Junior sociology major Joel Dixon and sophomore communication major Joel Austin perform Saturday evening with Zoiks! at Natasha’s in downtown Emporia. Kellen Jenkins/The Bulletin

Last Saturday, Zoiks! performed at Natasha’s for a crowd of about 40 people.

“It wasn’t one of our best shows,” said Luke Lehman, junior English major. “It’s hard to hear in a bar and hard to talk. We did a lot of long form which is tough on the audience and for us because there’s not a lot of breaks and you just having to keep building on the story.”

Overall, Lehman said the group likes performing at Natasha’s.

“I like just getting up in front of people and having fun,” said Joel Austin, sophomore communications major. “We have a really good group, which makes it fun to perform. Tonight we had a smaller audience, but it was more dedicated fans.”

The owner of Natasha’s, James Roberts, said Zoiks! is one of a variety of acts that he likes to bring to the bar.

“We try to host a wide variety of things so we so we don’t get the same things over and over,” Roberts said. “That way it’s different for everyone to see.”

As a fan of improv comedy because of its unpredictability, Roberts likes hosting Zoiks! in particular because most of the performers are fairly new to comedy.

“I like to watch no name comedians,” Roberts said. “They’re edgier because they’re trying to get a big name.”

As part of an act, Zoiks! performers pulled a member of the audience, Donley, on stage and incorporated her into their act. She said the experience was not an unfamiliar one.

“Being pulled up on stage was like a day in the life of being friends with a bunch of improv kids,” said Katie Donley, senior photography and sculpture major. “I go to every show, all the performers are my friends.”

While their most recent show was local, the group often travels to different cities around the state, mostly Kansas City, Salina and Wichita, and has performed in various venues.

“There’s a lot of places you wouldn’t expect that we go,” Lehman said. “One time we went to a country club. It was really awkward at first, but it was fun. I don’t think (the audience) knew a lot about improv comedy before we came but they were a really great crowd.”
    Though, Lehman prefers performing at ESU.

“I love the campus shows,” Lehman said. “Emporia students are just a fun audience because they are filthy college kids and there’s a lot you can say that will make them laugh.”

For those interested in improv comedy, Zoiks! will hold auditions in mid February. The auditions will take place over a couple days, one of which is a workshop to familiarize perspective performers with improv comedy and allow them to become acquainted with the group.

“The workshop is really helpful because it gets people warmed up for the audition and allows them to get comfortable with the other performers and really get prepared for the audition,” Lehman said.

Lehman said there are many qualities sought in an improv performer.

“Going out and having fun and being confident is huge, but not over confident,” Lehman said. “You have to be able to make the person you are working with look better by helping them out on stage.”

Send article as PDF to