Pacifica Stories

The Improv Club at Pacifica has seen incredible growth in the past few years, in addition to the creation of the audition-based improv troupe, Most Improv(ed). The Improv Club is open to all students at Pacifica, and currently has around 20 members. It attracts a diverse range of students, with a large number of theater kids—but also kids from all over Pacifica, even those primarily involved in things like STEM clubs. Mostly, the Improv Club draws in kids who are interested in comedy. The Improv Troupe, on the other hand, has only 12 members and is more skill-based than the club. Auditions are required to be a member of the troupe, which focuses on long-form improv. Both groups meet once a week, with optional overlap between them (club kids can observe troupe rehearsals, and troupe members can participate in club meetings). 

At club and troupe meetings, members play improv games, which the club leaders have learned from past years or the internet. The club generally plays short-form games that are fun for everyone, while troupe games focus on honing skills that everyone is learning generally in club, in addition to developing long-form improv skills. The leaders of the Improv Club this year are seniors Jonas Williams, William Reimers, and Harper Mehl. During meetings, they will give notes to performers at the end of each scene, similar to a director in a play. Each of the leaders had a similar reason for initially joining improv—someone invited them.

“When I came to Pacifica, my mentee encouraged me to join,” said Harper. “And then I loved it, so I kept doing it.”

For William, the person who inspired him to join was his older sister, who led the club during her time as a Seawolf. Additionally, all three of them said they were influenced to participate by Xander Constantine (Class of ‘23). Jonas said that “Xander was instrumental in terms of growth.” The three of them have become greatly invested in the club ever since, even to the point of taking leadership roles. 

“I immediately fell in love with improv… I love to make people laugh,” said Jonas. “I also love to teach people, whether that’s in academics or in the arts. Being a leader of Improv Club lets me combine these.”

The three of them also spoke highly of how the club has added to their high school experience, saying that the community and skills they’ve acquired have helped with social anxiety, insecurity, and confidence.

“People underestimate the power of the arts in social and professional life,” said William.

Each year, the Improv Troupe hosts a charity event in the fall to raise funds for the nonprofit organization Seen & Heard, which exists to develop the professional character of system-impacted youth through performing arts training. This was a memorable experience for all three club leaders, especially in the excitement and preparation leading up to the performance where the troupe plays Freeze, a popular improv game, for hours leading up to the show. 

“This year’s charity event was awesome,” said Jonas. “I was so nervous for it, I didn’t know how it was going to go, and it was awesome. I loved seeing people learn that they can be funny like, ‘Oh my gosh, I got it!’ and seeing that growth.” 

Overall, William, Jonas, and Harper hope that the improv club gives confidence and community to its members. They seek to create a fun social environment in which people are comfortable enough with their peers to then take risks in improv and better their skills. 

“I look at these nervous, insecure, socially anxious freshmen, and think that was me,” said Harper. “I want improv to teach them social skills, and about making friends, and tools they can use in job interviews.”

Most Improv(ed)’s next public performance will be at our end-of-year arts festival, i.Sight. We hope to see you there!