By Elana Melzer, Head Producer of McK Radio
Title photo: McK Improv flyer for their upcoming show, designed by Madison Bonner.
McK Improv will be taking their humor and wit off campus for the first time to the Looking Glass Playhouse on 301 W. St. Louis St. in Lebanon, Ill. for a performance Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. The entry cost will be $5 for general audience and $3 for McKendree students who show their school ID.
The McK Improv Club has shown off their skills in the past by having two performances at 1828 Café: one in the fall of 2024 and the other in the spring of 2025. Madison Bonner, a 3rd year at McKendree, got the chance to perform in the spring show. While she had some stage fright being up there for the first time, she mentioned that the practices helped her to build more confidence.
The club meets once a week in Eisenmayer to practice skits and improve their skills. Improv is a form of acting where the performers come up with dialogue and scenes on the spot. Bonner explained that actors must “jump into a scene and create it entirely from scratch”, which requires quick thinking and collaboration.
With improv, “you’re really flying by the seat of your pants”, the club’s advisor Michelle Magnussen remarked. As she describes it, “Improvisation—like many other skills—the more you do it, the more that muscle gets flexed, and your brain gets used to the limitations and the thinking on your feet”.
The club previously worked with the Looking Glass Playhouse at Lebanon’s 2024 Victorian Holiday event. Dow White, President of McK Improv, stated that he worked with one of the managers of Looking Glass Playhouse during this process. The two exchanged contact information, and the manager mentioned potentially having the Improv team over to do a show.
White also spoke with Magnussen in the spring about taking the Improv Club off campus. Magnussen recounted that she was really glad to hear the Improv troupe would “get a chance to get off campus and get additional eyes on [them] … and also maybe start building some bridges with Looking Glass”.
The shows at 1828 Café have brought in small crowds that helped the club members improve their skills and prepare to take on a bigger stage.
McK Improv members are excited for their upcoming performance at the Looking Glass Playhouse. They have been planning out their skits and Bonner has designed a flyer to advertise the upcoming show.
While Bonner is nervous about performing on a larger stage, she is also looking forward to the performance at Looking Glass Playhouse.
“With scripted performances, you practice exactly what you’re going to do,” Bonner explained, “But with improv, you have no idea what you’re going to do until you’re in the scene. You don’t have a script or lines to fall back on, so nothing to rely on but your own creativity. Having a crowd also increases my anxiety a bit, but it’s exciting at the same time, since we’re going to be on an official stage!”
White is already planning the club’s next live performances. White commented that he is currently working on getting a show at the Hett for next semester. He also plans on speaking with other theaters to set up future shows for the club.
