The Lobby (improv)
Encyclopedia
The Lobby is an improvisational comedy group based in Southern California
. Unlike many improv groups, which are composed of many members who perform on a rotating basis, The Lobby is a small, close-knit group. The audience gets to know each of the players and feel they are part of the group. The Lobby also irregularly puts up a podcast
, which further allows their audience to connect with the players.
while rehearsing for an adult Christmas show. However, the name, "The Lobby," comes from the 1950s advertisement jingle played in movie theaters, "Let's All Go to the Lobby
."
The Lobby first performed on December 23, 2005 at the Renaissance Theatre in Glendora, California
. After the Renaissance Theatre closed at the end of 2007, The Lobby moved to The Fontana Community Players' Theatre in Fontana, California
and STAGEStheatre in Fullerton, California
, where they currently remain.
On April 8, 2009, MyFOX Los Angeles
announced that The Lobby was voted "Best Improv Comedy Group" in Orange County
for 2009. The Lobby won again in 2010.
The Lobby started the Orange County Improv Cup, an improv tournament with randomly assigned teams of improvisers from all over Southern California, to raise money for the Hole in the Wall Camps
. The team of Tony Rey, Staci Pratt, Kristin Sanchez, and Jill Tsai won the first ever Improv Cup title.
and ComedySportz
. A normal show consists of 10 to 12 short improv games that are each based on a suggestion from the audience.
Every shortform show contains a game in which The Lobby's host, Josh Nicols, interviews an audience member and then the game is played based on that interview. An example of an interview game is Eulogy
, in which the players act out the audience member's funeral. The Lobby has also invented several games, such as CSI: Punnsylvania, which is based on the television show CSI: Miami
. CSI: Punnsylvania was featured in William Hall's
book, The Playbook, Improv Games for Performers.
Occasionally, The Lobby has performed a longform show. The format of the longform show is based on a genre of movie (such as a romantic comedy
or comic book
movie). The host gets a handful of suggestions from the audience, and then the players act out a twenty minute movie based on those suggestions.
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. Unlike many improv groups, which are composed of many members who perform on a rotating basis, The Lobby is a small, close-knit group. The audience gets to know each of the players and feel they are part of the group. The Lobby also irregularly puts up a podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
, which further allows their audience to connect with the players.
History
The Lobby was formed by Josh Nicols, Matt Thomas, and Chase Hooper in the lobby of the Haugh Performing Arts CenterHaugh Performing Arts Center
The Robert Haugh Performing Arts Center is a 1440-seat Theater located on the campus of Citrus College.Citrus College is also home to the Citrus Singers.- External links :*...
while rehearsing for an adult Christmas show. However, the name, "The Lobby," comes from the 1950s advertisement jingle played in movie theaters, "Let's All Go to the Lobby
Let's All Go to the Lobby
"Let's All Go to the Lobby" is a 1953 animated musical snipe played as an advertisement before the beginning of the main film. It featured a family of four talking concession stand products, singing "Let's all go to the lobby to get ourselves a treat" and walking to the concession stand.The...
."
The Lobby first performed on December 23, 2005 at the Renaissance Theatre in Glendora, California
Glendora, California
Glendora is a municipality in Los Angeles County, California, United States, east of downtown Los Angeles. As of the 2010 census, the population of Glendora was 50,073....
. After the Renaissance Theatre closed at the end of 2007, The Lobby moved to The Fontana Community Players' Theatre in Fontana, California
Fontana, California
Fontana is a city of 196,069 residents in San Bernardino County, California. Founded in 1913, it remained essentially rural until World War II, when entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser built a large steel mill in the area...
and STAGEStheatre in Fullerton, California
Fullerton, California
Fullerton is a city located in northern Orange County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 135,161.It was founded in 1887 by George and Edward Amerige and named for George H. Fullerton, who secured the land on behalf of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway...
, where they currently remain.
On April 8, 2009, MyFOX Los Angeles
KTTV
KTTV, channel 11, is an owned-and-operated television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in Los Angeles, California. Serving the vast Los Angeles metropolitan area, KTTV is a sister station to KCOP , Los Angeles' MyNetworkTV station...
announced that The Lobby was voted "Best Improv Comedy Group" in Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
for 2009. The Lobby won again in 2010.
The Lobby started the Orange County Improv Cup, an improv tournament with randomly assigned teams of improvisers from all over Southern California, to raise money for the Hole in the Wall Camps
Hole in the Wall Camps
The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps is a nonprofit organization that unites the world's largest family of camps for children with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. Hole in the Wall Camps are free of charge to all campers and their families regardless of their ability to pay and...
. The team of Tony Rey, Staci Pratt, Kristin Sanchez, and Jill Tsai won the first ever Improv Cup title.
Format
The Lobby usually performs shortform improv, very similar to the styles of Whose Line is it Anyway?Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Whose Line Is It Anyway? is a short-form improvisational comedy TV show. Originally a British radio programme, it moved to television in 1988 as a series made for the UK's Channel 4, for a 10 series run...
and ComedySportz
ComedySportz
ComedySportz is an improvisational comedy organization started in 1984 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by a group of local comedians including Dick Chudnow, Bob Orvis, Brian Green and many others.-Format:...
. A normal show consists of 10 to 12 short improv games that are each based on a suggestion from the audience.
Every shortform show contains a game in which The Lobby's host, Josh Nicols, interviews an audience member and then the game is played based on that interview. An example of an interview game is Eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
, in which the players act out the audience member's funeral. The Lobby has also invented several games, such as CSI: Punnsylvania, which is based on the television show CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation....
. CSI: Punnsylvania was featured in William Hall's
William Hall (actor)
William Hall is an actor, director, trainer, mask maker in San Francisco, California. He is the editor of The Playbook, Improv Games for Performers....
book, The Playbook, Improv Games for Performers.
Occasionally, The Lobby has performed a longform show. The format of the longform show is based on a genre of movie (such as a romantic comedy
Romantic comedy film
Romantic comedy films are films with light-hearted, humorous plotlines, centered on romantic ideals such as that true love is able to surmount most obstacles. One dictionary definition is "a funny movie, play, or television program about a love story that ends happily"...
or comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
movie). The host gets a handful of suggestions from the audience, and then the players act out a twenty minute movie based on those suggestions.
Members
- Josh Nicols
- Matt Thomas
- DJ O'Hea
- Alex Herrera
- Chase Hooper
- Carl Entner
- Austin Floyd