Just Add Water

Just Add Water (JAW) is Yale’s first, worst, best, and only musical improv comedy troupe. We do long-form, short-form, and musical improvisation. This means we make up short scenes, longer multi-scene stories, songs, and musicals completely on the spot. There is no planning involved; we rely on audience suggestions for inspiration and create the rest on the fly. Comprised of the university’s funniest and most daring students, JAW performs both on- and off-campus shows, bringing laughter to diverse audiences from fellow students to elementary schoolers to retirees. We’ve performed at a variety of venues including Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, The Second City in Chicago, and Yale Clubs around the country. Additionally, we host workshops where we let participants in on the secrets to our success! We’re always eager to introduce new people to the exciting fun that musical comedy improv has to offer.

Performances

On-Campus Shows

We perform on campus about five times per semester. Some are standard shows, like the one at Family Weekend, and others are themed, like at Valentine's Day or Halloween. There are no special rehearsals before shows, because, you know, it's improv.

Off-Campus Shows

We also perform off campus several times each semester, bringing the magic of made-up comedy to locations from high schools and retirement homes to hospitals and private venues.

Workshops

JAW holds workshops for improvisers of all ages! From corporate events with entry-level employees all the way to the big boss, to K-12 schools with excited middle schoolers, we do our best to teach the fundamentals of dry (non-musical) and wet (musical) improvisation. Our director will lead dry games where people act out scenes in trios or pairs and our musical director–a skillful pianist–will lead a wet game where everyone builds a song together. We do both intimate workshops with small groups and larger workshops with 30+ people. No matter the size of the group, we make sure to get everyone comfortable and involved so that they can sing and improvise to the best of their ability.

Our Improv

Our repertoire is enormous and varied, and we mix it up to keep the ~funny fresh~ at each new show. For instance, in the game “Rydell High,” a normal scene takes place until an audience volunteer shouts the code word Kenickie. Then, the improviser who was just talking has to burst into a song about their last sentence in whatever genre or artist that the audience suggests. This could be anything from pop or rap to blues or jazz to gregorian chant or opera! We start with shorter games and end each show with a full-blown, never-been-seen-before Broadway musical. This twenty-minute-long affair contains drama-filled scenes expressed through song and even improvised choreography, all based on a title suggested by the audience. From a world without numbers to union meetings in a soul cycle gym, who knows what’ll happen next when we hop onto the stage.

Rehearsals

We rehearse twice a week for about two hours each rehearsal. We work on both our dry and wet skills, getting feedback from each other along with our wonderful Director and Music Director. It’s work, but it’s also fun. If only writing papers and solving problem sets also involved raucous laughter with your friends!

Hanging Out, Generally

Just Add Water is a professional troupe, but beyond that, we're a group of friends. Being in the group allows you to get to know people that you otherwise wouldn't necessarily meet. Our time together includes (but isn’t limited to) eating pizza on Friday at the Yale Farm, catching dinner before or after rehearsals, and fun post-show hangouts. We often see each others' shows on campus like plays, musicals, and acapella concerts. Joining Just Add Water means joining a family!