Reporting by Aiden Lupian, Yoselin Reynoso & Laysha Vargas-Guizar,
Redwood High’s Advanced Drama students are gearing up to deliver a night of spontaneous comedy with their Improv Show on March 14 at 7 p.m. in the Rotary venue. Unlike traditional theater, where lines and choreography are meticulously rehearsed, this performance relies on lightning-fast thinking, audience participation, and the unique talents of the Drama Club’s dedicated members.
“Improv is a completely different skill set than memorizing a script,” says Mrs. Stacy Galvan, Redwood’s drama teacher and club advisor. “You have to think on your feet and be creative in doing so. It helps with conversation skills and allows students to gain confidence in problem-solving quickly—whether onstage or off.”
That spirit of spontaneity is what Drama Club President, Melina Carrillo, ’25 believes will draw in the Redwood community.
“You never know what you’re going to see. Unlike a typical show, everything changes based on the prompt,” she explains. “It’s always different, so it’s exciting for the audience—and for us.”
Katy Robles, ’25 calls improv both a “fun challenge” and a break from scripted productions.
“I’m used to memorizing lines,” she says. “But with improv, you make it all up as you go. It pushes you to be quick and creative in a way that’s really exciting.”
During rehearsals, one of Katy’s favorite moments involved a silly scene with a coconut.
“It might sound odd out of context, but in the moment, it was hilarious because we were all so locked into the scene,” she recalls.
Colton Hayes, ’25, another Drama Club officer, emphasizes the group’s strong camaraderie:
“We know each other outside of rehearsals, so we can bounce ideas off each other effortlessly. That helps us create funny, unexpected moments for the audience.”
Meanwhile, Vice President Brynnlie Travis, ’26 is focused on the show’s logistics and ensuring each participant knows the ins and outs of various improv games.
“Some games are about quick thinking, some about clever wordplay,” she says. “We practice them all so we’re ready for anything.”
According to Ms. Galvan, the Redwood community may be surprised by how dynamic and interactive the experience can be when the audience helps steer the action:
“Unlike a traditional show—where students memorize lines, learn blocking, and rely on a fixed script—improv actively involves the crowd. Their participation guides the scenes, which is thrilling. I think people will be amazed at how many of our students excel at this style of performance.”
The Improv Show will take place March 14 at 7 p.m. in the Rotary Theatre 330 S Dollner St, Visalia, CA 93291. For anyone seeking a night of laughter, quick-witted games, and a dash of unpredictability, this unscripted performance is not to be missed.
Aiden Lupian
Aiden Lupian (´25) is a second year writer for the Gigantea who loves to tell a good arts story and really looks forward to all the stories he can write, and people to connect with
Laysha Vargas-Guizar
Laysha Vargas-Guizar is a writer in Journalism 2. Editor of Arts & Entertainment, they host the Everything Entertainment Podcast along with their co-host Aiden Lupian.
Yoselin Reynoso
Yoselin Reynoso '25 is currently in her third year of writing for the Redwood Gigantea. She enjoys reading and is excited about what Redwood Gigantea has in store for her.
Tags: drama club, improv, Redwood
