“It’s a whole lot of music,” said Carter, who is also a rapper and organizes community music events.
The show starts with holiday caroling followed by three improv segments — Out of Pocket, Greatest Hits and the Improvised Musical.
“There will be actual caroling at the beginning of the show to get people in the mood,” said Carter. The ‘ladies of the Black Box’ — Stefanie Deisher, Stephanie Radford-Harcrow, and Caitlin Bennett — will perform an opening number, followed by the house team troupe taking the stage.
Credit: Contributed
Credit: Contributed
“We’ll have improv called ‘Out of Pocket’. Everybody has a random card in their pocket, and then at some point during the scene one of the other members will ring a bell. The second the bell rings we stop what we’re saying and read the card and that becomes part of the scene.”
“Then we’ll have something called ‘Greatest Hits’. We’ll have four or five singers up on stage, and the audience will get to draw a music genre out of a hat. That’s the song that the person is going to come up with. On top of that, the audience comes up with the title of the song. We’re making it up right there on the spot.”
The Improvised Musical is a one-act play backed by the in-house Black Box Band, featuring a drummer, bass guitarist and keyboards.
“They’re doing improvisation too because they don’t know what’s going to be drawn either.”
Tickets are available on the theater’s website for $20. This year Black Box is teaming up with Tony & Pete’s, the beloved Fire Blocks sandwich shop. For a $15 add-on, ticket holders can select from three choices of specialty crafted sandwiches.
“When you come to the show it will be ready to go for you,” said Carter.
Seasonal libations will also be available from the theater’s bar. This year’s holiday cocktail, “The Grinch” is tinted the character’s signature hue by the addition of apple Schnapps. There will also be “boozy eggnog”.
Anyone who wants to try improv should note that winter classes fill up fast. The next 8-week session starts Jan. 7, taking place on Tuesdays nights from 6:30-9:30 p.m. with a culminating show.
For those who want to learn about the scripted side of comedy, Black Box also offers classes in Sketch Writing and Sketch Shows.
“We have a sketch show coming up in January that will be a three-day event. Almost like a regular play, we do an actual acting sketch show for three nights.”
In the meantime, Carter said to get your tickets to the holiday show before they sell out.
“Tickets are on sale now, and they are going! We’re already halfway sold already.”
HOW TO GO
What: The Black Box Improv Theater Holiday Show
Where: 518 E 3rd St, Dayton
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 20-21, Doors open at 7 p.m.
More details: Purchase tickets at www.simpletix.com/e/annual-holiday-show-tickets-194736. All ages welcome at parental discretion as there may be adult language and/or content. Online at blackboximprov.com.