San Luis Obispo Theatre

  Central Coast Comedy Theatre Preforms a Show at Bang The Drum When you think of comedy, you might picture polished stand-up sets or late-night talk shows. But at Central Coast Comedy Theatre, the magic happens in the moment. Improv is at the heart of this San Luis Obispo-based group, where performers take the stage with nothing but quick thinking, creativity and trust in one another. This video story takes you behind the scenes to show how these performers turn spontaneous ideas into laughter. Organizer and performer Matt Preddell and CEO Dane Larkin share how improv has taught them more than just comedy — it has built a tight-knit, supportive community. Through games like pan left pan right and other high-energy challenges, members of the group are constantly learning, growing and connecting. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to step into the spotlight without a script and make people laugh on the fly, this story offers an inside look. Audience View of the Show  ...

Marley Sarro talks with us about her experience with Improv comedy Theatre is full of rehearsed lines, carefully planned scenes, and polished performances—but what happens when you throw all of that out and make it up as you go? At Cal Poly , the improv group Smile and Nod thrives on unpredictability, turning audience suggestions into fast-paced, off-the-cuff comedy.  To get a sense of what makes improv special from an audience perspective, I spoke with Marley Sarro, a freshman at Cal Poly who has attended multiple Smile and Nod performances.  Q & A Q: Share your background with theatre, if any? A: I did theatre from fifth grade until senior year of high school. I did a little bit of improv as well in middle school.  Q: What initially drew you to Smile and Nod? Was it your first time watching improv? A: I used to go to all the improv shows that my high school team held and I was like oh hey it's pretty cool that our college has one as well so I decided to check it ou...