Photo by: Spencer McIntire, Josh Wehe, Camille Jasensky and Bob Ob

Skintight Outrage performs improv shows in the style of popular TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”

DU’s premier improv comedy team, Skintight Outrage, puts on a free and funny show every other week in Lindsay Auditorium in Sturm Hall.

Spencer McIntire, a sophomore studying hospitality management, says the performances are comedy created on the spot for the audience’s comedic pleasure.

Jesse Greaves-Smith, a graduate student at the Morgridge College of Education, is the team captain of Skintight Outrage.

“I’ve done improv since I was so small that adults thought my ‘ironic humor’ was actually a sign of a dirty diaper. Once I got to DU, a friend in the Denver improv scene and I started up Skintight Outrage, which not only has become the best improv comedy team on campus, but which also consistently ranks nationally above DU’s football team,” said Greaves-Smith, with an ironic nod to Skintight being the only improv team of a football-less university in the country.

Several members cite high school backgrounds in improv performance as inspirations to continue acting in comedy with Skintight Outrage. Others mention a love of public speaking and, of course, laughter.

“I do improv because of how expressive and creative you can be. It allows you to be completely free onstage while keeping intense concentration on your fellow teammates and the scene,” said Camille Jasensky, a sophomore majoring in vocal performance who auditioned for Skintight at the beginning of freshman year.

For Leah Samuelson, a senior with a psychology major and marketing minor, improv comedy performance is also a continuous exercise in creativity and a source of knowledge for responding to spontaneous situations.

“My experiences in improv have undoubtedly helped me in the business and marketing world,” said Samuelson. “Improv has helped me to be more creative and comfortable in the interview process, and delivering marketing pitches for my job or class is no sweat.”

Bob O’Brien, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, believes Skintight Outrage provides a close-knit group of goofy people.

“I like knitting and goofy people, so it just seemed to work out,” said O’Brien, one of two new members this year, who “never thought twice about the great decision I made” to join Skintight.

Other team members agree being a part of Skintight Outrage has provided them a unique community the use to unwind.

“Skintight is important to me because it allows me to break away from the monotony of life, schoolwork, drama, etc. and relax and have a great time with great people,” said Josh Wehe, a sophomore majoring in philosophy who has been a member of the group and performing with Skintight Outrage since September of 2010.

From diverse upbringings and places, the team members come together to practice in the art of making other people laugh on the spot.

“Laughing is great for the soul,” said Wehe. “A laughing heart is a healthy heart.”

Though the team isn’t sure when their next performance will be, interested students can learn more about Skintight Outrage, including upcoming shows and possible audition dates on their Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Skintight.Outrage.

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