On The Spot Improv is Hawaii's longest running improv group. Established 2001, On the Spot from Aiea Hawaii, have been entertaining audiences all across the country with their unique brand of improvised theater. The group has been called one of the most innovative improv groups in the world by Chicago Improv Festival Executive Producer Jonathan Pitts for their unique approach to improvised theatre. Their signature style incorporates narrative storytelling, minimal dialog, and strong blocking to create cinematic images to tell complex stories.
OTS made a name for themselves in the national improv community creating several original genre-esque formats, such as their improvised macabre show "Tell Tale Dreadful," their improvised homage to the master of suspense "Hitchcock," their playful 1920's live action silent movie show "HUSH"
They Have performed all over the country such as the Austin Out of Bounds Comedy Festival, Phoenix Improv Festival, and recently returned 2011 Chicago Improv Festival for a fourth time.
The group also hosts the annual Improvaganza Hawaii festival of Improv. Improvaganza is a gathering and celebration of Improvised theatre in all its diverse expressions. It is Hawaii’s only festival dedicated to Improv comedy and improvised theatre. Improvisers from all over the world come to Honolulu for a weekend of improv performances, workshops, and events. The festival strives to cultivate Hawaii’s local improv theater community by showcasing local and mainland improvisers while providing opportunities for them to network with each other. The festival also strives to raise the profile of this rare art form by introducing audiences to entertaining, stimulating, and thought provoking performances, and by offering improvisational workshop with some of the country's best improv teachers. 2011 will be the sixth annual Improvaganza
Alissa Joy Lee
Alissa's first show with OTS was the Unwritten Works Of William Shakespeare in 2008, She has studied improv with several instructors and has a BA in Theatre from UH Manoa. She has performed on stage for the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival & various shows at Kumu Kahua Theatre.
Art Koshi
Art Koshi has been improvising music for about 12 years. After making up music for dancers at The University of Hawaii and Ballet Hawaii he joined OTS in 2006 as the group’s musical accompanist. He has provided the improvised musical score for various OTS shows including OTS: THE MUSICAL, TENPROV, and HUSH.
Garrick Paikai
Garrick Paikai is the founding member and the artistic director of “On The Spot.” He is a former member of improv troupe "Loose Screws" as well as an alumnus of the NBC UNIVERSAL Diversity Sketch Showcase. He is well known in the National improv scene and has performed Improv in Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Austin, Monterey, and San Francisco.
Jordan Savusa
Jordan Savusa is a local actor, comedian, and improviser. As a standup comedian, he has opened for big names such as JoKoy and Daman Wayans. He is also a contracted player for "Honolulu Theater for Youth" and has been cast in productions of Goodnight Moon, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and the Complete Works of William Shakespeare.
Rod Cachola
Rod Cachola has been performing improv with On the Spot since 2001. He has studied improv and theater at Leeward Community College and currently studies dance at the Rosalie Woodson Dance Academy. He has performed improv at the Chicago Improv festival and the Austin Out of Bounds Comedy Festival.
On the Spot’s Improvised live action 1920’s silent movie “Hush” is by far the most mature format to the group’s arsenal of original works. “Hush” Premiered in February of 2009 to rave reviews. Hush captures all the charm and nostalgia of the silent movie era. Performed without uttering a single word, Hush tells stories using strong characters, physicality, and musical accompaniment.
SUSPENSE! MURDER! IMPROV! HITCHCOCK! This stylistic show premiered in February of 2010 and pays homage to the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. This show is a complete, full-length improvised Hitchcock suspense thriller, played in the period of Hitchcock’s golden age and incorporating many of his recurring themes.
The Darkest of all of On The Spot's Formats, Inspired by the work of Charles Dickens and Edgar Allen Poe "The Tell-Tale Dreadful" is the Groups first improvised Macabre Cabaret. Set in Jack the Ripper’s London, this highly stylistic show is a delightfully dark and hilarious look at madness, mayhem, and murder.
Done in the style of such classic screwball comedies of the 30's and 40's like "Some Like it Hot," "Brining Up Baby" and "My Man Godfry," Screwballed is a comedy of mistaken identity and fast talking repertoire. "Screwballed" is a hilarious heart-warming improvised play. Channeling the charm of Cary Grant, The Wit of Clark Gable, and the sass Katharine Hepburn, On the Spot's "Screwballed" is sure to entertain.
Inspired by the films of Writer, Director, and Producer Wes Anderson; TRUE WES is an improvised homage to this Auteur Film Maker. From his quirky characters, witty dialog, and stunning visual approach to storytelling ON THE SPOT's newest film format TRUE WES Captures all the things we love from the Wes Anderson universe.
Tenprov” is an improvised tribute to American author Tennessee Williams. Tenprov premiered in June 2009. Done in the tradition of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” and “A Streetcar named Desire,” Tenprov addresses many of the same themes Williams wrote about in his play. Themes like obsession, repression, carnality, and loneliness all set against the back drop of the American South, circa 1950.
Improvaganza! is a gathering and celebration of Improvised theatre in all its diverse expressions. It is Hawaii’'s only festival dedicated to Improv comedy and improvised theatre. Improvisers from all over the world come to Honolulu for a weekend of improv performances, workshops, and events. The festival strives to cultivate Hawaii’'s local improv theater community by showcasing local and mainland improvisers while providing opportunities for them to network with each other. The festival also strives to raise the profile of this rare art form by introducing audiences to entertaining, stimulating, and thought provoking performances, and by offering improvisational workshop with some of the country's best improv teachers. 2011 will be the sixth annual Improvagaza
click to go to improvaganza.com
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On The Spot is available for private performances, corporate functions, and parties. To hire OTS for your next function contact Garrick Paikai Artistic Director at (808) 224-7585 or use the contact form and send us an email.
Saturday January 7
ON THE SPOT KNOWS BEST
The Arts at Marks Garage
8:00pm show
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January 14 - (Ongoing)
OTS ACADEMY OF IMPROV
Level 1 Improv and Drop In Classes
The ARTS at Marks Garage
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Saurday February 4
11 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW
8:00pm Show
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February 15 - 18
SEATTLE FESTIVAL OF IMPROV PRESENTS ON THE SPOT'S HUSH
Wing-It Productions
5510 University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
Ethnic Cultural Theater
3940 Brooklyn Ave. N.E.
Seattle WA,
Show times: TBA
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On The Spot's macabre Cabaret show Tell Tale Dreadful premiered in February 2010. Inspired by the works of Charles Dickens and Edgar Allen Poe the improvised play is set in Victorian London during the Height f the Ripper Murders in 1880.
This video was taken on the last night of Tell Tale Dreadful opening run at the Arts at Marks Garage
Hush premiered in February 2009 to rave reviews and has become On The Spot's Signature show. The live action improvised silent movie has tour all over the country to Los Angeles, Austin, Phoenix, Santa Monica, and Chicago. This video was taken during the closing night of Improvaganza Hawaii Festival of Improv in September 2009.
This is a collection of photos from our many years of being on stage and traveling the country. We in On The Spot would like to dedicated this page to our friend and photographer Cheyne Gallarde who has taken most of these pictures for us. We've Left room to add on more.
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8 class session $150.00 Classes start January 14
1 class session $50.00 Classes start February 11
Drop in classes must be paid the day of - $25
ABOUT THE OTS IMPROV ACADEMY
We Believe everybody can improv and our improv training program's is designed is to achieve just that. We believe that learning improv builds confidence and charisma. Its a fun and adventurous. What makes our program different is our curriculum and our approach to teaching. We don't just teach the standard three tier training program, we also offer specialty workshops and workshops with guest instructors as a part of the curriculum. We also have incorporated many different improv philosophies and acting techniques in our program which we feel makes the student not only a well rounded improv actor but also a well rounded individual. Here are some description of the classes and workshops we offer.
LEVEL 1 IMPROV:
In Level 1 Improv students will learn the fundamentals of improv and basic acting techniques in a hand's on workshop environment. Students will also be able to think quickly on their feet and be comfortable performing without a script. By the end of first class session students in the class will be able to perform a simple improvised comedy scene in front of people: The class then continues learning physical improv comedy, trust, and space work. (Enrollment for this class is now open: Fill out the form at the top to register for this class.) This class starts January 14 at 10:00am at The ARTS at Marks Garage and is eight classes session long. COST $150
LEVEL 1 DROP IN CLASS:
Join us for a Level 1 Drop In Classes! Drop In Casses are open to all levels of improvisers. Its a great opportunity to practice, have some fun, and meet new people. Drop in classes allow people to try out On The Spot's innovative improv classes with out committing to the whole program. Dates for for Drop in Classes are Jan 14, 21, and 28. Cost $25. Please contact info_otsimprov.com and let us know what day you want to drop in.
*LOUDER THAN WORDS WORKSHOP:
This workshop is a onetime specialty workshop in improvising without dialog. In this workshop students learn how to use your body and emoting to create powerful character and amazing stories without uttering a single word. (Enrolment for this class is now open: Fill out the form on the top to register for this class. Please not those enrolled in LEVEL 1 IMPROV is automatically enrolled in this workshop.) This class starts January 14 at 10:00am at The ARTS at Marks Garage and is one class session long. COST$ 50
LEVEL 2 IMPROV:
Level 2 Improv focuses on improv acting and dialog. Students will learn how to work complex improvised scenes. Students will also learn how to develope strong characters, how to build emotions in a scenes, how to create an believable improvised environment on stage. Students are introduced
to narrative long form. (Enrolment for this class is not open yet.)
LEVEL 3 IMPROV:
In Level 3 Improv students will delve deeper into improv acting and start developing their own improvised show for a paying audience (Enrolment for this class is not open yet.)
OTS Academy of Improv
Saturdays Mornings
Starting Jan 14
ARTS at Marks Garage -1159 Nuuanu Ave
11 year Anniversary Show
February 4
ARTS at Marks Garage - 1159 Nuuanu Ave
SAT 8:00pm - Cost $20
Free admission to After party with Ticket
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