July 22
Ball State University's improvisational comedy troupe,Absolunacy, will perform in New York City at the Upright CitizensBrigade's sixth annual Del Close Marathon at 10:30 a.m. on July31.
The troupe earned a half-hour time slot in the round-the-clockmarathon featuring other troupes from Boston, Chicago, Houston, LosAngeles, New York, North Carolina, St. Louis, and Salt Lake City.More than100 troupes will perform this year.
Absolunacy will perform alongside comedians from televisionshows including VH1's "Best Week Ever," Comedy Central's"Crossballs," "Mad T.V." and "The Daily Show,"as well as "LateNight" and "Saturday Night Live."
The Upright Citizen Brigade organizes the marathon every year inhonor of the late Del Close, one of the founding fathers oflong-form improv comedy.
The Upright Citizens Brigade Web site says Close's styleinfluenced comedians Bill Murray, Mike Myers, John Belushi, ChrisFarley, and Tina Fey.
Members of Absolunacy heard about the marathon on a trip to NewYork City over Spring Break last year. The students created anaudition video of past shows and submitted it to a review comittee.More than 180 groups entered the competition, and Absolunacy wasamong those selected.
Absolunacy members said they were excited about performing atthe same time as many of their mentors.
"Not only to perform myself, but to see these people I've lookedup to perform and watch others," Absolunacy member Wes Haney said,"It's going to be a great learning experience.
"Ever since I saw the 'Upright Citizens Brigade' T.V. show inhigh school, I've admired them, " Jared Jefferies, a first-yearAbsolunacy member, said.
Ten of Absolunacy's cast members will carry the troupe's uniquestyle to New York City.
"Everyone in the group is a lot more devoted than other collegecomedy groups and yet they've had almost no professional training,"Jefferies said. "I think Absolunacy is more original because ofbeing in Muncie and being isolated from the rest of the improvcommunity."
Haney said long-form improvisational comedy is a theme-based,free-flowing kind of improvisation that feeds off the othermembers.
"Improv is a group-oriented thing," Jefferies said. "You areonly as good as the people you're working with. If you make a badchoice some one can save you."
"When something snaps and you find yourself in a rhythm withsomeone, it's kind of like everyone has a group mind and we're allin tune with what everyone is thinking or what they're about tosay," Jefferies said.
Some Absolunacy troupe members said their group effort hasbrought them more than just success in entertainment.
"I've met some great people and built some great friendshipsaccomplishing things with them," Haney said. "It makes it a loteasier to have each other's backs and know they support you.
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