Behind the Curtain of This Year’s Improv Show

A look inside Redwood’s improv show, where quick thinking, teamwork, and creativity turn every performance into something completely unique.

By: Leslie Nunez

This year’s improv show promised an evening of unpredictable humor, quick thinking, and non-stop laughter.

“It’s an improv show, we do improvisational games, similar to the TV show ‘Whose Line Is It Anyways?” Ms. Galvan says.

Unlike traditional theater, there is no script guiding the performance. Instead, students rehearse by practicing a variety of improv games, but each run-through shifts depending on the prompts and ideas given in the moment.

Ms. Galvan says, “We play specific games over and over, but each time it’s different because the topic, place, or idea is different.” Because nothing is memorized or predetermined, students must rely on quick thinking and collaboration to build scenes in real time.

“Students have to think quickly on their feet and don’t have time to prepare before reacting,” says Ms. Galvan, “They have to add on to whatever their teammates have says. If a student says, ‘What happened to your leg?’ then there is a problem with your leg.”

That pressure to respond instantly is something that student performers experience firsthand.

Kai Korsgaden, ’26, shared that one of the biggest challenges of improv is staying mentally sharp in the moment.

She says, “The hardest part about doing improv onstage is definitely having to think quickly on your feet and in the moment.” Even experienced performers occasionally struggle.

Reflecting on those moments, Korsgaden says “I can’t recall any specific moments off the top of my head where I’ve truly just completely blanked, however any time this does happen I’ll try to skip to the next part of the scene or line(s) that I do remember, while filling in the gaps best I can on the way there if needed.”

Her approach highlights the adaptability that improv demands, as performers must recover seamlessly without breaking the flow of a scene.

To prepare for the unpredictable nature of improv, Korsgaden embraces uncertainty rather than trying to control it. She says, “To prepare for something unexpected, as cheesy and redundant as it may sound, I always try to be ready and willing to think quickly on my feet and just go for it when needed.”

She also noted that even in scripted performances, improv skills play an important role.

“When it comes to scripted scenes, we often memorize not just our own lines, but the lines of our scene partner(s) as well,” she says. “That way, if they do get stuck, we can help guide them back in the right direction.”

For those new to improv, Korsgaden emphasized confidence and commitment.

She advised, “Don’t be afraid to look silly or go all in. It’ll look more ’embarrassing’ if you only do it halfway, rather than just committing. Just have fun.”

Brynnlie Travis, ’26, echoed similar challenges, emphasizing the balance between speed and entertainment. She says, “The hardest part is definitely thinking on your feet really quickly, but still doing it or saying something that’s entertaining to the audience.”

Travis added that making people laugh is always the goal, she says, “I mean the whole point of the improv show is to make the audience laugh because of what we can do on the spot, but it’s definitely a skill we’ve learned to do so.

Like many performers, Travis has experienced moments of uncertainty on stage, but she sees them as opportunities rather than mistakes.

Travis says, “I have definitely blanked on stage, but often you turn it into something the audience can laugh at when you make a good joke, they also laugh when you mess up or completely fail.”

Ultimately, she believes success comes down to audience reaction: “As long as we make someone laugh, we did our job right.”

Preparation for the show may not involve memorizing lines, but it still requires practice and familiarity.

Travis explained, “We prepared for the improv show by being familiar with all the games we play on stage. While the improv show isn’t scripted, we still know the layout of the games and how they work, giving us a sense of preparedness even when nothing goes according to plan.”

Teamwork is another essential part of improv, and students rely heavily on one another during performances.

“We support each other by just encouraging and being very kind,” she says, “If we aren’t the ones currently in the scene, we may whisper something from behind them, or if we’re in the scene with them, we can keep the plot moving or keep talking until they get their bearings again.”

For anyone considering trying improv, Travis had a simple message: “Just go for it. It is absolutely a blast being able to be up there with everyone, and I just love it.” She added that the experience is filled with laughter and joy, saying, “When we get together to improv either at lunch, during class, or a show hurts from laughing so much at the end.”

While this makes improv exciting, it also creates unique challenges for the program’s advisor. Without a script, there is no way to predict what students will say or how scenes will unfold.

“I am asking students to be free with their speech, which can be scary for a teacher because I never know what’s going to come out of their mouths,” Ms. Galvan says.

She also noted that deciding which students work best together in each game is one of the most difficult parts of directing. Despite the unpredictability, she says the experience is one of the most rewarding parts of advising the program.

“Watching students come up with crazy ideas off the top of their heads is exciting,” Ms. Galvan says, “We laugh a lot, which is great.”

For first-time audiences, Ms. Galvan emphasizes that the appeal of improv is its simplicity and humor.

“It is for the sheer pleasure of laughing,” she says, “It is all about making people laugh and comedic timing. There is no plot to follow, there is no message to receive. It’s just fun and chaos.”

In the end, the improv show thrives on unpredictability, collaboration, and creativity, turning every performance into a one-of-a-kind experience.

Tags: arts and entertainment, improv, rangers, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood improv show, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rhs, theater, visalia ca