Since opening the doors of Blacktop Comedy in 2010, owner Paul Burke and his troop have been providing deep belly laughs through the ingenious art of improv, stand-up comedy, and sketch comedy. The company has since grown rapidly and currently produces weekly shows, as well as classes for those wanting to learn spontaneous stagecraft, or simply gain more confidence on and offstage. Burke also offers team-building workshops for businesses and organizations that are centered on the core fundamentals of improv. “If you’re thinking, ‘I’m not funny,’ we’ll prove you can be.”

HLB: How did Blacktop Comedy begin?  

PB: I used to be shy and nervous. I loved Saturday Night Live and MADtv and wanted to make people laugh but didn’t know what to do; then I discovered improv, and it changed my life. I found people just like me, who wanted to be funny and creative and tell stories. I opened Blacktop Comedy, because I wanted to give everyone a chance to discover his or her hidden talents and become more comfortable onstage.

HLB: How do you practice improv? 

PB: We have rehearsals once a week. Improv is like a game of basketball; on the court you use your skills to play the game, and the game is different every time. In a “game” of improv we use active listening, character relationships, teamwork, and living in the moment to find the funny.

HLB: What was your recent Sit to Feed the Hungry event all about? 

PB: I saw friends helping the community by participating in Run to Feed the Hungry and asked myself, “How can I help but not run? I don’t want to get sweaty on Thanksgiving.” People contributed food or money—which was then donated to the Placer Food Bank—and we spent the morning playing board games and video games. It was so much fun, and we met [a lot of] great people.

HLB: Are your weekly shows themed?  

PB: We have two popular shows that are geared for very different audiences. Squeaky Clean is a perfect, all-ages comedy; families love it because it’s entertainment they know is OK for the whole family. We also have our Friday night favorite, Your F@#$%! Up Relationship, where we interview an audience volunteer who wants to talk about one of their past relationship horror stories, which we then use as inspiration for the show. Every show is different, and the stories are wild!

HLB: Do you have any words of encouragement for shy folks interested in improv?  

PB: I know how nervous you might be even thinking about improv, but ask yourself, “Why?” I’d suggest it’s because you really want to try it, and that scares you. Improv is a life changer, and a great way to become confident on and offstage.

by Heather L. Becker // Photos by Dante Fontana © Style Media Group

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