Silverbacks Improv Theatre‘s “Lafayette Famous” features a mix of improvisation and storytelling. In this format, a local celebrity prepares 3 true stories from their life. The improvisers create scenes based on themes from the stories, bringing performers and audience on a humorous journey together.
Our featured Lafayette Famous Storyteller will be local burger-maker, Shawn Broaddus!
Shawn Broaddus is the owner of Broaddus Burgers. The 31 year old entrepreneur and Eagle Scout has worked in restaurants since he was 17. Before settling into running a business, Broaddus was an avid traveler, both stateside, visiting remote parts of our country, and abroad, to places like Thailand and the Bahamas. Now, Broaddus spends his time making social media content and creating great food.
Join us on Friday, October 18th at 7:30pm for some high quality improv! Tickets are $10*. Proceeds will benefit local charities. *($8 for Students, Teachers, and Seniors (60+). ID is required for discount)
Come to the 2nd Stage at Cité des Arts on Friday, November 15th at 9pm for SuperCollider: Acadiana’s Improv Showcase brought to you by Silverbacks Improv Theatre!
Come to the 2nd Stage at Cité des Arts on Friday, October 4th at 9pm for SuperCollider: Acadiana’s Improv Showcase brought to you by Silverbacks Improv Theatre!
Improv 2 – A Silverbacks Improv Class Instructor: Elaine Kibodeaux Dates: Saturdays, October 5, 12, 19, 26, November 2, 9, 16, 23, 2019 Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm Ages: 16+ *Early Bird Special runs through September 19: $135* **Regular Price from September 20-October 5: $160** Where: Cite des Arts, 109 Vine Street, Lafayette, LA 70501
Class size: 6 students minimum; 12 students maximum
Prerequisite: LEVEL ONE or previous stage or public speaking experience. Must be comfortable acting in a group and working with others in scene work.
Though the emphasis of the class is still on fun, LEVEL TWO includes some conceptual and technical information to help build your improvisational skills. LEVEL TWO introduces students to principles of teamwork, character building and other concepts that will help to build comfort in spontaneity.
Based on games learned in Level One, LEVEL TWO students get to enhance their performance skills through exploration of their own style of play.
Elaine Kibodeaux has been acting for 22 years and improvising for 18. She is a founding member and assistant artistic director of Silverbacks Improv Theatre, a Cult of the Stage Monkey (UL-Lafayette) Alumna (’01-’08), Co-Director of Your Spooky Friends (an Improvised Horror Troupe), and has studied and performed improv in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. Elaine began teaching Improv Fundamentals for Beginners in 2010 and has since added Improv Acting Techniques for Dancers and Movement for the Actor to her instruction repertoire. She is a belly dancer with Habibi Hips and Bal Amira, celebrating 12 years at Oasis Bellydance Studio, where she leads “BellyFit” classes. She regularly uses her improv and acting experience to enhance her stage presence when dancing.
It’s still hot outside and school’s almost back in session. You know what that means?
Silverbacks Improv Theatre are back from their Summer Break! We’ve stayed busy behind-the-scenes all summer, and now we’re ready to take over the Cite des Arts Second Stage for an evening of improvisational theatre!
Join us on Friday, August 23rd at 7:30pm for some high quality improv!
Tickets are $10* general admission. *($8 for Students, Teachers, and Seniors (60+). ID is required for discount) Tickets may be purchased in advance in our online store (general admission only) or at the door, beginning 1 hour before the start of the show.
Every month for SuperCollider!, Silverbacks host a different trio of improv troupes! Groups may be local favorites, traveling troupes, or exciting new formats such as horror and musical improv.
The September 6th SuperCollider!, hosted by local comedian, Maggie Shipley, will feature the following troupes:
Cult of the Stage Monkey is Lafayette’s longest-running Improvisational Theatre troupe! The student organization has been delighting audiences with their quick wit and topical humor since October of 1998.
Founded in 2017, The Plural Noun is an improv collaborative with a wide range of performance influences from sketch to film to black box experimentation. The troupe loves to break down the boundaries between short improv games and long form explorations of themes, aka lots of laughter, tears, and WTF!
The Weaning Process is an improv troupe sprung from an improv class. They combine short games and long form in their shows and have most recently started a regular show that blends standup and improv!
See all three troupes for the price of one! Only $10* for a night full of fun. The September 6th show starts at 9:00pm at the 2nd Stage at Cite des Arts!
*($8 for Students, Teachers, and Seniors (60+). ID is required for discount)
Silverbacks Improv Theatre and Lafayette Comedy announce the following workshops:
Sketch Comedy Writing Workshop by Kevin McDonald – This workshop with Kevin McDonald is a writers workshop. Participants will arrive with a comedy sketch they have written, which will be workshopped by Mr. McDonald and the group, with active time for re-writes. Mr. McDonald will also follow up with the participants following the workshop with additional feedback on their sketch after a 2nd re-write!
Saturday, August 3 10am – 5:30pm Venue TBA Cost: $180, or $275 if signing up for both Workshops Registration available at lafayettecomedy.com
Acting in Sketch Comedy by Kevin McDonald– This workshop will feature analysis of great sketch comedy acting, theatre games, and an afternoon of being directed in sketches by Mr. McDonald.
Saturday, August 4 10am – 5:30 pm Venue TBA Cost: $180, or $275 if signing up for both Workshops Registration available at lafayettecomedy.com
Silverbacks Improv Theatre and Lafayette Comedy announce the following show:
Silverbacks Improv Theatre and Lafayette Comedy Present: Best of Kevin McDonald: Stories and Sketch Saturday, August 3 Show begins at 8:00pm Warehouse 535 535 Garfield St, Lafayette, LA 70501 $20 tickets Tickets available at lafayettecomedy.com
BEST OF KEVIN MCDONALD: STORIES AND SKETCH
Kevin McDonald of the legendary comedy group KIDS IN THE HALL will perform in a Lafayette show on August 3, 2019 at Warehouse 535. The Kids in the Hall is a Canadian sketch comedy group whose eponymous television show ran from 1989 to 1995 on CBC in Canada, and CBS, HBO, and Comedy Central in the United States.
The “Best of Kevin McDonald: Stories and Sketch: is a “best of” show based on Mr. McDonald’s podcast, “Kevin McDonald’s Kevin McDonald Show”. Mr. McDonald will share 3 stories and perform 4 sketches with 5 local comedy actors.
**DUE TO THE STORM IN THE GULF, IMPROV: LEVEL ONE WILL BEGIN ON JULY 20TH. STAY SAFE, FRIENDS!**
IMPROV ONE Class Details: Improv 1 – A Silverbacks Improv Class (Teacher Aren Chaisson) Dates: Saturdays July 20, 27; August 10, 17, 24, 31. Time: 10am – 12pm Where: Cite Des Arts Dance Studio – 109 Vine St, Lafayette, LA 70501 Ages: 16+ Cost: $100
Silverbacks Improv Theatre, will begin another round of improv classes starting in July. Silverbacks began offering improv classes in the summer of 2015, and has had great success and fun with their students. Improv troupes Weaning Process, The Plural Noun, and recent grad troupe Lively Banter even found their beginnings in Silverbacks improv classes.
The Silverbacks will begin by offering Improv 1. Students will then have the option to continue to Improv 2, 3, and 4 if they choose.
IMPROV LEVEL ONE is an entry-level journey into the joys and thrills of improvisation, or improv. Students will learn and practice the application of “group mind” and the all-important “yes, and” – and other improv concepts and vocabulary. Students will practice new skills, perform and play in a safe, low-stakes and friendly atmosphere.
LEVEL ONE is perfect for the super fan of comedy or improv who has yet to perform, the curious introvert wanting to try something new or someone looking to improve their public speaking or quick decision making skills. At the conclusion, you can move on to Level Two or continue to take LEVEL ONE again – as many times as you’d like. You’re sure to get something new out of it each time!
Still on the fence? Hear from a former student!
“Silverbacks Improv Theatre classes were a great experience. I felt like I was in a slump, and these classes lifted me up. I made friends, gained confidence, and had the opportunity to play. The teachers miraculously offer a relaxed yet rigorous environment where challenge is welcome, but never judgment.” -Leslie Tidwell, founding member of The Weaning Process – Improv Troupe
Level One students will also have the perk of free entry to all Silverbacks produced improv shows while they are taking classes!
Teacher Biography: Aren Chaisson, III – Aren is from Lafayette, Louisiana and teaches Talented Theatre in Iberia Parish. Since moving back from New York City in May 2011, he has performed in many productions, including John Proctor in The Crucible, Huey P. Long in The Kingfish, Dale Pittman in The North Plan, Harry “Jazzbo” Haywood in It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, Lenny in Of Mice and Men, Foreman in Twelve Angry Men, Cliff in Cabaret, Officer Lockstock in Urinetown and William Shakespeare in William and Judith. This past summer he was in his first CCT production as Jud in Oklahoma! Since graduating from University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a BFA in Performing Arts, he has performed in NYC, Chicago, Syracuse, Alabama, Indiana, on regional and national tours, and in short films and commercials. He studied improv with Armando Diaz at the Magnet Theatre in NYC and performs with Silverbacks Improv Theatre in Lafayette.
