Game show features improv

The College Theatre Association will open the fall semester with their event, Theatre Sports, on Sept. 27 and 28 in the Black Box Studio Theatre in Myers Fine Arts Building.

Theatre Sports is an improvisational team-based game show that involves audience participation through a variety of games.

“It’s just a chance for people to enjoy some theater and see what Plattsburgh has to offer,” said Dana McLaughlin, technical director for the CTA.

Theatre Sports consists of four teams that start the competition by drawing games out of a hat. McLaughlin said that everything is completely random, and no two shows are the same.

“We constantly cycle through our games, and we try to come up with new ones as well.”

McLaughlin stresses that every audience is different, and actors have to adapt to different situations.

“People just think that you have to [be] able to act, sing and dance to be in theatre,” he said.

McLaughlin said that is not the case. He believes Theatre Sports is a great way to get people interested in acting and performing.

“Theatre Sports is where we get a lot of our members. It’s really important for us because it’s important to show people who we are,” he said.

McLaughlin suggests that incoming freshmen and anyone new to Plattsburgh State should come.

“They’re in a transient period,” she said. “These two nights are a great way to sit down, forget everything and just laugh.”
McLaughlin said the club’s membership has been slowly dwindling over the years. He said that Theatre Sports leaves a good first impression of the club and could spark potential members.

“We used to have an office where people could come in,” he said. “We don’t have that anymore, so these events are crucial.”
Despite that small setback, the club is branching out and doing more to get the word out to people on campus.

Tyyani Torres, who is in her second year as CTA president, said she wants to be the best president she can be for the members. Her duties include keeping up with scheduling rehearsal spaces and being the “middle guy” between the club and the theatre department.

“I’d like to leave the CTA in a good position for next year,” she said.

Like McLaughlin, Torres sees potential in Theatre Sports.

“Anyone can join. It is such a laid back show that you can’t help but have a fun time,” Torres said. “Since it’s one of our calmer shows, we usually see an increase in our membership, which is a great way to start off the year.”

The CTA will put on future events such as a cabaret where people can come and perform.

Another event scheduled for next semester is “Student Night of One Acts,” which brings in people who can write and people who just want to perform a short scene, said Vice President of the CTA Anthony Watkins.

Watkins said the club tries to do at least one event per semester. “Theatre Sports is really laid back,” he said. “The best thing to do is to come to an event and see if you like the vibe.”

He said the club’s goal is to get more new members after many of their previous members graduated last semester.
“A lot of the new members are freshman, and that’s great,” he said.

Watkins said the CTA is a more personal club than most.

“If you join CTA, you’ll know everyone really well after one week,” he said. “We’re all weird [in our own way], and that’s the best thing — there’s no judgment in the CTA.”

The club is full of non-theater majors. Watkins believes the diversity is what makes the club so great.
“We are trying to get everyone involved and just to have fun,” Watkins said.

Torres agreed.

“Having a successful first event is always relieving,” Torres said. “It prepares us for our following events which are much more complex.”

Email David Luces at david.luces@cardinalpointsonline.com.