A Night at the Improv

A Night at the Improv with
Dutchess

Performed February 2006


Christina Piazza	Shannon Winpenny	Holly Beaudry	Lanette Weninger	Kennedy Gates

Who is Dutchess?	Holly Beaudry, Kennedy Gates, Christina Piazza, Lanette Weninger and Shannon Winpenny. The group is directed by David Montgomery.
Why all women?	While all female improv groups are not new (Dutchess follows in the tradition of Chicago groups Jane, Sirens, and others) women in improv are still a decided minority. So, although most Dutchess members perform in mixed-gender ensembles at Improv Olympic and other venues, and are delighted to do so, Dutchess provides a rare opportunity to explore a different dynamic. The mutual support and trust of the players creates infectious, joyful, kinetic performances, which leave audiences in stitches.
What does Dutchess do?	At the beginning of each show, the audience is solicited for suggestions of any object, which the group then forms with their bodies onstage before breaking for a series of sketches based on, in or around the object. The team's camaraderie has helped them to create their own variation on long form improv – Dutchess’ performances use physicality and unique, theatrical transformations from scene to scene which can appear almost choreographed because the members are so in-tune with one another grounded in listening and support.
What is long form improv?	Created in Chicago by Del Close, long form improvisation begins with a single audience suggestion. A team of improvisers fully explore the suggestion through scenes and games, creating snippets of stories, glimses of characters, and themes that eventually weave together like music made by a jazz band. Del Close and Charna Halpurn created a structured form of long form improvisation called the Harold, which has 3 "acts." The Harold is formally taught and performed at Charna Halpurn's theater, ImprovOlympic. Long form improvisation has thrived and evolved in Chicago taking many new ways of presentation other than the Harold.
Experience:	Dutchess was showcased at the 2005 Girlfest in Hawaii. Many of the performers in Dutchess have been honing their acting and improvising skills for several years.