Lazzi finishes 2nd at College Improv Tournament Heartland Regionals
calendar icon12 Mar 2019
Lincoln, Neb.--Lazzi, a University of Nebraska–Lincoln recognized student organization that specializes in short-form improvisation, placed 2nd at the College Improv Tournament (CIT) Heartland Regionals on Feb. 9 in Kansas City, Missouri.
The CIT describes itself as “a celebration of collegiate improv disguised as a competition” on its website. It includes 12 regionals and culminates with a Nationals competition in Chicago.
Lazzi’s faculty advisor, Julie Uribe, a lecturer in the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film, said the regional tournament was a phenomenal opportunity for learning. Ten students from Nebraska, along with a student manager and Uribe, made the trip.
“The troupe had never been to CIT so we didn’t know what to expect,” Uribe said. “I can safely say the students who attended tell me this is one of the best memories they’ve had during their time at Nebraska. Lazzi came in second place, coming within one point of the first-place team from Kansas State, which was a group that had competed and won before.”
Lazzi, which is an Italian word for improvised comic dialogue or action in the commedia dell’arte, includes students from majors across the university (only half are theatre majors). They competed against 10 schools from Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri in the regional tournament. (Illinois is also in the regional, but two teams from that state were unable to travel to the competition due to weather.)
“Lazzi President Riley Ford did a tremendous job getting the students focused for the trip,” Uribe said. “They had a great balance of wanting to win the competition, but also open to learning from the other groups who participated.”
Ford, a senior communication sciences and disorders major from Lincoln, said it was a unique experience.
“Attending Regionals allowed me the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with other improvisers so that I can bring back new games and new ideas to UNL,” she said. “Having the chance to be around other like-minded people to celebrate this amazing thing we get to do was an experience like no other.”
Luke Morken, a senior theatre performance major from Madison, Minnesota, appreciated the opportunity to meet other college students involved in improv.
“It was one of the best college experiences I have had by seeing others who enjoy improv as much as I do,” Morken said. “CIT was a great way to learn from other troupes by the way they perform and make friends that may be fellow performers in the future.”
Francoise Traxler, a freshman theatre performance major from Broomfield, Colorado, also enjoyed the experience.
“The CIT Regionals were a good way to find out what our strong suits are and what we should devote more rehearsal time towards,” she said. “Plus it was a ton of fun traveling with other improvers.”
Uribe said Lazzi bonded with the first-place team, and plans are being made to have the Kansas State students come to Lincoln before the end of the semester.
“The winning troupe specializes in long-form improv, which means they receive one suggestion and play out a single narrative for the entire performance,” Uribe said. “Our focus is short form, so we perform several, shorter games in one show. They’re going to come to town and work with Lazzi on long form, and we’re going to show them our shorter formats. Then, the plan is to mount a show, mixing up the cast with UNL and Kansas State students combined.”
Uribe, a former alum of the Groundlings Sunday Company in Los Angeles, said improvisational skills are about much more than creating comedy.
“Rules of improv, such as saying, ‘Yes, and. . . ,’ listening, and the idea that there are no mistakes, help us all be more engaged, open to opportunities and better connected to others both personally and professionally,” she said.
Uribe is slated to teach improv to non-performers next fall in the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts.
“If you’re an entrepreneur, you definitely have to embrace ‘Yes, and. . . .,’” Uribe said. “One of the other principles of improv is to ‘support your partner,’ so when you know your partner at work has your back, you’re more inclined to take risks. If you take risks, that leads to innovation, and that’s where groundbreaking ideas come from.”
Lazzi’s trip to Kansas City was made possible with support from the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film and Interim Director Christopher Marks.
“We’re grateful to Chris, who saw the value in attending the competition and made it possible for us to go,” Uribe said.
Uribe hopes Lazzi will return to the tournament in future years.
“The focus and dedication of the students gives me the confidence that Lazzi will be a contender again next year with a promising shot at the Chicago finals,” Uribe said.
She remains passionate about the power of improvisation.
“In a fast-paced world, we all need to be able to respond quickly and creatively to challenges at work and at home,” she said. “Improv principles better arm us for a life unscripted.”
For more information on Lazzi and their upcoming events, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/lazziimprov/.