In improv terms, the spring 2020 semester could be described as a short-form challenge. Think Whose Line Is It Anyway?, with a seasoned team reacting to constantly changing, rapid-fire exercises. Each game lasts only a few minutes before the team starts fresh with the next challenge.
This fall, though, is more of a long-form endeavor. It’s still unscripted, with plenty of unexpected surprises, but a narrative arc guides everyone to a shared destination.
To navigate either exercise, improv performers have to begin by building camaraderie with their teammates. As with most things, for now, that means getting to know one another over Zoom.
Profile of Elizabeth Byland for VCUarts.