.

“The biggest thing we have to do to prepare for Improv Jam is to build that connection between the cast since you have to trust one another throughout [the show],” Goehmann said. “We have a lot of long rehearsals, so we can build that connection.”

She said that participating in Improv Jam has changed how she approaches life outside of theater.

“It makes me more confident and able to kind of communicate with people and connect with people,” Goehmann said.

Angelica Zadak, co-founder of This Is Improv, said that improv should be seen as a skill that applies to everyday life beyond theater.

“Improv is hugely important because it’s what we do all the time, every day,” Angelica Zadak said. “We are constantly living without a script.”

The Davie-Cooper City Chamber of Commerce also supported Improv Jam 16.

“The Chamber always enjoys connecting and supporting NSU students, and it also gives the opportunity to engage in the arts in Davie,” said Aimee Zadak, COO of the Davie-Cooper City Chamber of Commerce.