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May 3 – 16, 2014
Arts
improvMANIA offers family friendly entertainment BY MAX KRAUST
The family friendly comedy troupe improvMANIA brings entertainment throughout the East Valley, but it is looking toward downtown Chandler for its permanent home. Chandler native Colleen Specht and her husband, David, started improvMANIA five years ago after meeting and eventually becoming engaged on stage during a comedy performance. Veterans of the Scottsdale-based Jester’Z Improv Comedy troupe, the Spechts say they are filling a void in Chandler. With venues established in neighboring Tempe, Phoenix and Scottsdale, and Chandler being Colleen’s hometown, it seemed like a natural fit. “We started our own troupe and wanted to perform exclusively in the East Valley,” David says. “We held auditions and had some friends so went from there.” David fell in love with improv and sketch comedy after watching the TV series “Whose Line is it Anyway?” He trained at The Second City in Chicago, famous for producing talents such as Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray. Colleen took classes at a young age and performed at Tempe Improv, opening for the likes of Bill Maher,
while attending Arizona State University. “I watched a lot of ‘Saturday Night Live’ growing up,” Colleen says. “I hung out at Tempe Improv all the time.” improvMANIA now boasts eight members who are committed to providing a family friendly experience. “We have always been a family friendly troupe,” David says. “We make it easy and just say bring the whole family, bring your date and don’t be nervous.” A majority of the troupe’s members take part in other comedy groups and have a wide range of experience, including time spent in Hollywood. “They are all my friends so it is really fun,” Colleen adds. “We do a lot in the community and are friendly with all the other troupes.” David adds, “Most of them are in multiple troupes and do multiple shows, so they are really professional grade comedians.” improvMANIA has done performances for many events ranging from venues as large as the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and The Phoenician Resort. improvMANIA also provides entertainment for wedding receptions, corporate events and kids’ birthday parties. “If there is a venue or a group
looking for entertainment, we are all about it,” David says. Colleen, like some of her fellow comics, have teaching backgrounds which lends itself to the classes it holds for kids and adults. improvMANIA is set to perform at “Community Nights in the Courtyard” at the Chandler Community Center, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave., on Wednesday, May 28, and SoZo Coffee, 1982 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler, on Saturday, June 21. “The goal really is to get a steady venue in downtown Chandler,” David says. For more information or inquiries about improvMANIA, call (480) 6994598 or visit www.improvmania.net. Max Kraust is a freelancer for the SanTan Sun News. He can be reached at max@santansun.com.
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Season’s last symphony orchestra show The Chandler Symphony Orchestra will wrap up the 2013-2014 concert season at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 4, at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler; with a performance featuring the Arizona Masterworks Chorale and a guest solo performance by pianist and ASU professor Walter Cosand. The performance will open with a rousing, patriotic march by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, “Alla Marcia.” The Arizona Masterworks Chorale will perform British composer John Rutter’s “Gloria,” a cantata which premiered in Omaha, Neb., in 1974. Rachmaninoff’s celebrated Piano Concerto No. 2, performed by guest solo pianist Cosand, will conclude the concert. Cosand, a nationally recognized pianist, has performed around the world. Admission to the performance is free, however donations are encouraged to help with operating expenses for the all-volunteer organization. For more information visit www. chandlersymphony.net or call (480) 899-3447.