Schtick Up: Chicago Improv Allstars in Beijing

ChopSchticks is back, with another chuckle-bringing comedy performance. Al Samuels – of NBC’s Sports Action Team and the critically acclaimed improv musical troupe Baby Wants Candy – is returning to Beijing again heading Chicago Improv Allstars, who will perform two improv shows at Joyluck in Sanlitun on June 5. Al breaks down his funny business.

You hold an MBA from Stanford University, a rare credential amongst comedians. Why did you do the MBA, and has it helped you in any way with your career as a comedian?
I had thought that I could use an MBA to help open a theater and start a film company. While I was getting the MBA, I realized I missed performing too much. After I graduated, I went back into performing, but I started a company, along with other Stanford grads, that used comedy and other skills from the arts to help employees become more creative and become better presenters. We also do comedy shows and videos for corporate clients. Having an MBA has also allowed me to appreciate the humor in what goes on in the financial world today. It’s funny to lose USD 50 million, right? … Right?

What is your favorite type of comedy to perform?
Live improv comedy is my favorite. It’s new every time – for the audience and for us on stage. Even Sports Action Team has a ton of improv in it, which makes it much more enjoyable.

What is your favorite thing about improv?
The immediacy and the surprise of “creating in the moment” with other performers. I also like the fact that the audience is part of the creation.

How much audience interaction do you allow in your performances besides shouting out the title or topic for your performance?
It depends on the show. We perform a completely improvised full-length musical twice a week for our normal show, and in that show we just get one suggestion – the title of a musical that’s never been written before – and make a whole show up based just on that suggestion. For our Chinese shows, we will probably do a number of shorter improv scenes and songs so people have the chance to call out more suggestions.

Do you have to change your content when you perform to a Chinese audience instead of to a Western audience? Some content. Obviously, there are some specific cultural references a Chinese audience won’t know, so we shy away from those. We use things we’ve learned about China and what makes Chinese people laugh in the show to make it more relevant, and we try to use things about the specific city we’re in. Also, since the show uses audience suggestions, it will, by its nature, have a lot of Chinese content.

Have you found any inspiration for your comedic material from your experiences here in China?
There’s a lot of humor in Westerners trying to navigate Chinese culture, and how clumsy [they] can be in trying to do so. There are also a lot of amusing things about China – the rivalry between the cities, for example – that’s great comedic fodder.
What tips do you have for aspiring comedians? Read, read and read! The smarter you are, the better your comedy will be. Also, do what you find funny. People want to hear a new and unique point of view.

What tips do you have for aspiring comedians?
Read, read and read! The smarter you are, the better your comedy will be. Also, do what you find funny. People want to hear a new and unique point of view.

And last but not least, do you have a foolproof joke? Something that you can always get a laugh out of, even from the most hostile audience?
Do you mean other than my love life? That’s the most foolproof joke I know!

Catch Al’s improv shows (each totally different, of course!) on Saturday, June 5 at 7pm and 10pm. RMB 300, RMB 250 (advance; buy before June 3). Tickets at 158 1026 1614 or www.beijinghomedelivery.com. Joy Luck.
Daily 11am-10pm, wine bar open until 2am. 5/F, 3.3 Mall, 33 Sanlitun Beijie, Chaoyang District. (5136 5760) 朝阳区三里屯北街33号3.3服饰大厦5层
www.chopschticks.com