Silly Outrageous Funny Actors, SOFA will be performing on Nov. 13 in Algonkian Elementary  at 7p.m. to open for, Last Ham Standing, a professional improv troupe, to help raise money for local Girl Scouts troops. SOFA is made of some devoted students who simply just want to make people laugh. Member, junior Tiffany Pham, explains that doing improv is not just for the audience but for the members themselves.  

 “I think improv is when you can be yourself and be creative. It’s fun thinking about random characters or situations on the spot and then being able to portray them right there,” said Pham.

 The troop is lead by improv enthusiast Matt McDermott  whose improv mentor was the person who started SOFA about ten years ago at Potomac Falls. This will be his first full year leading SOFA and he seems to be the most passionate one out of all of them.

 “I love improv because it really allows you to drop the fear of everyday life. It allows you to become someone you usually wouldn’t be,” said McDermott.

Comedy and improv both make people laugh but they have obvious differences. Senior member Jay Gallagher explains the difference between stand up and improv,

 “Stand up is rehearsed and practiced and the part that makes it funny is that it’s unexpected. It’s off the wall and you don’t expect the answer,” said Gallagher.

 The members feel they have an advantage here because with improv “you can put whatever personal touch on it that you would like,” said freshman member Robert McNickle.

 Whether it’s the big game or an important meet or opening night, there is a feeling that  hasn’t been fully explained , “It’s nervous and nerve racking and thrilling and exciting all at the same time,” said Gallagher. However that feeling is, “when I feel the best,” said sophomore member Katie Elliott.