Life at Northwestern sometimes boils squarely down to midterms, midterms and, yes, more midterms. But this is college. It’s supposed to be fun, the pinnacle of youth and irresponsibility – or so Out Da Box hopes to imply through self-reflexive comedy.
“Our material tends to draw from our surroundings,” says McCormick senior Jonathon Milam, the show’s director. “We generally have a lot to say about the NU experience and college – from a different perspective.”
Produced by the African-American Theatre Ensemble, Out Da Box explores many issues that college students face every day. They ridicule movies, twist TV shows and parody pop culture – comedy being their singular objective.
Displaying urban flair and an acute sense of self-awareness, the cast draws laughs moving from sketch to sketch. And while the pieces may be rehearsed, an improv element is also present.
“This is, at heart, a sketch comedy show,” Milam says. “It’s not really defined, but if someone skips a line, gets stuck or misses a cue, we improv to keep the show flowing.”
This creative approach to theater is driven by how the material is created. Everyone involved in the production writes potential sketches, and after Winter Break, the cast chooses which sketches will comprise this year’s show. From there, they find a relevant theme and run with it.
The play’s longevity is not limited to theater, either. At one point in the performance, the cast steps down and lets a TV do the talking. The cast decides on a sketch and they perform and record it – just to keep the audience on their toes.
Out Da Box is playing at Shanley Pavilion, 2031 Sheridan Rd., Feb. 16 at 8 p.m., Feb. 17 and Feb. 18 at 8 and 11 p.m. Tickets cost $5 and will only be sold at the door. For more information contact Chiamaka Acho at [email protected] or at (847) 332-4826.