{"id":8017,"date":"2025-10-21T08:20:45","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T13:20:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montoursville.k12.pa.us\/thearrowhead\/?p=8017"},"modified":"2025-10-21T08:20:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T13:20:45","slug":"rossman-reintroduces-the-improv-troupe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montoursville.k12.pa.us\/thearrowhead\/rossman-reintroduces-the-improv-troupe\/","title":{"rendered":"Rossman reintroduces the Improv Troupe"},"content":{"rendered":"

The theater program has multiple clubs and opportunities every year such as musicals and Drama Club. English teacher El Rossman shared their intent to bring back improv, an old theater club that had been gone since 2023.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The 2025 musical cast pose in their costumes. “The Little Mermaid” was the musical that the theater performed last March. If the Improv Troupe is reestablished at the high school, it will join the Drama Department’s offerings for students, along with the musical. Photo by Montoursville Music Department on Facebook<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cImprov takes a lot of skill,” said Rossman when asked why they want to bring back the unscripted theater genre. “People who <\/span>would be interested in joining are interested in doing well.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rossman expanded on the benefits of being involved with improv.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s an exciting way to explore theater without memorization, and it works especially well with neurodivergent peoples\u2019 brains,\u201d they said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cI did theater all throughout middle and high school. When I moved schools, my new school didn\u2019t have a drama club at first. I requested it and we got one the next year,\u201d said Rossman in regards to their past experiences in theater.<\/span><\/p>\n

They said that the troupe’s future plans will involve \u201clots of practice, trust exercises and vulnerability.\u201d Members will also practice speaking freely and saying the first thing that comes to their minds. Rossman also said their hopes are to have an improv show in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

Along with Rossman, Seniors Grace Barkauskas and Reese Peterson are also working to bring the club back. Barkauskas shared her memories from when the club was available in her freshman year, saying that she had a \u201cbig part in it\u201d and would like to return as a senior adviser.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited to bring it back. I miss improv, and it was a big part of my life,\u201d Barkauskas said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Peterson said that he \u201cDoesn\u2019t have an exact idea of when [the club] could come back, but that [they\u2019re] all working on it.\u201d The return of the club will depend on how much interest is shown and how many people show up with the intent to join.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Academic Decathlon team from the 24 – 25 school year shows off its hard-earned medals. Last March, they went to States for the 18th year in a row. Photo by Mitch Hart<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The possibility of taking over as the coach of Academic Decathlon after Mr. Mitch Hart\u2019s upcoming retirement also was mentioned to Rossman. <\/span><\/p>\n

Rossman said the idea \u201csounds exciting\u201d but that they are currently too busy as a first year teacher.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Featured photo (at top): English teacher El Rossman poses in their classroom with their rubber duck collection. They, along with Peterson and Barkauskas, had a meeting discussing the first steps towards bringing the Improv Club back to the high school. Photo by Nadia Farenish<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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