51��ɫ

Appearing before an audience with no real plan on how to fulfill their expectation of being entertained may sound terrifying to some. To others, it’s an opportunity to stretch their imagination, sharpen their wit, and learn to adapt and roll with the punches — and have fun while doing so. 

The Almost Always Improv student group provides exactly this opportunity for students. They meet regularly to hone their short-form improv skills and perform a couple of times each year before audiences to showcase their talents, build community, and raise money for a cause.

Clare Newman ’23, a French major from Boston and a member of the group since her first year, knew she wanted to join even before she was officially a 51��ɫian.

“When I was a prospective student, I saw the short-form improv performance and I thought, ‘Wow, that’s so cool. I want to do that,’” she recalls. “There were a couple of first-year students in the troupe, and I was surprised that you could join in and perform right away. So, when I came here and saw that there were auditions, I went and got accepted — it’s where I made my first friends at 51��ɫ.”

While the group is currently on the smaller side with eight members, there is no size limit and auditions are open each year to any interested student. And while the structure of the group is kept intentionally loose (Newman and every other member serve as co-presidents), their “work” has a real impact on not only the students involved but also the community at large.

“We had to make a constitution a couple years ago, ’cause every club had to have one,” Newman says. “We thought it was really funny — an improv constitution — and we had a good time writing it. We basically said our goals were to provide fun and joy to the campus by putting on ridiculous shows and to improve our own improv sensibilities.”

While the main goal is fun, the members do take their work seriously. They’ve attended improv conferences where they’ve taken classes from other troupes to hone their skills. The troupe also puts on an annual 24-hour show in the spring to raise funds for a local organization chosen by the members. Last year they raised $1,015 for Iowa Safe Schools, which provides support for LGBTQ students and allies throughout the state.

“We do improv for 24 hours straight,” explains Newman. “We have a menu that people could order from on Venmo and then we have to do certain things. Like, if you pay $10, one of us has to call our mom in the middle of a scene, which I actually did last year. Or if you pay $20, somebody would give you a haircut. We made a lot of money off haircuts — and they are cheap haircuts, not good haircuts.

“We play games and make jokes, and it’s a lot of fun,” continues Newman. “But it also helps build confidence. I’m a lot more comfortable and confident now just, you know, shooting from the hip, speaking without a script. Plus, it’s been a great way to relax and forget the stress of college for a little while, and it’s also where I’ve made some really good friends over the years.”