Character Explosion

Character Explosion
Years Active	2014-Present
Cast	Carolyn Gjertsen Jenn Hamm Kathleen McFerren Nichole Bennett Nick Amsden Timothy Coyle Zach Leos

Character Explosion is an improv troupe.

Summary

Press Blurb

Their press blurb, taken from a 2015 application to perform at The Hideout Theatre:

Hideout Theatre students / graduates will challenge one member by playing a variety of characters that he/she must then play. After running through this character gauntlet, a montage will occur where anyone can play any of the characters from the challenge.

What We Do

Character Explosion - Culminating absurdism through the variety of characters, Character Explosion delights its audiences.

While the pivot player is introducing the show and getting the location suggestion, the remaining members of the Character Explosion are mentally creating characters that fit the locale to challenge the pivot player with. Just what do we mean “challenge” you ask? Well, once Character Explosion has the location, a non pivot player steps out and does a short monologues to set the tone of the environment through the use of the first character being introduced (characters will be a combination of philosophy, physical, voice).

Once this has been completed, the pivot player will be challenged to copy the prior character while playing opposite another character in a series of two person scenes. The challenge is not just to copy the prior character, but to be able to pick up on the characteristics of the newly introduced character that the pivot will then play in the next scene.

During the pivot challenge, these scenes will take place within the locale, for example if given a Mall, the two person scenes can be take place in the food court, a store, mall security office, broom closet, basement, on top of the roof, the parking lot, you get the idea. Once the pivot has played each of the characters, all of Character Explosion has the open floor to reintroduce any of the characters in a montage, who knows where the scenes will take us.

"What's Your Deal?"

Their answer to the "What's Your Deal?" question on a 2015 application to perform at The Hideout Theatre:

the plan is that we want to do what it takes to do that thing that is needed to be done so people like us and come see us again

Format Orgin

The format was a brainstorm idea of Ceej Allen, which after a lunch with Tim Coyle a free fringe was submitted and played out on August 7th 2014 billed as "Ceej Character Explosion"

Shows

Hideout Theatre

• Free Fringe 2014
• The Threefer 2014 - current
• The Weekender 2015 - current

ColdTowne Theater

• The Monday Night Mash 2015 - current
• The Cagematch 2015 - current

The Institution Theater

• The Improv Mixtape 2015 - current
• Tightrope 2016 - current

The New Movement

• KNOCK-OUT 2016 - current

Coaches

• Robert Slack was an original member of the troupe and coach, bringing his Improv and acting experience to the troupe.

• Ceej Allen was instrumental of the concept used for the format, has been a member of the AIC since 2003 is also adding his own flavor and touch as a coach

Troupe Members History

Started as a Free Fringe :

• Ceej Character Explosion (Ceej Allen)

Debuted February 12, 2015 in the Threefer as a troupe

Original Members of the troupe include Cagney Ortiz, Joy Parks, Kathleen McFerren, Lahari Samineni, Robert Slack, Tim Coyle and Sushant Sethi.

The five students / recent graduates of the Hideout Theatre who played in the fringe (Cagney, Joy, Kathleen, Robert and Tim) with the addition of two more students / recent graduates (Lahari and Sushant) took the format and turned it into a troupe with the blessing of Ceej Allen.

Alumni

Alumni

• Bonnie Dilber
• Chris Villafano
• Cagney Ortiz
• Joy Parks
• Lahari Samineni
• Robert Slack
• Sushant Sethi

Media

Videos

• Video of the troupe's "plank-a-thon" from the 2/12/15 Free Fringe.
• Video of the troupe's "Improv Mixtape" from the 4/13/15 The Institution Theater.
• Character Explosion's YouTube channel

More Information

• The troupe's facebook page.