Talking Horse is excited to offer a new short-form improvisation group to Mid-Missouri! 

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What is short form improv? 

Short form improv is comprised of small scenes or games that usually aren't connected to one another. Short form improv is generally about quick thinking, wit, or adapting to uncommon suggestions. The most well-known form of short-form improv comes from the television show, "Whose Line is it Anyway?" The Ponies shows will be in that same format containing some of the games featured on the show but also introducing our audience to new ones. 

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Do I get to participate?

Yes! Just like, "Whose Line is it Anyway?" our shows get better with active audience participation! Audience members will be asked to write suggestions for lines, scenes, and characters as well as get the opportunity to shout things out when prompted to shape the games our actors play. Most of the fun is causing trouble for the actors! 

 

When's the next show? 

The Ponies perform "Drop-In, Drop-Out Improv Comedy" (most) First Fridays of the month at Talking Horse Theatre from 6pm-9pm. Come check out all the North Arts District has to offer and drop in to Talking Horse to see The Ponies! Be aware that as First Fridays are typically crowded, parking immediately in front of the theatre may be difficult. 

 

What is "Drop-In, Drop-Out Improv Comedy?" 

We just invented it! Basically, because there's so much happening during First Fridays in the North Arts District, our audience may want to spend some time exploring all that's available and may not be able to sit through a whole three-hour block of improv. In addition, some people may be discovering our theatre for the first time and might want to get just a taste of what we have to offer. 

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"Drop-In, Drop-Out Improv Comedy" means that the audience members can enter or leave whenever they choose. We start new blocks of comedy at the top of every hour and generally run about 45 minutes to an hour before taking a short break to hydrate and solicit suggestions. The audience has the choice of staying for an hour or the entire evening! 

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Sounds like fun! How much is it? 

All of the "Drop-In, Drop-Out Improv Comedy" shows are "pay-what-you-can." This means that you get to decide how much to pay for the time you spent at the show. Our suggested ticket donation is $10 per person per block of improv comedy, but if you only had time to watch a single game you might feel that $1 is more appropriate. To that same token, if you had such a great time that you stayed for the whole show and wanted to offer us $100, we're not going to say "no!" We want everyone to be able to enjoy their time with us regardless of the budget they have. 

But I could, like, pay nothing? 

Well sure, technically, you COULD do that. We hope you don't though. At the end of the day, the success and sustainability of our troupe depends upon the kindness of our audience. Your donation, whatever you choose to pay, directly funds the theatre which allows us to create these performance opportunities. If you enjoyed your time at our performance we encourage you to give, and give generously so that we can continue to entertain you and others! 

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What if I don't have any cash? 

No worries. As with any Talking Horse show we will have the full box office available to accept credit and debit cards. 

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What's the target audience for your shows? 

Our aim is to make our brand of improv comedy appropriate for all ages. All "Drop-In, Drop-Out Improv Comedy" shows will be kept family friendly. That being said, due to the nature of the performance we cannot control what audience members may offer as suggestions. What we can say is that our actors are trained to keep their comedy clean and perform nothing more explicit than innuendo. We will also be sure to keep our shows clear of any profane language. 

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In addition, our group may also perform shows for an older crowd. These performances will always be noted if they are intended for adults only. 

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How can I find out what's next for The Ponies? 

The easiest way to stay up-to-date with us is to follow our page on FaceBook: Facebook.com/PoniesImprov or check out www.PoniesImprov.com.