Unscripted comedy on the rise in Vegas, performers say

Lewayne Bu-De McQueen, aka "Buddy," stood inside the Baobab Stage Theatre at Town Square Las Vegas for a Monday improv drop-in class. Even though he's been doing improv for five years, he said he never stops learning.

"I do improv because it's fun," he said. "Improv is three quantum elements: comedy, music and acting in the moment. There are more reasons to keep studying than to stop."

Paul Mattingly, improviser and instructor, side-coached the drop-in class at the 6587 Las Vegas Blvd. South theater, and he agreed.

"Improv is my drug of choice," said the 22-year improv veteran. "It's kind of addicting when you get into it. It opens up so many different avenues that you can explore."

Improvisational comedy is not scripted and can be short-form or long-form.

"You can't preplan anything," said Darren Pitura, founder and instructor at Vegas Theatre Hub, 9101 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 105-K35. "The only thing you can do is stay in the moment."

Pitura, 41, has been an improviser since he was 10. He said he started Vegas Theatre Hub this year as a way to bring entertainers across the valley together. His theater has classes starting every month.

Improv requires actors to listen carefully to their partners on stage and agree to what they said with a "Yes, and" attitude, he said.

That means improvisers shouldn't deny their partners' reality and instead add to the scene by agreeing to what their partner has put out there, Pitura said.

"When you study improv, you're studying life," he said. "You're studying how people communicate with each other."

Improv comedy is ensemble-based, said Natalie Shipman, instructor at Vegas Theatre Hub. She's been an improviser for 11 years and has trained with The Second City in Chicago, ComedySportz and iO Chicago.

"It's important that people trust each other and know each other well," she said.

Mattingly said being an improviser requires an actor to connect with his on-stage partner by making eye contact. Doing so has its benefits, he said.

"(Improv) promotes stronger and easier connections with people, honest and direct communication," Mattingly said. "And it promotes stronger listening."

Mattingly is in several troupes that perform regularly in Las Vegas, and he runs a festival in October, where performers from across the country can play, called Improv Goblet.

With Las Vegas being one of the entertainment capitals of the world, it's no wonder why you can find an improv show almost every night, Pitura said.

When it comes to improv comedy, Las Vegans have almost too many choices.

Monday nights are all about Improv Kingdom at the Baobab Stage Theatre, Mattingly said. He teaches the drop-in class and performs with "the royal subjects of the Improv Kingdom" at 8 p.m.

On Wednesdays, McQueen hosts a drop-in class at 6:30 p.m. at the Sci-Fi Theater, 5077 Arville St. A show follows.

Thursday nights are when everyone gets together for an improv jam at the Vegas Theatre Hub. The jam is open to all level of improvisers and starts at 10 p.m., McQueen said.

The GET ’ˆ’ the grey envelope theatre ’ˆ’ a show that mashes together improv, sketch comedy and stand-up, headlines Friday nights at the Onyx Theatre, 953-16B E. Sahara Ave., McQueen said. The show starts at 10 p.m.

Saturdays are days for Matt Donnelly's workshop and "Don't Quit Your Job," which is a show that ends the improv week at the Onyx Theatre.

Although the improv community in Las Vegas is thriving, Mattingly said it could use a little help.

"I'm pretty happy with the trajectory (of the Las Vegas improv scene)," he said. "We have very passionate people working together in the community, but I would just like to see more of it."

The Las Vegas improv community comprises about 40 to 50 people working together to ensure that the welcoming spirit of improv stays alive, Shipman said.

McQueen agreed.

"We all love improv and what it's all about, the connection between people," McQueen said of the tight-knit community.

But Shipman acknowledged that the closeness of the community has some drawbacks.

"It's kind of a blessing here that it's so small," she said. "But at the same time, it's a challenge because it's limited."

That may have something to do with why The Second City decided to high-tail it out of town.

In 2001, the company moved into Las Vegas but petered out throughout the years after it struggled to find an audience where entertainment is so robust, Mattingly said.

"It's an uphill battle for any show in Vegas," he said "There is such a dense entertainment scene. In Chicago, (The Second City is) a monolith for comedy. People know what to expect. They get a certain amount of business."

Since the demise of The Second City in 2008, the improv community has grown, Shipman said. But, she said, she wishes the community were more open and attractive to all kinds of people.

"I would want more people to know about improv and for it to have a high profile like stand-up comedy does," she said. "I would love for improv to have the reputation it deserves."

— To reach Michelle Iracheta, email miracheta@reviewjournal.com or call 702-387-5205. Find her on Twitter: @cephira.