ChristmasPerilsShow

The Christmas Perils

(or All I want for Christmas is a Silent Night...)

Synopsis

Christmas-themed improv comedy show

Overview

Hosted (non-directed short-form improv with increased emphasis on audience participation (anecdotes, etc.) and organic scenework, with a few holiday-themed games to fall back on.

N.B.: This shouldn't end up being a Harold, though I'm still searching for a underlying hook beyond just the holiday theme.

Structure

Host introduces show, warms up audience, introduces players.

All-play to warm up players (Christmas-themed Stringing the Pearls)

Every few scenes, have a player introduce themselves to the audience and give a short personal monologue on Christmas (a memory, a rant, etc.) Have players rotate in as hosts to take call-outs, start scenes.

Call-outs

Get audience member names - make list & check it twice:

• What stresses the audience during the holidays?
• Best Christmas presents you ever gave? Got?
• Christmas at your (odd) job

Games / Setups

• Family Dinner but with job at Christmastime
• Rashomon Christmas morning, dinner, job
• Naive Game - Guess the three gifts (to Christ?)
• Scenes from a Boardgame - Get callout for favorite boardgame (like Monopoly) and we see the relationship between the players as pawns (game pieces.)

Scenework

• Use elements of Impressionistic Horror with a real audience event

  • Christmas at your job
• Use Story Symphony (Fade In/Fade Out?) about Christmas to generate material organically.
• Freeplay

High-energy or high-drama closer: Frankincense and Murder?

Use set list sparingly to get show started, try to focus on audience suggestions, and get personal anecdotes and gobs of participation.

Logistics

• Cast

  • 8 players (6-10)

• Crew

  • 1 lighting
  • 1 box
  • 1 door
  • 1 musical improvisor or audio

Arrange in writing beforehand:

• Company provides FOH (box & door) and BOH personnel (sound, music, lights)
• Door split w/no surcharge on tickets (by providing FOH personnel)

• Pricing

  • $7 (full-price)
  • $5 w/non-perishable food item for Capitol Area Food Bank or equiv.

Goals

• Performance

  • Perform more organic material
  • Test a new format

• Social

  • Catharsis - relieve audience stress caused or exacerbated by the holidays
  • Philanthropy - encourage meaningful contribution to the community
  • Promotion - promote improv, the troupe/cast, the venue