Summerlin improv troupe finds a home at Sun City tavern

Monday Night Football was playing on all the big-screen TVs, but no one was watching. Instead, all eyes were on the three women at the front of the room who had strapped on black tassled bras over their white shirts.

"We're the Boobie sisters," they announced before going off script as each took a turn introducing herself.

It was all part of A. Jesters Court, the Sun City Summerlin-based improvisation group that is the brainchild of Temma Keatan Hammond, whose Hollywood ties span her entire life. In May, she announced the troupe's formation.

A. Jesters Court is scheduled to meet at the Five Star Tavern, 9201 Del Webb Blvd., at 6 p.m. Mondays through the end of this year. Visitors are welcome, and the show is free. Visit jesterslasvegas.com.

The name of the game may be improv, but the shows are set to include musical numbers and dancing.

This night, in the tavern's back room, about 24 people were there to support the troupe. The evening was based on props.

The laughs started early as two women — one playing the part of a road repair worker, the other the flag person who allowed cars to flow — debated where the digging was supposed to occur. Then they noticed traffic was backed up, the line of cars so long that the flag person had to shade her eyes as she peered to see where it ended. Her hand came down.

"I think it's time for my coffee break," she said.

"Cut," called out Hammond.

The dialogue came so fast, so easily, surely the actors had time to prepare. Hammond said no.

"None of this was scripted," she said. "They took the prop ideas and ran with it."

The evening continued with other fast-paced dialogue: A couple who was confused about articles of clothing; visiting a place with healing waters, "so I can get re-virginated"; a jab at New Yorkers who don't wear cowboy chaps but still "do a lot of bucking."

The final performance was like a game of telephone with five women picking up a story to add her own spin, going from olives to Popeye to ovaries to a mean giant who almost ate all the olives.

One of the members of A. Jesters Court is Hariet Miller. "Seinfeld" show fans will remember her as Mrs. Reichman in "The Opera" episode. How is working in TV or movies different from doing improv?

"Well, for me, this is fun," Miller said. "The other one was work. There's a line producer there, on set. If you miss one word, they stop you and say, 'Do it again.' It's got to be exactly as written. Here, you can say whatever you want."

Hammond spoke to how the actors, many of whom did community theater, adjusted to working off script. How do you teach someone to do improv? Isn't it a talent you either have or don't?

"No, everyone does improv," Hammond said. "You do it every day. When you meet different people, you present yourself in a different way. It's not a script. You start a conversation and describe what you're doing, whether it's shopping or getting gas. Every time you meet someone else, if you took a look at yourself all day, each time you become a little bit different person."

The group was originally planned to be small, perhaps six to eight people. It's since mushroomed into 24, causing them to separate into what Hammond called pods. Each pod has its own specialty.

There's another development, although it's in its early stages. Hammond hinted that producers were interested in the group for a reality TV show. How did that come about?

"I grew up in Hollywood, and I've maintained my connections from movie (studios) and television," Hammond said. "So, once I told everyone down there what I was doing up here — because they thought I came here to retire; well, I thought so too — they all said, 'My gosh, there's nothing quite like that,' and so now it's evolving into a real concept of an idea for a show."

She said it was interesting to see TV evolve into covering actual people doing something "real" and to have it focus on those who are no longer in their 20s. The baby boomer population is huge and ready to "take over the world," she joked.

Hammond said retirement didn't mean one stops living.

"You have so much more time for fun, for the creative things in your life … and understand your own skills," she said.

— To reach Summerlin Area View reporter Jan Hogan, email jhogan@viewnews.com or call 702-387-2949