On Nov. 14 and Nov. 15 at 7 p.m., Bowling Green State University’s (BGSU) improv troop, the Plastic Shatners, is hosting the annual Falcon Fuse Festival in Education Building room 105. Improv teams from across Ohio will participate.
Plastic Shatners, Lady Parts and Bad Genetics, the three BGSU improv teams, will be accompanied by Fish Bowl from Ohio State University, Black Squirrel from Kent State University and Sketched Out from Miami University.
The Plastic Shatners director, Carson Snyder, expressed his excitement for his fourth year of doing improv at BGSU.
“We’ve had a record year in terms of audience attendance, but I think the part that made me the most proud is all the new people that we put on [the team] this year,” Snyder said. “They’re all so talented, energized and active and it makes me very happy to know we made some good calls with them.”
This addition of new members contributes to the success of this long-running tradition, Snyder said. Snyder reflected on the festival’s unique agenda.
“On the first day, everyone performs alone and on the second day, we scramble up all the members of the teams and they have the entire day to practice and learn from each other and make a set for that night,” he explained.
This structure, of encouraging engagement with other performers beyond original group members, provides a valuable learning experience for all teams involved.
“It’s a good opportunity to learn other improv games, to learn how other teams do their improv and then, you can bring that home to your own team after the festival’s over,” Snyder said.
BGSU having three improv groups is unheard of, so Falcon Fuse gives other troops the chance to work with new people.
“BG has a really strong improv scene. We have three troops. That’s very unheard of. The most I’ve heard from any other school is two, so for a lot of these improv teams, they don’t have a good opportunity to work with other teams,” Synder said. “They can go to festivals and interact with them there, but in terms of actually being able to do a combined show or being able to work in small groups with members of other teams, they don’t have many opportunities like that. So, Falcon Fuse gives them that chance.”
If students are looking for a laugh, attend the Falcon Fuse Festival on Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Education Building room 105. A live stream, through the Plastic Shatners, will also be available on Twitch.
“All the shows are free, live and open to everyone to come watch,” Snyder added.
Explore the good times and goofiness with the Plastic Shatner’s Instagram page and stay up-to-date on shows throughout the year: https://www.instagram.com/plasticshatners/?hl=en
