The key to this improv comedy troupe’s strategy is to win hearts and minds. Let people get involved and they’re no longer just an audience, they’re participants, and everyone has more fun.
Here’s an example of how it works. The audience shouts out a single word. Based on that word, the cast of Saltine Warrior create a hilarious string of scenes—moving seamlessly from one to the next. Throughout the show, the cast uses suggestions, ideas—and sometimes participation—from the audience; making this a truly interactive comedy experience.
There are basically two types of improv comedy. Short form, with “games” and short scenes like you’d see on the TV show “Whose Line Is It, Anyway?” and long-form, which is a series of related scenes—sort of like an improvised play—in the style of Second City and Upright Citizen’s Brigade. A Saltine Warrior show is unique in that they do both styles in the same show.
Unlike other types of comedy, like sketch or stand-up, a Saltine Warrior show is different every time. Because everything is based on ideas that the audience provides and created right at that moment, no two shows are ever exactly alike. Anything can happen, depending on the audience. As director and founding member Jeff Kinsler says, “The show you’re seeing has never been seen before...and will never be seen again. Each one is a unique work of performance art.”
Saltine Warrior has just returned from a successful mission at the 11th Annual Del Close Marathon in NYC, where they helped hundreds of highly respected improv groups from around the world keep the comedy going non-stop for 56 hours.
Now that they’re back on the home front, get out there and get caught up in the show. Saltine Warrior has a standing gig at the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company’s Dee - Davis Theater, 805 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY (near Phoebe’s and Syracuse Stage). Their next show there is Friday, August 21 at 8:30 p.m. See www.saltinewarrior.net for show dates and event details.
