Photo and story by: Brooke Rhoads
Dressed in 80s work out gear the improv troupe, OP5, took footage for the upcoming show on Friday, May 4.
Seniors Alex Carol and Alex Stompoly, juniors Eric Crump and Madeline Marx and sophomores, Alex Forshay, Mariah Studebaker, Madaline Walter-McCrary and Taylor Welch are preparing for their final show open to the public.
While details are still in the works, it is known that this performance will be on Friday, May 4 at about 5 p.m., right before Relay for Life. All proceeds will be given to the organization.
After having a talk with Director Jeff Baldwin, the team had to make a few decisions on not only whether or not the show will go on, but where to go after that, in regards to what will come of the troupe next year.
“The original date was supposed to be right after spring break, and now finally we pushed it back to [Friday] May 4,” Baldwin said.
The show almost didn’t happen at all however, due to some scheduling difficulties that the group has encountered this year.
“There hasn’t been as much organization as we needed,” team captain Studebaker said.
The previous theater director, Stephanie Sears, attempted to form an improv troupe, “The Breakfast Club,” but they only met in the mornings, and after only three months they ended the group due to other conflicts with the schedules of the members.
“It hasn’t been ‘difficult’ it’s our first year,” said Baldwin. “I think the biggest challenge comes down to one thing, scheduling.”
Another factor that some, such as Welch, consider ‘difficult’ is the plethora of opinions.
“It [differing opinions] just makes it take a lot longer to come to a conclusion,” said Welch, “because certain people have ideas and other, new members, including myself don’t know what’s going on and it’s hard for new members to figure out games and stuff.”
Many plans are already in the works for next year.
Baldwin plans to make a ‘master schedule’ of sorts to keep the group on track. The troupe is also considering enlisting the help of multiple team captains. No matter what the changes, the group hopes to remain together next year.
“OP5 is a great thing and right now it’s still the first year,” said Studebaker. “There’s a lot we’ve learned and it’s something we hope to keep going.”