by Sam Turley |

Imagine being on stage, in front of a crowd, with no script or direction, imagination being the only guide For Exit 1-6, this is how they perform; with improvisation, meaning they have no set scenes to perform.
The team is made up of ten members, all of who auditioned thoroughly for their spot and were carefully chosen by the team coach, Trish. During auditions, they are given a topic, but it is up to them to decide how to run with it. Imagination and humor is key.
Once on the team, practices are every Tuesday at the high school. The mission of Exit 1-6 is to use improvisational techniques in theatre to increase cooperation skills and confidence.
“People are paying to come see amateurs make stuff up,” sophomore Haley Brown said.
Tickets to the monthly shows cost three dollars if purchased at lunch and five dollars at the door. There they will see the group transform ideas into whole acts, relying on creativity as their essential force.
“We have established games that we already know we’re doing. Everything after that, we are making up,” senior Tristan Starner said.
Before each show, the team is downstairs, getting ready for the opening act.
“There really isn’t a way to prepare with Exit 1-6, that’s what is so great about it. It’s all improv,” said Brown.
Behind the scenes, when the team is not performing or practicing, they are admiring their favorite comedians and actors for inspiration.
“My personal role models are Tina Fey, Will Ferrel and Amy Poehler because they are the funniest people in the world. A good role model for our whole team would probably be Trish, our coach, because she’s great at improv and so funny,” said junior Allie Holyfield.
However, the group is not only providing laughs for their fellow classmates and teachers, but helping the community as well. They do a fundraiser for the local Corbin Theatre on the Square and a book drive for Invisible Children.
It just goes to show even a club based on humor can help the community, as well. Maybe most importantly, though, they are learning more about themselves along the way.