Improv performers hailing from a wide variety of backgrounds, from a marketing consultant to a music teacher, programmer, and graduate student and future minister, join together this weekend with their varied personalities, skill sets and a little bit of quirkiness for a hilarious blend of family-friendly comedy at the Holland Theatre.
Reminiscent of the fan favorite TV show, “Whose Line is it Anyway?”, Scriptless in Seattle presents their sketches, improvised musicals, games shows, film noir and much more at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Each show is unique and audience-driven, as the group collaborates and brings to life their live and unscripted show.
“It’s the most unique show you’ve ever been to. It’s a show that’s never been performed before,” said Justin Folger, one of the founding members and the group’s manager.
“That’s the beautiful and terrifying aspect of it; it’s all based on the audience. We have to bring our ‘A’ game every night, since no two audiences are ever the same.
“We’re looking forward to being at the Holland Theatre, having fun with the audience and even inviting folks up on stage with us. We’ll get all kinds of feedback from them, and sometimes they’ll feed us a line that will trigger a freestyle rap or another sketch. You never know what’s coming next.”
For families who would like to bring their children to join in the show, Folger said not to hesitate. And their kids may even get a chance to join them on stage as well.
“With comedy shows, especially today, parents might be afraid that they’ll hear some off-color remarks and have to cover their children’s ears during parts of it,” said Folger, a Cleveland resident, and also a marketing consultant, grad student and swim coach.
“But that’s not what we’re about. We’re family-friendly entertainment and you don’t have to worry about that ‘shock and awe factor’ at our shows.”
Folger said Scriptless in Seattle was formed back in 2019, when he and two other high school friends, part of an improv group at their school, decided to participate in a fundraiser event in Cuyahoga Falls.
Just prior to walking on stage, the trio was asked for their group name. Off the top of their heads and by bouncing some jokes off of each other, they came up with the movie pun Scriptless in Seattle, making a nod to the Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks 1993 hit.
After they presented their three-man, three-sketch set that night, they weren’t really sure about the future of Scriptless in Seattle. However, just a few months later, a local coffee shop sent them an e-mail, asking if they’d be willing to perform at a live entertainment night. The group agreed, and soon another coffee shop event followed.
“From there, it’s grown to larger theaters and now, we’re enjoying traveling all around the country,” said Folger, noting that upcoming tour dates include venues in Kentucky, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Michigan and New Hampshire.
While seven members currently make up Scriptless in Seattle, five performers will be part of the Bellefontaine show Saturday evening — Folger, along with Charlie Hubbell, the music teacher of the group and a resident of Vermont; David Olinger, a programmer by trade who is from Philadelphia; English degree holding-Randy Johr, who enjoys being a professional improv comedian; and James Trombka, an accessibility specialist at Kent State University.
For more details on the group, visit scriptlessinseattle.com.
Tickets are available at TheHolland.org/tickets or through the box office, (937) 592-9002. Contact the box office for group discounts and youth ticket pricing.