By MEAGAN ROPPO
Contributing Writer
[email protected]

This Saturday, Allegheny College Television will step out of the box with “Allegheny Live,” a night full of music, comedy and improv in the Campus Center lobby.

Katie Beck, ’13, president of ACTV, explained how the organization decided to bring more laughs at Allegheny.

“For the last five or so years, ACTV has had a big film festival spring semester,” said Beck. “I talked to Hillary Upton, the special events coordinator, about doing a big fall event too.”

Upton came up with an idea for a comedy show that would take aspects from both SNL and Whose Line is it Anyway?

“So many people on campus are into comedy who like to write, do stand-up and laugh, “ Beck said. ”We’re trying to make comedy a more tangible thing.”

In addition to helping run the event, Beck will collaborate with the participating actors to rehearse and may even edit and distribute the recording of the event.

Beck will make an appearance in ACTV’s skit show, “Show Me Your Skitties.”

“It’s basically like an AA meeting with college stereotypes, like the guy who is always trying to be politically correct,” she said.

Other characters will include the “frat guy”, the “sorority girl” and the “overachiever” (played by Beck), among others.

“I give [writer] Cliff Lee total credit for it,” Beck said. “We’re also making it more relatable to the Allegheny campus. It’s funnier that way.”

Allegheny Live will also feature audience participation.

“We will be doing some improvisational games in between sets so the audience can come onstage,” said Upton.
Members of ACTV hope Allegheny Live will become an ACTV tradition.

“We want this to become an annual event,” Upton said.

Allegheny Live figures into a larger ACTV plan to expand comedic performance on campus.

The club’s plans include showcasing talented comedy actors and writers and expanding the skit show. They are meanwhile working on collaborating with Student Experimental Theater to create a comedy troupe.

“We might as well collaborate and make it a big thing,” Beck said. “Eventually, we hope that comedy troupe will play a big role in the skit show.”

Allegheny Live! will take place at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19 in the Campus Center Lobby.