The Wittenberg Series continues with the Black Box Improv Theater at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, at the Founders Pub, located in the Benham-Pence Student Center, 734 Woodlawn Ave. This series event is made possible through the generous support of donor Gil Belles, Wittenberg class of 1962, and Wittenberg鈥檚 student organization, the Union Board.
The performance features a Celebrity Hot Seat segment where Associate Dean of Students for Student Success & Retention Jon Duraj will be the one in the hot seat and share life stories based on a one-word suggestion from the audience. After the interview process, an improvisation troupe will create comedic scenes using aspects of the celebrity鈥檚 information.
鈥淚 am hopeful my experiences at Wittenberg over the years will provide plenty of content for some entertaining improv. It will be awesome to see how the stories come to life,鈥� Duraj said.
Wittenberg alumnus Justin Howard, who received a B.A. in communication, created the Black Box Improv Theater in July 2012 after first being exposed to improvisation during his collegiate experience. Upon graduation, Howard realized his passion for such comedic art and saw a need for its presence in Dayton, Ohio. He owns the theater and has developed a strong presence in the improv comedy community, regularly performing across the nation.
Howard has performed, taught, and studied improv in New York City and Chicago, Ill., and has welcomed more than 150 students to his theater. He has become a sought-after performer, teacher and speaker. Howard has even taught improv workshops to M.B.A. students at the Harvard Business School in Cambridge, Mass.
In addition to the Celebrity Hot Seat, the troupe will offer beginning improv technique workshops on Monday, Feb.15, at 7:30 p.m., in the Joseph C. Shouvlin Center For Lifelong Learning, Room 105, 737 N. Fountain Ave., and Play On, Lead On for student leaders or aspiring leaders to learn improvisational techniques for their various organizations on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the same location.
Finally, the Black Box Improv Theater performers will be featured in two more Witt Series events - first on Wednesday, March 16, at 9 p.m. in Founders Pub when the performers host Wednesday Night Live, a sketch comedy show with witty acts. Their final event will feature a fully improvised musical on Saturday, April 23, at Wittenberg鈥檚 annual music festival, Wittfest, with details to be announced later.
For a full list of the Black Box Improv Theater鈥檚 performing arts residency, visit or daytonblackbox.com.
Now in its 33rd year, the Wittenberg Series brings distinguished lecturers and performing artists of national and international prominence to the Wittenberg campus and Springfield community. To make special arrangements, request a series poster, or become a friend of the Wittenberg Series, contact Jeannine Fox at jfox@wittenberg.edu.
Source: daytonblackbox.com
