On December 13, Illinois State University’s Improv Mafia became the College Improv Tournament’s Lower Midwest Regional Champion for the fifth straight year. The Lower Midwest Region includes Downstate Illinois, as well as all of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio. After winning its preliminary match against the Roial Players and Great White Narcs, the Improv Mafia advanced to the finals against preliminary match winners Spicy Clamato, The Humor Artists’ Suspended Disbelief, and 8th Floor Improv.
The self-coached Improv Mafia is one of the most successful college improv troupes in the country and have even received national recognition for the development of their own improv forms.
Winning the region for the fifth straight year was a major accomplishment, particularly given the challenging timing this year, coming at the end of finals in December, instead of in February as in the past. Mafia Member Devin G. Prior said:
The experience was pretty wild! We didn’t have as long to prepare for this competition as we have in the past, which made us have to move faster and work harder more than ever. But I’ve also been improvising with these guys for 3–4 years so I knew that we could overcome the time challenge easily.
Member Garrett Douglas agreed, saying:
Ditto. It was the most fun thing I’ve ever done and I am still amazed that we got an award for playing together.
Ally Morton said:
We were like animals, but sweating more.
Dee Savaria said:
I was a bit nervous, considering it was my first year performing in the competition. I had watched the older members of mafia from the audience for two years in anticipation. But being able to look at all of my best friends playing on stage together, I knew I was in safe hands.
Brian Stick Meslar refused comment, asserting his Fifth Amendment rights.
The Improv Mafia will next compete in the National Championship, which will be held March 14, 2015, at the Vittum Theater in Chicago.
The Mafia with their trophy.
