Shenanigans improv troupe has a second act

RB’s new improv troupe The Shenanigans will be hosting their second show ever on Friday and Saturday, the 28^th and 29^th. The Shenanigans’s first show in January, “It Tastes Like Paint” turned out to be a huge success, selling out entirely and leaving the audience asking for more.

The new show, “Orange You Glad We Didn’t Say Paint,” will be performed in the same manner as the first, except with new twists and ideas. Improv Troupe President Zeyne Guzelderli said, “We do improv, but we also write loose sketches that are improvised on. We have a set scene to start with, but it is different every time.”

The new concepts and ideas for the show aren’t being released in detail, but Guzelderli did say, “We are trying a bunch of new games that we’ve never done before, and we are starting with a scene unlike any other scene we’ve performed before. Were giving it a fresh feel, but bringing back the elements that people loved.”

The Shenanigans are an improvised comedy troupe started this year by Guzelderli and senior Olivia Tortiumi and sponsored by drama teacher Melissa Briskman. They practice every Wednesday after school and after improv club, (many of the troupe memebers participate in both). During their practices, they work on acting skills and improvising techniques by playing theater games, designed to improve on improvisation skills and reflexes.

Discussing his decision to join the troupe, junior Paul Landahl said, “Mrs. Briskman suggested the troupe to me, and I decided to try it, it’s helped me as an actor.” Landahl said one of his favorite memories since joining the Shenanigans was when fellow Troupe member Jacob Palkam, “walked in the classroom in a pink dress, high heels, and a wig, and yelled what are you all looking at!”

“You’re not a person if you’re not acting,” said Landahl.

The Troupe is enthusiastic about this month’s upcoming show. “We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from teachers. We sold out last time, and we are hoping to do the same this time,” said Guzelderli.

The Shenanigans have much reason to be enthusastic. In their first show, they proved to be quite successful. Though it is too soon to be making assumptions, it is likely this month’s show will be as popular as the first one, if not more so.

Briskman said, “It’s the first year.  It’s definitely been kind of a trial run, but it has been very successful and its let us know what we need to be more successful next year”.  Briskman confirmed plans for next year by saying, “We are hoping to have at least two shows at RB next year, and hopefully some shows outside of the building.” Coffee shop performances are a possibility. Briskman also added that an election would be held in the future to elect new leaders for next year’s troupe and that auditions would be held for new troupe members.

Briskman noted that the shows are improvised, and will be similar but different at both showings. The shows will be running both the 28^th and the 29^th at 7:00P.M., and admission will be three dollars.

Fine Arts department keeping busy during winter season

During the winter and holiday season, the Riverside Fine Arts department hosts and has students perform at a number of events. The holiday season is one of the main times when RB students get a chance to showcase their artistic abilities.

The main musical event during the season is the Holiday Concert. An annual tradition, the Holiday Concert is an excellent display of students’ musical talent and hard work. This year the concert took place on Thursday, December 10^th. Students from the bands, choirs, and the orchestra all performed for students, staff, families, and local community members.

In addition, several other musical groups performed, or will perform at other events. The Madrigal Singers, RB’s premier vocal group, had a staggering number of concerts during December. With over eight concerts in December alone, The Madrigal Singers have been busy filling the surrounding community with holiday cheer.

The annual All State music festival is at the end of January. RB has six students representing our high school this year, and the music faculty is excited to have such a large representation. Being selected as an All State Finalist is a significant achievement and requires lots of hard work and effort.

In February, the music department begins its “winter concert” series, an event featuring all three music departments performing concerts in three successive weeks.

Music is not the only area where students are displaying their talents and abilities. The RB dance program, in particular the Repertory Dance Ensemble, is busy during the winter season. The talented dancers preformed at the Riverside and Brookfield Holiday Festivals on December, 4^th 2009, and have a number of concerts planned for January and February. On January 15^th, the Dancers are hosting a concert in the Little Theater to raise money for AIDS research.

In addition to the numerous concerts, the RB dance program is submitting two of their dances to be potentially preformed at a state dance festival. Committee meetings are also starting for the Illinois High School State Dance Festival, as it will be held here at RB for the first time ever.

Drama students are also busy during this time of the year. Improv Club, a new club here at RB, had their troupe put on a performance on December 11^th, 2009.

In the art world, the murals that students have been working so hard on were finally unveiled on December 4^th, 2009. The Winter Art show, the Art Department’s biggest winter event, is being held on January 7^th, soon after school resumes.