Lethbridge based improv group Drama Nutz’s Feb. 1 show at the NAAG Gallery (255 12C Street North) is B.Y.O.C— Bring Your Own 
Chair.
Drama Nutz director David Gabert has been researching other theatre companies for the past six months and has a wealth of new ideas he wants to try in Lethbridge including Bring Your Own Chair.
“We want the experience to be as a close as sitting to sitting in your own living room as possible,” Gabert said adding they are suggesting people bring their favourite beanbag chair or exercise ball to sit on— anything people don’t mind hauling up a flight of stairs to the show. They will supply chairs for those who don’t want to bring their own.
He likes the idea of supporting the NAAG Gallery by renting it for shows.
“It’s not a theatre space, it’s an art studio,” he said adding there is a stage, but the actors will be sitting on it between scenes instead of performing on it.
“ We want to be able to support the art community by performing at the NAAG Gallery, because that is income for them,” he said.
It will be a slight departure from the family friendly shows they do at community events like the Jail -N-Bail they were most recently involved in or at CKXU Loves You and Canada Day or the custom improv shows to do for various companies who hire them or lately at Lethbridge schools.
“It’s not going to be the family friendly show we usually do, the show will be more like the uncensored show we did during the 30 hour Improv-a-thon (they did in November),” he said.
The performers for the show include Jonny Kirsch, Erica Barr, Mark Ogle, Hanna Rud and musician Ryan Shiskowski.
If Bring Your Own Chair improv is successful, they plan on performing a regular monthly show at the NAAG.
Gabert noted having a regular place to perform like the NAAG allows the group the freedom to explore ideas like Saturday Night Live style sketch comedy, murder mysteries, or even more unique, serialized, improvised soap operas and improvised musicals like they did at the 30-Hour -Improv-a-thon.
Doors open, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m., with the show beginning. Admission is seven dollars if you bring your own chair or $10 without.
