Character Explosion

Character Explosion
Years Active	2014-Present
Cast	Bonnie Dilber Carolyn Gjertsen Chris Villafano Nichole Bennett Robert Slack 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 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'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

The New Movement

• KNOCK-OUT 2015 - current

Coaches

• Robert Slack is both a member of the troupe and coach, bringing his Improv experience from Los Angeles and Dallas - Ft Worth 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.

As often happens schedules conflicted, but it created new opportunity with the addition of Bonnie Dilber, Carolyn Gjertsen, Chris Villafano, Nichole Bennett, and Zach Leos.

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.