For the first time in seven years, an improv show was hosted at Ferris State on Thursday in the Quad Café.
Tiny Breakfast Improv Club paid a visit to Ferris showing their hilarious hands-on acting put together with help from the audience, bringing in a new take on comedy. The show featured various games that required help from the audience, which had about 35 people.
Entertainment Unlimited advisor Ben Avery provided some background on the improv group that used to be on campus.
“I’ve been told that there used to be an improv group on campus,” Avery said. “A quick search through my records tells me that they were established in 2016, but they haven’t been active in several years. Anyone interested in reviving or starting a registered student organization focusing on improv can reach out to the Center for Student Involvement.”
Avery decided to add a little bit of local touch to the events on campus by reaching out to Tiny Breakfast. The group is native to Grand Rapids, spreading their talent and spark everywhere they go.
“Tiny Breakfast is one of several improv groups local to Grand Rapids,” Avery said. “This group is known for their high energy, hilarious characters and bits and topical humor. The great thing [about] working with local talent is that they’re almost always familiar with the area and Ferris State University. They know what kind of audience to play to when it comes to a college campus and that works in everyone’s favor. Tiny Breakfast jumped at the opportunity to come to Ferris!”
Fueled by suggestions from the audience, the actors reenact places, people, actions, personalities and many more and create a scene with humor tailored to all audiences of many age groups. One of the group’s lead members, Jake Mate, did improv throughout his college years with the rest of his fellow members.
“We just kind of came together one night and decided that why don’t we put on something, and we all have a background in improv? Why don’t we put something together so that’s what I ended up having,” Mate said. “We just had a night where we all came together and started throwing ideas around for names for the team and figured out which one made us laugh the most and then Tiny Breakfast. Kind of what blossomed out of that evening, and then we just kind of set up a night for our first rehearsal which is at our house and took it from there,”
Not only did Mate start by performing in his college years, but he also had past connections with Ferris. With his parents being Ferris alumni and his childhood friendship with Ben Avery, the emotional connection to the campus sealed the deal.
“We’re all Grand Rapids natives, but I’m affiliated with Ben Avery, who was my childhood best friend,” Mate said. “So, we grew up together, and what’s even more crazy is my parents are alumni here. So, without Ferris I would not exist, so I owe a lot to it.”
It was a new experience everyone can be a part of. Tiny Breakfast Improv caters to audiences of all kinds whether it’s for first-timers or people who have been before, with the goal being to come up with scenes on the spot to make as many people laugh as possible.
“If you come to the show, you’re the type of audience, because you’ve made the choice to come and experience something that you have never experienced before and will never experience again,” Mate said. “Because that’s the magic of improv is we’re going to create scenes and moments based off of suggestions from the people that are in the room with us. We’re going to create the magic and then it will never be seen again.”
Students loved the funny and delightfully entertaining group. As the show went on, they grew more and more invested in the games which caused participation by audience members to grow. Laughs continued throughout the show as smiles grew wider and wider.
Other people who have experienced improv in the past also found the show hysterical. It was a great way for students to unwind from their assignments.
Diagnostic medical sonography junior Addy Buntjer commented on how she would like to see future acts.
“I think it would be really fun and bring a lot of people together,” said Buntjer. “I love improv. I think it’s so fun.”
EU’s next event will be a hypnotist, who will be performing in the D.E.C. ballrooms on Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m.