An Off Center rehearsal is filled with chatter from its members brainstorming. “Will this be funny? Can we use this prop? What should we fine tune to make it funnier?” Within these discussions (and the interview) Off Center members gave many small side jokes that would make anyone laugh.
“It’s a creative and high energy club,” said President of Off Center, Chris Fitzgerald, when asked to described Off Center. Off Center is the Stevens Comedy Club. The club puts on two improv and two sketch shows each semester. Fitzgerald is in charge of ensuring sure this happens, “I oversee and make sure the shows get done.” Vice President Alex Molwitz assists Chris by scheduling the flight rehearsals, which are rehearsals for the sketch shows.
In this weekend’s show, Syriasly, Fitzgerald said that “any Hamilton fans or culture club fans” should come out to the show. Alex broadened the message by mentioning that anyone with an iPhone should attend. “If you’ve got a big [expletive], you’re going to want to be at the next off center show,” said David Estrada, who described himself as a general in his third year of service. “I want someone to come to the show with a sock in their pants and say ‘I heard this is where the people with the big [expletive] come’”.
How does Off Center create a show such as the one this weekend? “For every show, we start with nothing and get to the point where we create an hour-long show” said Fitzgerald. They pitch ideas, write them, and figure out what roles everyone has. For each show, the process is divided into two parts: the first part focuses on the writing the script for the show and picking the sketches, while the second part focuses on recruiting people for each role and practicing the sketches. Off Center aims to create sketches that are fun to perform in and fun to watch. The sketches they create are akin to those on Saturday Night Live and criticize elements of Stevens and everyday society. For example, this weekend’s show pokes fun at a recent ruling the Stevens administration has made and the popular musical “Hamilton”.
Inside and outside Stevens, Off Center has gotten numerous accolades. President Farvardin and Captain Maggie have attended Off Center shows in the past. They have even run out of seats at their shows. Nationally, Off Center placed fourth in the College Improv Tourney and first place on the East Coast. Molwitz also mentioned that Off-Center has “fed many hungry college students” with the pizza at their shows. Molowitz also mentioned, “there are other people who come close to being as funny as me” as a reward from being a member of Off Center. This builds onto an idea that multiple other Off Center members said they enjoyed doing: making people laugh. What makes it even better, according to them, is that they get to do it with friends.
Fitzgerald advised that anyone interested in Off Center talk to any of members during or after the show. He also said to email offcenter@stevens.edu or simply stop by to one of their meetings in Pierce 116 every Tuesday at 9:00 PM. At the end of the meeting, Molwitz added that “we accept donations made out to my name” to end the comedic interview.
Off Center’s next show: Syriasly will be this Friday, February 17 at 9:00 PM and Saturday, February 18 at 8:00 PM. Both of these shows will be in Babbio 122.
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