North Central News

Senior Alex Moerer directs sketch comedy “Improv: On Ice!” May 4-7

Apr 24, 2017

North Central College presents “Improv: On Ice!,” an improvisational sketch comedy that looks into honest relationships of the show’s characters.  

Five performances will be staged at 7:30 p.m. May 4-6 and at 2 p.m. May 6-7 in the College’s Madden Theatre at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave. Tickets are $5/adults and $3/students and senior citizens; call 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.

Directed by senior Alex Moerer, the show is a mix of improvisation and sketches that hails from long form improv. Within the format of long form improv, students can invent deep and meaningful scenes.

“It is a wild, chaotic show. We want the audience to feel like they are always on their toes, and they are not sure what is going to happen next,” says Moerer. “We have a clear script we’re following, with improvised scenes planned throughout that will be different for each performance.”

The relationships among the characters will be brought to life in the span of 15 scenes. Moerer says the play is “more than zany one-liners,” but a play with characters the audience will be able to watch develop and grow as the show unfolds.

This play is part of North Central’s Student Directed Series. Members of the theatre faculty invite students to submit a proposal to direct their own theatrical productions and only the best are chosen. Moerer’s is one of three selected for the year.

[photo below: Rachel Mecca Davis ’19, Jack Morsovillo ’17]

The cast for “Improv: On Ice!” is (name, year, major, town):
Emily Barham of Darien, a junior majoring in speech communication
Natalie Bernier of Racine, Wis., a junior majoring in business management
Rachel Mecca Davis of Westmont, a sophomore majoring in broadcast communication
Jake Elkins of Aurora, a freshman majoring in musical theatre
Norah Flaherty of Oswego, a sophomore majoring in theatre and organizational communication
Jack Morsovillo of Franklin Park, a senior majoring in theatre

The crew is (role, name, town, year, major):
Director: Alex Moerer (photo, below) of Waverly, Iowa, a senior majoring in theatre and broadcast communication
Stage manager: Elizabeth Miller of Godfrey, Ill., a sophomore majoring in theatre and theatrical design and technology
Lighting director: Ruby Lowe of Aurora, a junior, majoring in theatrical design and technology
Sound designer: Andrew Stratton of DeKalb, a senior majoring in biology
Publicity: Danielle J. Wohead of Lemont, a junior majoring in interactive media studies-graphic arts

North Central College offers majors in theatre, musical theatre, theatrical design and technology, and a minor in dance. Students of all majors can participate in musical and nonmusical performances, actor showcases and one-act plays and performances in the College’s four theatre venues. Full-time professors and active professionals who are artist-teachers serve as faculty.