March 29, 2024

ComedySportz team makes jokes in lieu of baskets in March Madness matches

By Justin Tam
Staff Writer

Every year, people around the country fill out brackets and sit down to watch the NCAA tournament. But the madness doesn’t need to stop at basketball because Mira Costa’s ComedySportz is participating in its own March Madness.

Mira Costa’s own improv troupe is currently in the middle of the second round of this competition. ComedySportz’s brand of compelling and witty and improvisational comedy has long been a cornerstone of Mira Costa’s Drama Department.

Participation in competitions like this adds a sense of urgency to the often relaxed and fun atmosphere of a regular Comedy Sportz match.

Lindon Chen / La Vista

“We’re really used to just playing for fun and playing to entertain,” ComedySportz manager and senior Jason Boxer said. “I think the added pressure of this being a match to win, and not just to enjoy, made us all a little more nervous, but at the same time it made us all really excited.”

The ComedySportz March Madness tournament takes place on Saturdays at 1 and 4 p.m. in March and April and is scored based on the rulings of the two ComedySportz judges and the applause from the audience. The judges are members of the ComedySportz L.A. company and vote on the scenes, providing two-thirds of the scoring input. The other third is decided by the audience.

Mira Costa’s ComedySportz team won its first-round match against Oak Park High School and is playing in the second round on April 9 against Claremont High School. The opening rounds of March Madness are half matches.

“The first round was close, the final score was 14 to 15. [Oak Park High School] was really talented; they might be the best team we’ve ever played against,” Boxer said. “Myself, Leo Shaw, Delphi Borich, and Laurel Andersen all played this match. Next round we’re planning on changing up the teams a little bit.”

Winners of the tournament get to play a pro match with mixed teams of ComedySportz L.A.’s own professional players and the High School League players. The best of the crop are also invited to play against ComedySportz LA’s college teams in May and June.

The next round of the tournament takes place at ComedySportz L.A.’s theatre in Hollywood on April 9 against Agora High School at 1 p.m. Tickets for the match can be bought online at http://www.comedysportzla.com/shows/show-schedule.

“Mira Costa took risks with their game choices,” High School League coach and referee Jen Bascom said. “Taking risks in the name of saving the other players is what makes improv work. “

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