By Mike Zeleznik, news correspondent
One of the most important breeding grounds for budding comics is the Second City Theater in Chicago, Illinois, where a troupe of writers and performers create sketches from improv-driven ideas. The program has been a stepping stone for Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, and countless others. Now, a Second City-esque show is coming to the Boston area.
The Boston Sketch Company (BSC), will make its debut on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 11 p.m. at ImprovBoston in Cambridge. Former Second City member and Boston University graduate Matt Pina founded the troupe and assumed the role of director for each production.
“It’s like an improv show where we try to improvise a scene, and then we pick out the things that we liked,” Pina said in explaining how individual sketches are created. “And then we re-improvise it again with those things in mind. So we keep refining it and refining it into a finished product.”
Kenny Gray, Northeastern alum and former member of New and Improv’d, is a new performer in BSC.
“There had been rumblings around ImprovBoston that people wanted to do an improv-to-sketch-type show, and [Pina] had already been organizing a sketch group.” Gray said in describing how he ended up joining the group.
What followed was a community-wide e-mail recruiting people for a new comedy troupe, complete with a warning that it would require immense commitment. The first show only contains about half an hour of sketch material, but, for the writers who signed on, all new material for the debut show was submitted by mid-December. Michael Trainor, a writer for BSC, said they did so in order to refine the works in time for the debut.
“For the February show, we have the full hour [for sketchwork],” Trainor said. “We’ve thought about maybe adding in filmed material for transition’s sake or just internet material. Some of us have film experience, plus it keeps our chops up, and the performers don’t have to worry about continuously entertaining everyone.”
The pre-recorded material has not yet been agreed upon, however, as the crew focuses on the first show to make an impression.
“These sketches are less jokey. It’s going to feel much more like theatre. There’s a variety of tones and styles; it’s a diverse but cohesive show. Everything ties together,” Gray said with regards to what audiences can expect come Saturday night.
Pina never intended on performing at ImprovBoston when he returned to the area; he admitted that he was not even aware of the facility’s existence. Nonetheless, he is eager to share his newfound comedic knowledge with the masses. Fans of improv and sketch alike can see the premiere of the Boston Sketch Company this coming Saturday. BSC will debut a one-hour program of improv-to-sketch comedy as its introduction to the Boston comedy community.
Photo by Alex Melagrano
