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 Theatre group takes the stage, off the cuff by Mark Beil, Freedom Press The face of Nashville theatre has added a new wrinkle with the addition of Ideaprov, an improvisational troupe that is now taking stage center. The group was founded in Atlanta in 1998 by Paul Bellos, who last fall moved the group to Nashville. Ideaprov is an "improv entertaining and training center", according to Bellos, whose vision expands beyond mere performance, offering improv training in addition to stage performances. Bellos and company are settling into the local scene, and are rapidly developing a following. The group has performed at venues throughout town over the last several months including River Stages and Hair of the Dog, and has performances slated for later this week and beyond. The troupe consists of five players including Bellos, musical director Steve Mogck, associate director Lori Leigh, Teri Luffman, and professional magician Scott Cantrell. Bellos received his training at the renowned Whole World Theatre in Atlanta, under the tutelage of David Webster, its artistic director. Webster's influences are largely from Chicago, where Second City and the Improv Olympics are based, organizations that have sent many performers on to Mad TV and Saturday Night Live. It is this group mentality that Bellos espouses. "Nashville has a real cult of personality," said Bellos. "Everybody is trying to become somebody, trying to get somewhere. Experience shows you have to work as a team to get somewhere." The group's full-length performance consists of a set of theatre games and a second set of long-form "Harold" improv. The theatre games are similar to the material found on television's ‘Who's Line Is It Anyway?’, often humorous and very spontaneous. The Harold-style of improv is a one-act play, where the group takes a suggestion from the audience and builds a story around it. "It's a huge risk when you go unscripted and get away from the guidelines," said Bellos. "A lot of what we do is comedic, but it can border on the dramatic, as well. Humor is in the reality of the moment. It is different than stand-up comedy, in that it gives the viewer a snapshot of something they've actually experienced. It's funny because it's true." Musical director Steve Mogck, known to many for his successful karaoke nights at places like the Chute and George's, joined the troupe earlier this year. Mogck has been involved in theatre in the Nashville area, including roles in TPAC's productions of Rags and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and moved to Nashville to pursue a career as a singer/songwriter. "Theatre is something I've always been interested in," said Mogck, "but improv has a special appeal, because I figure if you can do successful improv, you can do just about anything on stage. It's unscripted, and you don't know where it's going, and as an audience member you sit and watch it thinking, 'hey, this can be kind of scary.'" "The fun thing about improv is audience involvement," said Mogck. "It's fun for them to throw suggestions out and see something created around it. It's a unique experience. The common misconception is that improv is always about comedy, but the truth is that it can often be very dramatic, as well. The common element to both is that it is very fluid." In addition to acting with the group, Mogck serves as the show's musical director. He finds similarities between the improv acting and his musical style. "On the piano, I'm pretty much self-taught. Growing up, I would just sit behind the piano and try to figure things out. Unlike reading music, you can just let yourself go, enjoy it, and go with it. Being musical director for the group has been very interesting, in that I'm called on to flavor the scene with musical themes. It's fun, and it's challenging and I'm flattered that he (Bellos) wanted me to do it." In addition to the performances, the group offers classes known as the "Cycle", which teach improvisational skills to people in the world of theatre and in the corporate world. The classes are billed as "life skills" that help people to think on their feet and be prepared. "I think as an actor, the classes really help you learn to hone your skills and free yourself in certain areas. For character and idea development, improv is an excellent way to go and gives you a lot more freedom on stage." The group performs its short form work Thursday night at 10 p.m. at the opening of the new Gateway Entertainment Complex, and showcases its full length program the second and fourth Saturday of the month at Hair of the Dog. Improv classes are held in the Hillsboro Village Mondays from 6-8 p.m., and a Masters' Workshop is held the last Saturday of each month. |
phone: 626.200.6993 - email: contact@paulbellos.com |
