Cocktails, Canapes, & Comedy: Full Tilt Comedy to perform at NPAC
Full Tilt Comedy is set to bring a special edition of their hit show to Northport Performing Arts Center’s (NPAC) third annual “Cocktails, Canapes, and Comedy” event on March 7 and 8.
The group, which specializes in improvisation, performs a mixtape comedy variety show regularly in Traverse City, and is known for their high energy, anything-goes format.
Lisa Thauvette, Full Tilt Comedy co-founder and current member, said they make up their scenes and characters on the spot that are all based on audience suggestions. Improvisation is usually associated with comedy, she added, but in this particular show, there will be some sketches incorporated as well.
“We’re really thrilled to be invited because we know this is a really dedicated and committed program and we’re honored to be included in this tradition… We will have a little bit of sketch, but mostly, it’s improv. What’s so cool about improv is that there’s so much audience participation. There’s just a lot happening in the minds of the audience,” Thauvette said. “We will also have a couple things where we will have active audience participation. We’ll bring up someone on the stage with us that we are going to do an interview with and do an improvised playlet based on or inspired by what this person tells us about their day.”
Special to each performance will be an improvised playlet of “A Day in the Life” of a local celebrity, with the Friday performance in March featuring Northport resident Chris Holton and the Saturday show featuring Fred Szczepanski.
Thauvette said after interviewing the local celebrity, group members will perform about a 20 minute-long, improvised playlet, taking pieces from what they learned of the person and creating “their dream at night.”
“So it’s going to kind of be like a wacky version of their regular day, it’s usually a lot of fun… but I really make the case that everyone is participating, you’re just out there actively enjoying this creation on the spot,” she said. “We kind of see what we’re going to be doing in Northport as the best of the best. The Workshop (Brewing Company) is where we’re ‘workshopping’ with our comedy, then we’re going to weave together all of our best of the best… so we’re really excited to be able to do that and bring it all together, polish it all up and shine it all up for a really eager audience.”
Joe Thatcher, NPAC Board of Trustees President, said due to timing logistics, they decided to feature Full Tilt Comedy instead of putting on a full play like in year’s past. NPAC will also have more time to prepare for a play production by next year, but in the meantime, Thatcher said attending the Full Tilt Comedy performance will be a one-of-akind experience and is something fun for everyone.
“It’s something new for the area, for Northport for sure… you don’t know what you’re going to get, but you know it’s going to be good,” Thatcher said. “It’s really nice because you don’t have to be funny when you’re the ones telling them what your day is like, but they will turn it into something just slapstick practically, very funny.”
The doors open at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 7, with the show starting at 7 p.m. There will also be heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar available during the 90-minute showtime, including an intermission for dessert. To purchase tickets online, go to www.northportperformingarts. org/ tickets-and-events or call 231-386-2009.
