Mason improv group enters third year of performances

M.I.A.'s performance team performs in all sorts of venues (photo courtesy of Mason Improv Association).

Two George Mason University students interested in pursuing a career in comedy and helping others do the same, Paul Laudiero and Maxie Morales, decided to start an improvisation club in the fall of 2010 called M.I.A., the Mason Improv Association. The group started as a place where students of any major and interest could come and learn about long form improv for an evening. The performances received a lot of attention around campus and have only grown since then.

“We started with the idea of just getting a bunch of people together to perform and practice improv and became a student organization so that we could put on shows,” said Bryan Thren, current president of M.I.A. “We have expanded more and more where we host practice jams where anyone can come and do it. We’ve scheduled shows for other teams on campus and we’ve hosted cage matches, so now we’re becoming like a platform for comedy at Mason.”

M.I.A. will be hosting an open improv jam on Tuesday, September 3, at 7:30p.m in the Theaterspace of the Performing Arts Building. An open jam is where any student can come and learn about long form improv or watch others perform.

On Sept. 4 and Sept. 5, both at 7:30 p.m. will be the audition and call back days, respectively, for the M.I.A. performance team. Auditions will also be in Theaterspace.  The  team performs monthly in the JC Bistro, starting Sept. 20 at 9 p.m., along with a student stand up comedy act. All M.I.A. improv shows are free to attend.

Finally, students who do not wish to join the Mason Improv Association but still want to show off their comedic talents are welcome to sign up for the M.I.A. Open Mic on September 27. This open mic is open to all types of comedy including sketch comedy, skits, improv duos, other improv groups, stand up comedy, songwriting comedians, and more. For more information, visit M.I.A.’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GMUimprov