By Leon Celan
Improvisers have a certain shine to them. At the University Players, they come from every corner walk of life, each bringing unique quirks, backgrounds, and styles. But what ties them together, unmistakably, is a love for the English language, and a sparkle in their eyes that only improv can ignite.
The first time I attended a University Players show—the improv movie night As You Want It—I was mesmerized. I knew it would be fun, but I hadn’t expected this level of talent. There was something magic in the air: not only were the performers draped in eye-catching pink details, reflecting the UP brand with flair, but they were improvising their hearts out with a freshness and creativity that rivaled seasoned pros. This wasn’t just a performance; it was an experience that had the whole room laughing and leaning in. I felt a strong pull to be part of it myself, even if it meant skipping my weekend movie plans just to catch the next show.
Inspired, I sent an email to the UPs, hoping they might run open improv sessions or workshops where newcomers could join in. Michel, the technical director, responded with a surprise: “We don’t currently have open sessions,” he said, “but let’s revive them together.” It was a wideopen invitation—a real chance to bring something to life—and I couldn’t say no.
I felt a strong pull to be part of it myself.
Together, we formed a small UP improv committee and launched what we called UPlay: open improv sessions inviting anyone interested to come along and give it a go. People of all ages and backgrounds joined, each one adding their own fl avour and energy to the mix. At first, committee members led the sessions, but soon we invited others to try their hand at leading, too. As any improviser will tell you, guiding a group changes your relationship to the craft—it demands a deeper understanding of the dynamics at play and reveals hidden layers. Teaching improv made us all stronger, more connected, and more daring in our creative choices.
From this community, a smaller, dedicated team began to take shape: a group who wanted to focus on one specific long-form improv method, called the Armando, and to develop it with purpose. This group, of which I was a member, became The Shiny Things. Before we knew it, we were performing alongside As You Want It, debuting our own brand of improvised scenes and building up on the UP’s stage with shows that were playful, surprising, and all our own. To this day, we continue to performing together and to training as a dedicated group, exploring new techniques, and pushing our collective boundaries with each show.
It’s a community that lets everyone shine!
My path from audience member to performer is just one example of how the University Players open doors for anyone willing to step through. Here, your passion for the craft is enough to find a place, whether onstage or off. The story of the Shiny Things shows what happens when individual ambition meets collective creativity: an environment where ideas spark, voices blend, and everyone grows. That spirit of openness and collaboration is what makes the University Players so much more than a group: It’s a community that lets everyone shine!
Photo (c) University Players
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