By Patty Montagno

Staff Writer

pmontagno@sachsenews.com

If laughter is the best medicine, then the Sachse High School Johnny On The Spot troupe handed out a big spoonful Jan. 11.

The JOTS improve group hosted its annual show that evening featuring current and past members of the troupe. The show also featured SHS math teacher and local comedian Byron Stamps.

JOTS founder and SHS technical theater director Joe Murdock gave an introduction to the evening explaining that improvisation or improv is a form of live theater in which the plot, characters and dialogue of a game, scene or story are made up in the moment. He promised an evening of spontaneity, entertainment and fun. He kept his word.

Audience members laughed and applauded throughout the performance. Several cast members actually gave show-stopping performances.

“I laughed so hard I cried,” Rowlett resident Connie Birdwell said. “My neighbor made me go to the show because her grandkids were performing. I’m so glad she did. We were still laughing during the ride home.”

SHS Theater Booster Club President Brenda Rozinsky said improvisational games liven up a drama class in a creative way by testing students’ abilities and sharpening their skills.

The SHS Drama Booster Club sponsored the successful event. The group supports the drama department with fundraisers and by assisting with concessions and show needs.

Rozinsky said she believes the shows are a success because “it really stretches our JOTS members.” 

“The benefits of being in an improv group are so evident because the performance is completely spontaneous meaning no scripts and preparation, just some quick thinking and lots of laughs,” she said. “The students did a great job.”

She said the booster club is hoping for a bigger turnout from the students of SHS for future shows.

“We publicized the show extensively, but JOTS is not a mainstream event and often goes unnoticed by many of the students at SHS,” she said. “We just wish more of them would come see the shows, as it is always great entertainment and a incredible forum for students to feel more comfortable in front of a group.  We hold auditions at the beginning of each year and would love for more students to come see what we are about.  The show was a fundraiser and did raise some funds, but we would have loved to see the seats filled.”

Rozinsky said she loved the tag line of the show, which was “I have no idea what I’m about to say.”

That line really summed up the show.

“Look for future JOTS shows,” she said. “We love what we do, and the alumni show was a perfect opportunity to bring together this talented group of current and past students.”