See-Saw Comedy Troupe

Improvisational comedy is a risky endeavor in the world of performance. I have tried it and couldn’t quite get the knack. You may be familiar with shows like “Who’s Line Is It Anyway”, which showcased the talents of comedians and actors playing classic improv games based on suggestions from the audience. It’s hit and miss. I have seen it work and it’s amazing. I’ve seen it not work and it’s painful.

John Passadino, of Sayville, is the director/producer of the Improv Troupe, See Saw Comedy. John started in stand-up comedy and was a regular at Rob Bartlett’s open mic at Jimmy’s Comedy Alley in Bayside, Queens. John went on to study Improv with Paul Sills, the founder of Second City.

After years of performing in many groups, including one with Oscar Nunez known for his role in NBC’s “The Office”, John decided to form his own on Long Island. See Saw has performed anywhere from a local bar in front of the bartender and a couple of stand–up comics, to The Vets Hospital in Northport. Now, in their 8th year, they have found a home in St. Paul’s Church, Northport. Although it’s only a church basement, it’s a great place to see a show and experience See Saw at work.

What makes See Saw Comedy different from other improv troupes, according to John is “we are more than just another  version of “Who’s Line Is It Anyway”. We have written sketch shows and produced our own musical comedy last year called "One Chance, One Dream". “Our roster consists of musical theater actors, dramatic actors, stand-ups and people who are just naturally funny and therefore literally do not need any training. We also are very diverse in our age range. We have people in their teens and people in their 60's” We also do not stick with a particular style. We use whatever works. Consequently many very talented people have come through our doors”.

As much as John wanted to make this a career, like any married man with kids, he took time off to raise the family, but his creativity was utilized in home movies and occasional shows. He is proud that his kids have picked up his creative gene, with his son on keyboards, and his other as the videographer, they have literally become part of the See Saw family.

I asked John what he would suggest to others who want become performers. “Keep it simple. There is no need to spend a ton of money on lessons or showcases that promise to get you seen. Go to open mic nights and sing or do a couple of minutes of stand-up, get into community theater productions. Just do it. Enjoy the process. If you are in it for fame and fortune and not because you are having fun, you may want to re-assess and do something else”. (I couldn’t agree more).

See Saw is always out to expand their repertoire. With a sizable cast of characters, they add original song parodies, original sketches as well as the typical audience participation games. They also hold regular auditions for new cast members.

See Saw hopes to develop family friendly shows. John says “I want to produce shows with young people, for young people. Kids have incredible imaginations and they love to play. That is where the improv idea came from. I also want to do a show where we have audience members integrate into the troupe for the whole show so that they can experience what it's like to be kids again for a while. The bottom line is we want to continue to push the creative and comedic envelope and by the way we will collect those envelopes in the basement of St Paul's Church, so be generous".

You can find out more at their website www.seesawcomedy.com

More about the author at www.steviegb.com