The cast of ‘The Improvised Shakespeare Company’ In the nearly 500 years since William Shakespeare’s death, the term ‘comedy’— with which Shakespeare was intimately familiar— has changed meaning. What once referred simply to a story with a happy ending is now synonymous with laughs, entertainment and humor.

No one else better exemplifies the mix of classic Shakespeare and modern comedy better than The Improvised Shakespeare Company—a troupe from Chicago who meld Elizabethan language, props and dress with modern, live comedy and through audience interaction. In short—this is not your literature professor’s Shakespeare.

The Improvised Shakespeare Company will perform at Texas A&M University-Kingsville at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 9 at Jones Auditorium. This free performance is part of the Presidential Performing and Visual Arts Series.

At The Improvised Shakespeare Company performances, each play is centered around one audience suggestion. The troupe then develops an improvised play in Elizabethan style and with vintage Shakespearean themes. Performances are neither written nor rehearsed, so each play is entirely new.

Reviews from publications across the country refer to The Improvised Shakespeare Company as “brilliant”, “downright hilarious” and a not-to-be-missed performance.

Founded in 2005, The Improvised Shakespeare Company has performed around the country, including engagements at the Barrow Street Theatre in New York City, where stars from SNL and The Office have been entertained by this unique troupe. Last year The Improvised Shakespeare Company was the featured act at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, Canada, where they performed for an audience of 2,000. In 2009, the troupe won the New York Nightlife Award for best comedic performance by a group.

The Presidential Performing and Visual Arts Series is a year-long program of art, music and theatre performances that bring culture and variety to Kingsville for faculty, staff, students and community audiences. The intention is to bring a new element to learning outside the classroom for students as they are entertained and educated in venues they might not normally visit. Community members are welcome to continue lifelong learning by attending these events and interacting with our students. For more information, call 593-2769.