How many musicals have you committed to memory: plot, songs, choreography, musical style? For the Showstoppers, they've got a library in their improv brains of more than 300. Watch Faves founder Terri Paddock's post-show Q&A with co-founders Adam Meggido and Dylan Emery and the company after the premiere of that night's brand-new musical 'One Block Away'...
I’ve been following the insanely talented improv geniuses of The Showstoppers for most of their eleven years. How do they do it? I still can’t really fathom it, but I was pleased to gain a few more insights – and a new well of admiration – after chairing a post-show Q&A with them last week.
After 11 years of touring nationally and internationally, becoming an Edinburgh Fringe institution, conquering the West End and winning an Olivier Award (the first improv show to ever have been nominated let alone to win), Showstopper! The Improvised Musical has now moved into The Other Palace for an eight-week season. Last week, while there, the company celebrated their 1000th performance.
For the Q&A after Wednesday night’s performance, I was joined by Showstopper! co-founders Dylan Emery and Adam Meggido; other stalwarts from the now 17-strong family of improvisers, Ruth Bratt, Andrew Pugsley, Lucy Trodd, Justin Brett and Susan Harrison; and from the stable of musicians, Chris Ash and Chloe Potter. Would they all stick around to see The Showstoppers hit their 2000th performance? “We’ll have to speed up,” quipped Adam.
The audience of both diehard Showstopper! fans – including one gentleman, planted firmly front row centre, who is now up to 51 visits and counting – and improv virgins had plenty of questions about the improvisation craft.
The insightful nuggets and phrases that stick with me from our discussion: they enjoy it most when audiences don’t try to be too clever and “just give us something with heart” to respond to (such as the setting of “inside my mother’s head” from an audience member whose mother had dementia); sadism is an important part of what makes the show; the cast have committed to muscle memory how to perform over 300 musicals; the foundation of improv is to “Listen, Accept, Commit” and, yes, they do get asked to do Hamilton… A LOT.
As for the premiere we as an audience helped create on the night: it was a musical fantasy set in the last Blockbuster video store (in Anchorage, Alaska – with various side-trips to Bo-Kaap in Cape Town, Western Cape) in the musical style of Chicago, Cher and 42nd Street (amongst others). The title: One Block Away…. Just press play. Now just press play to watch the full post-show Q&A video.
Showstopper! The Improvised Musical runs 22 January to 16 March 2019 at The Other Palace, 12 Palace Street, London SW1E 5JA. Performances are Mondays to Thursdays at 7.30pm, Fridays at 5.30pm and 8.30pm, Saturdays at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are priced £20-£50. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE!
Q&A video
Q&A photos
For more photography (by Peter Jones), tweets and other coverage from the event, visit TerriPaddock.com.
