Take an inside look at the Potomac Falls improv comedy troupe, SOFA. 

    If you’re not going to see SOFA, the Potomac Falls improv comedy troupe, you’re missing out. They have seasonal shows almost every month, and $5 is a small price to pay for a night of fun and entertainment. For the members of SOFA, though, it’s a long way to go from deciding to audition, to practicing, to the actual show. 

    Some SOFA members join because they know someone in the cast already. “My friend forced me to audition,” said senior Em Goldman. “I’ve always enjoyed acting, but I liked the idea of making up my own ideas more than following a script.”

    Similarly, freshman Jordyn Medina’s sister, senior Avery Medina, urged her to try out. “She’s a really big encouragement in my life. I ended up having a lot of fun.”

    After the audition, Medina was chosen to join the cast, along with a mix of 10 other returning and new cast members. Next, before the show, the cast has to practice as a group. 

    Goldman describes each practice as chaos. Though they may be relatively simple, consisting of hang out time, planning, and playing games, the team works well together and bounces their energy off each other. 

    SOFA shows are typically performed in the Black Box, and “consist of about 10 games where we just do improv and have fun,” said sophomore Kay Weiss. 

    “Most of the time we just wing it and hope for the best,” said Medina. “I guess that’s all we can do.”

    There are a variety of games played during each show, but each cast member has their favorite. For Weiss, it’s “Late To School.” In the game, a teacher asks a student why they’re late to school, with the reasons predetermined by the audience. Two people have to pantomime, or act out, the reasons the student is late to school, while the student figures it out based on the actions alone. 

    Goldman loves “Game-O-Matic,” in which the audience supplies the cast with two prompts. Then, the cast workshops a game based on each prompt, and the most popular game to the audience, according to Goldman, is played. 

    “One of my favorite games we play is called ‘Meanwhile’ because you can go so off topic,” said Medina. “You can start anywhere and end somewhere completely different.”

    This is just a small peek at the inner workings of SOFA, a much-loved club in the Potomac Falls community. For the cast members, however, it’s more than just a club: it’s a family. From late night runs to IHOP, to the anticipation of waiting together to run onto stage, they share many fond memories. “I’ve met so many new people and formed so many new friendships,” said Weiss.

    “I made a lot of friends and connected with people from different grades,” said Medina. “They’re so fun to be around.”

SOFA’s next show is this Friday at 7pm in the Black Box.