LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — The first improv show occurred on Friday, Jan. 31, in Los Alamitos High School Drama’s Black Box Theatre. Throughout the years, Mr. Barker has guided the improv team like a second family, ensuring they can perform at a state-wide level. At this first show of their 2025 season, they did not disappoint. 

While most other drama shows open with curtains and a spotlight, improv shows at LAHS start by opening the floor to the audience. At this show, two improv members arrived onstage to invite everyone to sing the classic tune, “Sweet Caroline.”

“I don’t know why we do it,” Nicholas Allen, an improv team member, said. “Mr. Barker kind of forces us and doesn’t care to elaborate, but that’s the magic of improv.”

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Christopher Dorian Pagán

The players play the game "Pillars," giving the audience a laugh.

To the improv players, why the games are done does not matter, as long as everyone laughs. A standout game in the show was called “Expert Challenge.” In the game, all eight players are experts on anything and everything — no matter what. One of these experts speaks to the audience, while the four on the other team think of potential challenges to whatever that expert says. 

Pheobe Grimshaw, an improv player at this show, excelled in this game and the others. This was her first show, and she approached it with an extremely high level of fun energy, embodying what audiences feel improv is all about. 

“This is so much fun because I was such an introvert in middle school,” Grimshaw said. “I would not talk to anyone. Improv has brought me out of my shell.”

The improv shows takes the audience out of their comfort zones, too, with songs and games that ensure everyone laughs and participates.

“I’m hoping to make people laugh because when people laugh, it makes me happy,” Allen said. 

The first improv show of 2025 was inviting, humorous and unique. The $10 ticket was worth this experience — make sure to find an improv player before their next show to buy your a ticket and see for yourself!