Andrea Hummel

A lot of wonderful and exciting things have happened to the ImproVables, Sun Lakes Community Theatre’s improvisational comedy troupe, since their inception three years ago. They have performed for several parties in Sun Lakes, at each of the Sun Lakes country clubs and even for groups outside of Sun Lakes. They have taken fields trips together to see other improv groups. Their skills and friendships have grown.

And now the ImproVables are proud to be performing and demonstrating their skills at the annual conference of The Association for Theatre in Higher Education, held this year in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) is a comprehensive non-profit professional membership organization. Founded in 1986, ATHE serves the interests of its diverse individual and organizational members, including college and university theatre departments and administrators, educators, graduate students and theatre practitioners. The Association’s web site is www.athe.org.

Sun Lakes resident Penny Peterson is a long-time member of ATHE and was the primary reason the ImproVables were invited. Peterson taught theater at an Arizona community college and became aware of this group at that time.

“This will be an opportunity for our own senior improv group to get exposure on a national level,” Peterson commented. “It will also be fun for them to meet some people with the same interests.”

The ImproVables will be taking the stage July 24 at the Fairmont Princess Hotel as part of the section of the conference focusing on senior theater programs. Other topics to be covered during this portion will be Fulfilling Older Performers’ Dreams: Where do you fit in? Exposing Theatre Students to Prison Theatre and Creating Theatre with and for Seniors.

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to showcase our unique group on a national level,” commented Phyllis Novy, one of the directors of the ImproVables. “We’re very honored to be included.”

Sun Lakes Community Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The mission of Sun Lakes Community Theatre (SLCT) is providing live theatre produced by residents of all phases of the Sun Lakes communities, providing specialized productions for targeted audiences, such as the children’s plays performed at area grade schools, creating educational opportunities for residents to develop and enhance relevant skills and supporting the development of live theatre in the surrounding community.