User:CIOArchiver/sandbox

The Whethermen is the oldest and longest running improvisational comedy troupe at the University of Virginia. and within Charlottesville itself. Founded in 1997, the Whethermen continue to perform on grounds, within the Charlottesville community, at festivals such as the North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival, at high schools around Virginia, and at various benefits and charity events. Alumni of the Whethermen have gone on to perform as part of significant names in the improv and theater world including iO (formerly ImprovOlympic) in Chicago, the Second City Conservatory Program, the Playground Theater, and the Dirty South Comedy Theater. The Whethermen have opened for such performers and events as Bobby Moynihan, The Upright Citizens Brigade, hypnotist Tom Deluca, and the Virginia Film Festival, and have been featured on Her Campus,. The group has also been recognized on multiple occasions as a key act to see before graduating, lauded for its up and coming potential , and worked with The 21 Society.

Inspiration

 * The history of the Whethermen synonymously represents the history of improvisational comedy at the University of Virginia. The aspiration for creating such a group stemmed from an impromptu string of visits in the fall of 1997 from already established improv troupes at other colleges. Performing at the Espresso Café (now Boylan Heights) in Charlottesville, University of Virginia’s student body received its first exposure to this new brand of performance comedy. It was several impressionable first years at the intimate Espresso Café who would go on to cement “improv comedy” as a hallmark of University of Virginia performance culture.

Early Formation

 * In the fall of 1997, many members of a preexisting student group, Shakespeare on the Lawn, decided to begin meeting regularly to play improv games. Organized originally by Mary Elizabeth McNulty, the group constituted an official offshoot of Shakespeare on the Lawn. The group avoided performances and largely maintained an atmosphere of informal game playing. By late-September, the group enjoyed four regulars, of which included McNulty and Ryan Blackledge. Another developmental spark came when Duke University Improv performed a show at UVA and piqued the interest of Steven Shephard, a young first-year in the audience. Living in the same dorm their first year, Shephard and Blackledge quickly joined forces. Completing the early framework of improv comedy network at UVA was Patrick Gantz, who had participated in Comedy Sports at his Northern Virginia high school. After calling a theatrically inclined friend of his, Shephard was coincidentally put in touch with Gantz and the pair began coordinating a series of improv open forums at the University’s Culbreth theater. Open to the public, the forums welcomed all to partake in any capacity. After a semester of attrition, a small faction of dedicated individuals emerged as the original members of the Whethermen. These early devotees included: Steven Shephard, Patrick Gantz, Eric Stern, Jeff Jenkins, Dale Stahl, Tom Cottril, Laura Personick, Margaret Mincks, Jessica Knowlton, and Ryan Blackledge.

Final Stages

 * The early members achieved significant progress towards solidification after performing a public show at the then Espresso Corner. Out in the world with nowhere to go but up, the group gained official Contracted Independent Organization (CIO) status at the University of Virginia by the end of the 1998 school year. The group still holds rehearsals, now generally closed to the public, but continues to explore the improv techniques and mentalities investigated in those first open forums.

Nomenclature

 * To call the group “The Whethermen” before obtaining CIO status is largely anachronistic for the troupe existed as a series of open forums long before obtaining any name. One motivation for the name stemmed from the fact that almost every time the group held an open forum, it poured down rain. Consistently making the lengthy walk to the Culbreth Theater (a building located at a distant corner of UVA’s grounds), the weather became a laughable trademark of rehearsals.


 * One of the first names actually suggested was “V.I.P.” or “Virginia Improvisational Players”, but the group soon decided they did not want such a proper sounding “Virginia” title. At a complete loss for a name but with a strong, ever-increasing desire to showcase their talents, group member Jeff Jenkins suggested “Jeff Jenkins and the Weathermen”. This was, of course, a callback to those initial improv open forums when it never failed to rain during meeting times. However, someone misinterpreted Jenkins’ suggestion as “Whether-men”, referring metaphorically to the uncertainty of improvisation. Combining these versions, the group officially adopted “The Whethermen” as the perfect name for their nascent troupe.


 * The name not only evokes the select group who were passionate enough to meet to do improv every week regardless of the weather, but also is unique, distinctive, and could not be voted down for including the word “men,” since the majority of the current members were male. Perhaps one of the largest arguments for V.I.P. was, as early member Tom Cotril put it, “If the group suddenly down the road gets taken over by militant, P.C. people the name won’t be changed to ‘The Whetherpersons’.” However, in its two-millennia-spanning lifespan, the name has undergone no modifications.

Shows

 * The Whethermen perform four full-length shows each school year, two each during the fall and spring semesters. Shows consist of both short-form games and various modes of long-form improvisation. Short-form games tend to comprise the first half of shows while the second half generally includes a long-form improv.

Festivals

 * The Whethermen have partaken in many festivals, including those at the University of Maryland (with their resident improv troupe, Erasable Inc.), James Madison University (with New and Improv’d), and Washington Improv Theater. Additionally, every year, the Whethermen travel to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to perform and participate in the North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival (formerly the Dirty South Improv Festival). The Whethermen have also played host to other improv troupes including Princeton’s Quipfire at UVA.

Gigs

 * Throughout the school year, the Whethermen perform various gigs on Grounds, in the Charlottesville community, and beyond, including schools in the Virginia Beach area. Performances are of both short and long nature and occasionally include bits of sketch comedy. Gigs in the past have included opening for hypnotist Tom Deluca, playing intermissions for various a cappella groups, and performing at events for University Programs Council. The Whethermen also perform at numerous benefits and charity events including Pancakes for Parkinson’s, Dance Marathon, and Relay 4 Life.

Auditions

 * The Whethermen traditionally hold auditions semesterly, historically taking anywhere from one to four new members at a time.

Current Members

 * Josh Bressler
 * Christian Thorsen
 * Stephen Flowers
 * Art Kulatti
 * Kyle O’Donnell
 * Anna Burke
 * Sam Miller

Alumni
The Whethermen Alumni by graduation year include:


 * 2012
 * Richie Debo
 * Connor Doyle
 * Tyler Frankenberg
 * Carolyn Murdock
 * Matthew Sipe


 * 2011
 * Mary Claire Manley
 * Peter Williams


 * 2010
 * Mike Bartlett
 * Chris Colliton


 * 2009
 * Ryan Cleary
 * Emily Hobgood
 * Brennan Lowery
 * Wes Young


 * 2008
 * Kevin Knickerbocker
 * Wink Stone
 * Martin Sheehan


 * 2007
 * Travis Laughlin
 * Blair Naylor


 * 2006
 * Mark Logsdon
 * Eric Eyerman
 * Mike Jungman
 * Pat O’Keefe


 * 2005
 * Allison Mui


 * 2004
 * Matt Semler
 * Erin Crapser
 * Kyle Cedermark
 * John Petersik


 * 2003
 * Jamie Costello
 * Jordan Brown
 * Lisa Richey


 * 2002
 * Barry Hite
 * Adam Reno
 * David Wells


 * 2001
 * Patrick Gantz
 * Ryan Blackledge
 * Greg Pokusa


 * 1999
 * Jeff Jenkins
 * Tom Cotrill


 * Unknown Year
 * Laura Personick
 * Margaret Minks
 * Jonathon Blake
 * Josh Beard
 * Jessica Knowlton
 * Carrie Barret
 * Eric Stern
 * John Provan
 * Matt King


 * Non-UVA Graduated Members
 * Matt Binninger
 * Bryan Saunders
 * Dale Stahl


 * Predecessors
 * Steven Shepard
 * Vinay Jain
 * Katie Dirks
 * Ben Jamison