Katie Hamilton
MHT Education Assistant
and director of "HA!" Teen Comedy Improv Troupe

It started with the concept of creating something that would appeal to teen audiences. Creating a performance-based group so teens would have something of their own to come and enjoy on a Friday night. Education Director April Cochran approached me with this idea of starting an all-teen improv troupe and that is where HA! was born! After numerous packed performances and side-splitting moments...this troupe, now in its second season, continues to keep the laughs coming. 

The HA! count has grown from seven to ten members this year. Nine of the ten teens are from McCracken County High School while the lone wolf Nathaniel Henley, hails from Massac County High. Together they form a group of “HA-larious” teens that perform improv shows throughout the school year. What they do is known as Short Form Improv, which can be defined as quick games and scenes that have specific rules and are based on audience suggestion. However, everything the actors say, every character that is seen onstage is made up on the spot by the HA! members. What many audience members don’t realize is the skill and training it takes to be a good improver. These quick-witted students meet once a week to rehearse improv…that’s right…I said REHEARSE improv. Besides providing their director with an hour of entertainment, these students practice being good listeners, accepting their scene partner’s ideas by saying “YES AND”, thinking on their feet, and be able to create quirky characters and voices on the spot. The students don’t know what the audience might throw at them, so weekly I put them in the hot seat to keep them ready for anything that might come their way in a live show. 

So what can you expect from a HA! show? F-U-N! That is goal number one! You will see a variety of kooky characters, outrageous scenarios, and fast-paced action. The shows are always student-led, full of laughter, and audience participation is a must! The most important factor of our show is what the HA members have affectionately named their, “HAudience”. Without YOU the audience - our show could not get started. So we hope you come down to the Studio Theatre this Friday at 7 p.m. to share lots of laughter with us!