CIA is lurking around at Biddeford City Theater (Printed Feb. 8, 2008)
By Stephanie Grinnell
Staff Writer
They are television station managers, office workers, medical technicians, writers and chefs by day, but during evening practices once a week they are turned into members of the CIA. City Theater’s Executive Producer Steve Burnette leads the nine members of the Comedy Improv Alliance, or CIA, a comedy troupe based at City Theater.
Burnette said the idea for CIA sprung from his love of comedy and the need to fill in the spaces between other shows at the theater without interfering with the sets being built.
“It’s one of the bravest types of entertainment,” he said. “Actors have to be willing to essentially stand there naked.”
With improvisation, sometimes there are scenes that don’t work at all, Burnette said. The actors in the scenes always have to be prepared to accept that an audience won’t love every scene they improvise, he said. Making things more difficult is the fact that the CIA has begun to develop a solid fan base of about 100 people, who attended nearly every show last year.
Improvisation is also interactive with the audience because the actors ask the audience for situations and act them out. Burnette said the CIA can be compared to the television show “Whose Line is it Anyway?”
Burnette said the show is recommended for “emotional ages 16 and up” because the audience dictates the subject matter and situations.
Burnette is no stranger to the stage, he studied at Chicago’s famed Second City Theater, where a number of comedians began their careers.
Most of the cast has worked together for a while but Burnette said they recently auditioned another cast member and found Rachel Flehinger, of Portland, who said being a member of the CIA is “totally fun.”
“It’s like playing, it’s like recess,” she said.
Flehinger said she is not sure what to expect but said she is looking forward to her first upcoming performance Feb. 16.
A number of stand up comedians are part of the CIA, including Dennis Hunt of Saco who has been performing improvisation for nearly 10 years with different groups in Portland.
“With improv, all you need is space, no lights, no paper and pen,” Hunt said. “The greatest thing about this is I don’t think about anything…ever.”
Kennebunk resident Kristen Martin has been performing with Burnette since 2002.
“I decided to do this a long time ago,” said Martin, adding the practices are “two and a half hours of free therapy.”
Kate Davis of Biddeford said the CIA has helped her with other aspects of theater and taught her to think on her feet. She said the group is comfortable with each other, which she said is good because some scenes can involve a lot of physical interaction with each other.
Tom Walsh, who lives in Portland, said he had been performing with other groups when he heard about casting for CIA.
“My mom called me,” said Walsh, adding he enjoys the group “very much.”
“It’s an excellent release,” he said.
Dan Bernard of Portland concurred. He said he used to bring up personal problems during improvisation, but said during the past 10 years he has learned a new way of thinking instead.
“It becomes a mental habit of free thinking,” said Bernard. “If you over-think, it’s not funny.”
Bernard said he enjoys performing in City Theater and with current members of CIA. He praised Burnette’s directing style as well.
“To me, it all strings together,” Bernard said.
Burnette said patrons of the CIA can expect the show to be a little different this year. He said the group plans to create games and perform some sketch comedy based on scenes from past shows.
“It’s another form of entertainment for people,” he said.
Also new this year, the CIA has a corporate sponsor, Blow Brothers.
Last year, the shows were based on the closest holiday and included “School Dazed and Confoozed,” which was performed at the University of New England, “Easter Funny is Coming to Town,” “Spay Misty for Me,” a fundraiser for the Animal Welfare Society and the Christmas special “Chet’s Nuts for Boasting near an Open Fire.”
The upcoming Valentine’s Day show is titled “I have my Heart on you” and will be performed Feb. 16 at 8:08 p.m. in City Theater. Tickets to the show are $10 and are available at the door. For more information, contact City Theater at 282-0849 or visit www.citytheater.org.
Contact Stephanie Grinnell by calling 282-4337 ext. 213 or email news@inthecourier.com.
Staff Writer
They are television station managers, office workers, medical technicians, writers and chefs by day, but during evening practices once a week they are turned into members of the CIA. City Theater’s Executive Producer Steve Burnette leads the nine members of the Comedy Improv Alliance, or CIA, a comedy troupe based at City Theater.
Burnette said the idea for CIA sprung from his love of comedy and the need to fill in the spaces between other shows at the theater without interfering with the sets being built.
“It’s one of the bravest types of entertainment,” he said. “Actors have to be willing to essentially stand there naked.”
With improvisation, sometimes there are scenes that don’t work at all, Burnette said. The actors in the scenes always have to be prepared to accept that an audience won’t love every scene they improvise, he said. Making things more difficult is the fact that the CIA has begun to develop a solid fan base of about 100 people, who attended nearly every show last year.
Improvisation is also interactive with the audience because the actors ask the audience for situations and act them out. Burnette said the CIA can be compared to the television show “Whose Line is it Anyway?”
Burnette said the show is recommended for “emotional ages 16 and up” because the audience dictates the subject matter and situations.
Burnette is no stranger to the stage, he studied at Chicago’s famed Second City Theater, where a number of comedians began their careers.
Most of the cast has worked together for a while but Burnette said they recently auditioned another cast member and found Rachel Flehinger, of Portland, who said being a member of the CIA is “totally fun.”
“It’s like playing, it’s like recess,” she said.
Flehinger said she is not sure what to expect but said she is looking forward to her first upcoming performance Feb. 16.
A number of stand up comedians are part of the CIA, including Dennis Hunt of Saco who has been performing improvisation for nearly 10 years with different groups in Portland.
“With improv, all you need is space, no lights, no paper and pen,” Hunt said. “The greatest thing about this is I don’t think about anything…ever.”
Kennebunk resident Kristen Martin has been performing with Burnette since 2002.
“I decided to do this a long time ago,” said Martin, adding the practices are “two and a half hours of free therapy.”
Kate Davis of Biddeford said the CIA has helped her with other aspects of theater and taught her to think on her feet. She said the group is comfortable with each other, which she said is good because some scenes can involve a lot of physical interaction with each other.
Tom Walsh, who lives in Portland, said he had been performing with other groups when he heard about casting for CIA.
“My mom called me,” said Walsh, adding he enjoys the group “very much.”
“It’s an excellent release,” he said.
Dan Bernard of Portland concurred. He said he used to bring up personal problems during improvisation, but said during the past 10 years he has learned a new way of thinking instead.
“It becomes a mental habit of free thinking,” said Bernard. “If you over-think, it’s not funny.”
Bernard said he enjoys performing in City Theater and with current members of CIA. He praised Burnette’s directing style as well.
“To me, it all strings together,” Bernard said.
Burnette said patrons of the CIA can expect the show to be a little different this year. He said the group plans to create games and perform some sketch comedy based on scenes from past shows.
“It’s another form of entertainment for people,” he said.
Also new this year, the CIA has a corporate sponsor, Blow Brothers.
Last year, the shows were based on the closest holiday and included “School Dazed and Confoozed,” which was performed at the University of New England, “Easter Funny is Coming to Town,” “Spay Misty for Me,” a fundraiser for the Animal Welfare Society and the Christmas special “Chet’s Nuts for Boasting near an Open Fire.”
The upcoming Valentine’s Day show is titled “I have my Heart on you” and will be performed Feb. 16 at 8:08 p.m. in City Theater. Tickets to the show are $10 and are available at the door. For more information, contact City Theater at 282-0849 or visit www.citytheater.org.
Contact Stephanie Grinnell by calling 282-4337 ext. 213 or email news@inthecourier.com.
Comments