Improv is a way for students to express themselves freely through acting; there isn’t a written script, and the performers act out whatever comes to mind. Every Wednesday after school, Arvada West’s very own Improv Club, or troupe, has rehearsals and plays games to help practice creating better characters and coming up with lines on the spot.  

“Improv is like a scene without a script or only one word and then we are building that off of each other until you create a story” explains Ari Sarconi, co-director of the improv troupe.

The improv troupe at A-West started in 2014 with two seniors, Jack Shefrin and Sarah Knight, during current advisor Lindsey Welsh’s second year of teaching at the school. The two seniors felt like there was a hole in the theater company at A-West, since there was no improv club. Welsh agreed to be the sponsor, and as a result, improv club was born. 

Every year since then, excluding the COVID-19 years, there have been two improv shows; one in the fall and one in the spring. Additionally, the improv troupe has had a coach for two years now, and they share how it has benefited them: “It’s just like an extra set of eyes from a professional lens that can really help, like the directors give better notes and make the games easier to understand” says Sarconi.

The Improve Troupe has already done their Fall show, which occurred on October 3rd, but their Spring show is still upcoming on April 23rd. Until then, the troupe will keep practicing and preparing, honing their skills while enjoying their craft.