Fishbowl Improv to deliver again annual Tides Comedy Competition

College students searching for aid from the winter blues can discover it within the U.S. Financial institution Convention Theater contained in the Ohio Union, the place Fishbowl Improv, a student-run comedy group, brings again its Tides Comedy Competition Friday and Saturday.  

The 2-day pageant options three Ohio State comedy teams, 9 teams from schools throughout the nation and three skilled improv troupes. The teams will carry out all kinds of comedy, from short-form improv to scripted sketches. College students can cease in at any time from 6-10:30 p.m. each nights, Troy Cwynar, vice chairman of Fishbowl Improv, mentioned.

The final time the pageant occurred was in 2020, earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic, so that is the primary Tides for present members, Cwynar mentioned. 

“That is all new to us. It’s very a lot this factor of the previous that we are attempting to resurrect and produce again,” Cwynar, a fourth-year in historical past, mentioned. “We will deliver again Tides to an entire new technology at OSU.” 

Cwynar mentioned teams from Bowling Inexperienced State College, Kent State College, Miami College, the College of Missouri, Loyola College Chicago and the College of Notre Dame shall be performing in addition to collaborating in workshops with the skilled groups.

“It’s a cool alternative for the faculty groups to get skilled teaching and steerage,” Cwynar mentioned.  

The skilled teams attending are Columbus’ personal ROT Improv, “TBD: The Improvised Musical!” and Assist Me I’m Drowning of Brooklyn, New York. 

Cwynar mentioned Fishbowl alumni are among the many skilled groups performing, and present members are excited to be taught from them. 

“ROT was really based by Fishbowl alumni as soon as they graduated and moved on,” Cwynar mentioned. “They now do improv professionally in Columbus.” 

Michael Lavelle, treasurer of Fishbowl Improv, mentioned long-form and short-form improv in addition to sketch comedy shall be featured to attraction to all viewers members. 

“There are loads of completely different types of comedy,” Lavell, a fourth-year in laptop science and engineering, mentioned. “If one doesn’t tickle your fancy, I’m certain some group will.” 

Mary Mahoney, president of Fishbowl Improv, mentioned audiences can anticipate a lighthearted and simple watch.

“I do know those who have come to Fishbowl exhibits that don’t even actually know what improv is strolling into it, they usually find yourself having a extremely nice time,” Mahoney, a third-year in movie research, mentioned. “It’s only a actually enjoyable, gentle and breezy, straightforward to look at and simple to take part type of occasion.” 

Along with performing, Mahoney mentioned the group is particularly excited to look at each the faculty {and professional} groups collaborating. 

“It’s all the time actually cool to see individuals which are skilled at one thing do their factor,” Mahoney mentioned. “We all the time be taught one thing from watching different individuals.” 

Lavelle mentioned all college students have to do to get pleasure from Tides is present up able to chortle. “All it takes for somebody to come back and see Tides is to stroll up, maintain out their hand, get their hand stamped and sit down and revel in,” Lavelle mentioned. “If individuals need to expertise some good comedy, Friday and Saturday night time are a good way to do it.”