The cast got together for our first show in Berks County, after our training this summer in Chicago. We rehearsed intensively after our return from The Windy City, and worked hard to keep up with creating characters and relationships, instead of simply going for the humor.

We decided to insert more Long Form into the show and WOW! Did we have a blasting good time!

We played Rashomon, and Vacation, Instead Of, Dating Game, Fairy Tale News and a few Short Forms including a simple Alphabet Game and 264. The audience was small but mighty, and it was so gratifying not only to hear their guffaws of laughter, but to interact with them on a very easy and intimate level.

And yes, once again, it was I who wound up with the "Mask of Shame" - just because I said the word "poop!" Aw, come on, folks! Anyway, that was during Amish Oracle, so I simply had to wear the mask along with my Amish hat ...

For Rashomon, the audience suggestion was "Wildfire" and, nods to Bill McLoughlin, my good Improv buddy, I took on the character of Wildfire herself, which was perfect because then Rick decided he was Dan Fogelberg (I ran calling Wildfire...) and the same characters showed up later in Fairy Tale News, since the audience shouted out "Dan Fogelberg Steals Christmas!" I'll try to have the videos up sometime tomorrow or Wednesday. It was crazy!

Andi shone as usual in The Dating Game; as did Rob in Instead Of ... we really have to start coming up with tougher ideas from the audience (hey, when the audience decides one Dating Game character is a Bovine Inseminator with Alzheimer's, and Andi GETS IT, RIGHT DOWN TO THE WORD "INSEMINATOR" - it's time to get tough, ya know what I'm saying here?)

This time for REPEAT (when the bell rings, the speaker must immediately change whatever it is they said and/or did to something completely different) we had Rick walk amongst the audience members and let them ring the bell when they wanted us to Repeat. It was extremely enjoyable, and the audience absolutely LOVED being a part of the show in that way!

Then off to my parents' house, slept for a few hours, headed on down to QVC, Quacked from 4-6AM for Fashion Day, came back home and slept until 2:22 PM Monday afternoon. Now I am wrapping up my day.

Thanks SO MUCH to our audience members from last night - you were absolutely the best!

DB EXPLORES LONG-FORM, CHICAGO-STYLE August 30, 2009

Following our members attending intensive workshop training at Chicago's famous Second City Training Center, our weekly rehearsals have been centered on exploring Long Form improvisation. These interesting and entertaining displays are much more than the Short Form "games" you see on Whose Line Is It Anyway; they are 20-30 minute explorations of character and story, all developed on one audience suggestion. Each player is "given" a character by their partner, and as story lines heighten, each player not only keeps the character they began with; but they also maintain that same character and develop different relationships with other characters so that by then end of the improv, the entire story is somehow intertwined, and every character has a unique and distinguished relationship with every other character on the stage. Performances like this have a variety or forms: The Harold, French Braid, La Ronde are just a few. Our weekly exercises have been leading us to Accept and Heighten so that humor actually comes from relationships between charactersm rather than going for the immediate "quick jokes."

Last week, we held part of our rehearsal as a BAT - in other words, IN COMPLETE DARKNESS. When you have a BAT (rehearsal or eventually it would be very cool to do a BAT show) the players have fewer distractions in motions, facial expressions, etc. and wind up listening more closely not only to their partners, but also to themselves. There is a BAT theatre in Chicago, and that is exactly how they hold their shows - in complete darkness.

With members also enjoying writing sketches, we are talking about adding one or two sketches per show, for a mix of Short Form, Long Form, and a "Bonus" at the end, in the form of a sketch.

We'll keep you posted!

LOCAL IMPROV TROUPE COOPERATES WITH READING COMMUNITY PLAYERS FOR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS July 23, 2009

In cooperation with The Reading Community Players, local improvisational comedy troupe Dutch Blitzkrieg seeks tax-deductible sponsorship and donations to fund their upcoming trip to Atlanta, Georgia, where they have been named Official Invitees to the Black Box Improv Festival, on the campus of Georgia Tech. The troupe has been placed as the Main Stage attraction on Saturday, September 19, 2009, at 8:30 PM.

"This is a great honor, especially for a troupe as young as ours," says Artistic Director Jo Mercer. "We take our comedy so seriously that most of our troupe members have now completed workshops at Second City Training Center in Chicago, at their own expense."

The troupe needs a total of $2750 which includes travel, housing, food, and fiscal support for Reading Community Players (RCP).

"RCP has been kind enough to consider placing us in their Group Exemption Letter, so that our troupe can become a 501C3 under their non-profit umbrella," Mercer explains. "Until the final determination is made, donations can be made directly to RCP, and earmarked for Dutch Bliztkrieg in the memo line of the check; that way, the total amount of the check becomes a tax deduction."

"Our need is immediate," Mercer adds. "Without these funds, we will have no choice but to withdraw from the festival. However, this would be a wonderful advertising opportunity for any local business with ties both in Pennsylvania and Georgia."

In return for sponsorship, supporting companies will receive multi-state and internet exposure, main-stage and program mention of company support, and the opportunity for the troupe to distribute free give-aways which the company provides.

For further information, please visit Dutch Blitzkrieg at www.dutchblitzkrieg.com, or contact Jo Mercer at 484-802-4309.

 DUTCH BLITZKRIEG PERFORMS BENEFIT SHOW AT HEARTHSTONE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY, DOUGLASSVILLE PA
July 13, 2009
 

With three of their core members recently returned from training at Second City, Chicago, Dutch Blitzkrieg gave a benefit performance  to a wonderful group of residents at the Hearthstone Assisted Living facility in Douglassville, PA. The audience members were very involved in the show and participated with vigor!

DUTCH BLITZKRIEG NAMED OFFICIAL PERFORMER AT THE BLACK BOX IMPROV FESTIVAL IN ATLANTA, GA SEPTEMBER 16-20, 2009
May 21, 2009

Local improvisational comedy troupe Dutch Blitzkrieg has been named as a performer at the Sixth Annual Black Box Improv Festival in Atlanta, GA. This event brings together Atlanta's sprawling improv community along with some of the country's best nationally touring acts to entertain audiences and educate the next generation of improvisational comedians and actors. Last year's festival featured 13 shows, 37 performances and 150 comedians. The festival takes place September 16-20, 2009. The troupe was notified of the decision by Matthew Falkenberg, BBIF Executive Producer.

To become an official commercial sponsor of Dutch Blitzkrieg, please contact Artistic Director Jo Mercer at 888-857-6140. Donations may be sent to: Dutch Blitzkrieg, P.O. Box 176, Womelsdorf PA 19567.

LOTS OF NEWS SO WE'RE LUMPING IT ALL TOGETHER:
SECOND CITY SCHOLARSHIPS (YAY FREE MONEY FOR US TO LEARN MORE!),
REALITY SHOW UPDATES (WE'RE JUST LIKE 'THE OFFICE' BUT REAL!),
NEWS ON A DOCUMENTARY SHOOT (BANG!), AND
HOITY-TOITY PENN STATE BERKS ADVISORY BOARD INFO (JO'S A BOARD MEMBER NOW!)

DUTCH BLITZKRIEG MEMBERS RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
TO SECOND CITY CHICAGO WORKSHOPS
May 15, 2009 *revised 05.18.2009

Two members of Dutch Blitzkrieg Comedy Improv Troupe are the recipients of partial scholarship funds to attend workshop intensives this summer at Second City, Chicago. Jo Mercer (Womelsdorf, PA) was awarded $400 towards classes; and Rob Britt (Exeter, PA) received a $200 scholarship. Mercer will attend the Improv II and Sketch Writing II Intensives; Britt is registered for the Improv I and Sketch Writing I Intensives. Also attending courses in Chicago are troupe members Andi Gastonguay (Pottstown, PA) and Adam Mercer (Womelsdorf, PA).

BOY WONDER PRODUCTIONS TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTARY
ON DUTCH BLITZKRIEG COMEDY IMPROV TROUPE
May 13, 2009

In addition to promoting Dutch Blitzkrieg for a reality television program, Boy Wonder Productions (NY) will tape individual troupe members for a documentary about the struggles of becoming a viable theatrical comedy troupe in a small town. Taping is tentatively set for the Memorial Day weekend 2009. *Notes on the Reality Show pitching: while we have not been picked up yet for production, the sizzle reel has received incredibly positive feedback. My favorite quote to date is: "They're like The Office - but REAL!" More pitches coming up in the next several months. Stay tuned!

JO MERCER APPOINTED TO ADVISORY BOARD
FOR PENN STATE BERKS THEATRE DEGREE PROGRAM
May 11, 2009

The first meeting of the Penn State Theatre Advisory Board took place at the Janssen Building at the Penn State Berks Campus on Monday, May 11, 2009. The purpose of the Board meeting was to introduce members to each other, as well as to plans for the department curriculum. The Berks campus of Penn State is the first satellite campus to be awarded a 4-year B.A. program in theatre.

TRIPS TO PHILADELPHIA
April 10-11, 2009

Several troupe members were able to make it down to see The N Crowd in Philly last night. Special treat - Wet Swimsuit was also there, and for the first half hour of the show, they performed a long form series which was very good. We went to Charlie's on N. 3rd Street afterwards. Along for the evening were Annmarie McHugh, Bill McLoughlin and troupe members Jo Mercer, Adam Mercer, Gary Brookens, Andi Gastonguay, Rob Britt and his wife Deb. We stayed pretty late ... but on the way home, the minivan was still buzzing with ideas, comments, "I loved it when they ...' and "That was sort of like when we ..." and "Can we try that?"

Will be back in town tonight for the early show of ComedySportz and again, several of my Philly friends are meeting us there. Looking forward to it!

Saturday - half the troupe was able to attend the ComedySportz show in Philly tonight. Again, some Philly friends joined us - Annmarie Mchugh and her daughter Tatum, along with Kelly Vrooman and her family; plus Adam, Rob, Deb and myself. They really enjoyed the fast-paced, high-energy feel of the show, and the level of audience participation and involvement as well. Nice dinner after at the Irish Pub around the corner.

Day off for Easter (American style - my Easter is next week, being old-calendar Orthodox); then rehearsal on Monday night. Can't wait!

DUTCH BLITZKRIEG PLAYERS TO STUDY AT SECOND CITY, CHICAGO
April 2, 2009
In a very exciting development, the members of Dutch Blitzkrieg arranged to attend the Improv I and Sketch Writing I classes at Chicago's famed Second City Summer Adult Immersion this summer. Attending will be Rob Britt, Andi Gastonguay, Rick Weinhoffer, and Adam Mercer. Member Gary Brookens hopes to attend as well.

Dutch Blitzkrieg will perform at the Reading Community Players theatre on June 27; the troupe members will leave immediately following the show, to travel to Chicago.

"It's a road trip for them," explains Artistic Director Jo Mercer. "The troupe will drive out to Chicago and go to classes during the last week of June."

"I am extremely proud of the troupe members and their dedication to making Dutch Blitzkrieg as professional as possible. The ingenuity and dedication of all of the Dutch Blitzkriegers is advancing beyond my wildest hopes."

Mercer will attend a later session to complete the Improv II and Sketch Writing II courses.

Thanks to such innovative games as "The Amish Oracle," in which two troupe members don Amish hats and accents, and offer advice to the audience one word at a time, Dutch Blitzkrieg recently received an official invitation to participate in the 2010 Chicago Improv Festival, and are in the process of being approved for the Philadelphia Improv Festival in November, as well as for the Black Box Improv Fest in Atlanta, Georgia.

"All we need now is corporate sponsorship and more bookings," Mercer says.

For further information, call Jo Mercer at 484-802-4309 or visit their website at www.dutchblitzkrieg.com.

SHOP FOR DUTCH BLITZKRIEG MERCHANDISE!
March 15, 2009
Click Here for our online store. You can buy all sorts of items, from T-Shirts and Sweatshirts, to mugs, baby bibs, aprons and even wall clocks, messenger bags, caps and doggie dishes!

MEETING NOTES
March 22, 2009

Very pleased with the meeting results! No games rehearsed today. Instead, first thing we did was to go around the troupe, one member at a time, and ask what it is each of us wants for Dutch Blitzkrieg. Yes, everyone wants it to be a successful, viable business. That was a terrific thing to do, because now we all have a common vision.

We reviewed things about last night's show and are in definite agreement that there are two games which are absolute gems: The Amish Oracle, and The Dating Game. Over the next several weeks, we'll continue to identify which games are our absolute best. We'll run rehearsals as if they were actual shows. We will continue to vary who the hosts are; we will include the hosts and introductions as part of the rehearsal process, so everyone can get used to introducing games on stage. We don't want to have to refer to the lineup sheets if possible, but this is still so new to everyone, and there really is so much to remember on stage! I can understand why it is normal to have just one host; however, we really want to mix things up and give everyone a chance in sketches.

Finally, we went around the room and identified the best, funniest characters for each of the players, so that we can each work on developing those accents and mannerisms, and use them in our onstage games and rehearsals more often and with more variety. 

OH YEAH! And we need to have a checklist because I sort of kind of forgot a few items like, oh ... the golf pencils, paper blanks for audience suggestions, the Trivial Pursuit Cards ... ;-D

THOUGHTS AFTER THE SHOW
March 21, 2009

Overall, the show went over very well. It had its highlights and lowlights, and there were some areas where the show lagged. Several times during the evening, boundaries were definitely crossed. That's something I need to work on for myself. I mean, I want to keep the humor less blue, but then again, the audience laughs like crazy! There were some comments that had me cringing, but I saw people literally wiping tears of laughter from their eyes. How do you stop a tidal wave like that? And do you really want to?

Still, I'd love the cast to work towards keeping things "clean" ... letting the audience minds go into the gutter ... but then twisting things around at the end of a scene so it wasn't really something "dirty" after all. I mean, just because someone suggests "stick shift" doesn't mean the scene has to go all sexual. The players can turn things around - ultimately, it is the players who are in control of the scene. I saw a glimmer of getting that tonight, but I'd love to see it really start to sink in.

We mixed around tonight with who was hosting what game and we're going to work on that, instead of one set host, we'd like to play around with it so that everyone gets a chance to "play." If we rehearse specific games with specific hosts, I think we can make the system work!

We're reviewing what didn't and what did work and what needs tweaking during the Sunday rehearsal, then drinking Andi's home made ale! Come see us at Reading Community players on Saturday, June 27th at 8 PM. Thanks to everyone who came out to the show tonight (and about half the audience who wound up coming to TGI Fridays with us after - it was quite a party!)

GETTING READY FOR TONIGHT'S SHOW
March 21, 2009

SO many items on the to-do list for today! Steve (the hubby) is helping me load up the van. Our show equipment list is really pretty light - six wooden stools; two plastic tubs of props including hats, wigs, a horn and some cow costumes; the large paper pad for writing audience suggestions. Right now, I need to print out the finalized performance list for tonight's show.

The show at Reading Community Players starts at 8 PM; however, the cast will be there early because a photographer is taking our pictures for publicity purposes, at 6 PM. We're wearing our black shirts and black pants tonight but the iron-on transfers I printed out are falling to pieces! I'd love for us to have embroidered logos on our shirts. I need to find someone who can do that, so we'll look truly professional, and in a variety of colors. It will be great when we get to the point where we're actually selling T-shirts and hats at our shows!

I look forward to seeing everyone at the show tonight!

I NEED A SECRETARY...
March 20, 2009

... and a maid, and a cook, and a promoter, a manager, an accountant ...

Who ever thought that when I got fired from not one but TWO jobs in 2008, I'd wind up working my touchas off for my own improv troupe? And while we're not getting paid all that much (yet), we ARE making quite a splash in the world! First, we keep a pretty decent video blog on what goes on during our rehearsals and shows (www.youtube.com/dutchblitzkrieg). Turns out a production company out of NY (Boy Wonder Productions, who also produces "Under Construction" for DIY and "Mom's Cooking" for Lifetime) kept a close eye on us and decided to tape us to pitch a documentary-style Reality show about our little troupe! They are out in L.A. this very week, pitching our sizzle reel to the networks.

The newspapers, magazines, and radio stations are also picking up on our existence out here in the rural areas of south central Pennsylvania. Yesterday two troupe members made an appearance on Y102; we were on for quite a while!

Deb Britt, designer wife of one of my troupe members, was kind enough to donate her time and designed us a terrific logo. She's amazing, http://www.brittvirtualassistance.com. I used this logo to put together our very first tri-fold brochure, which goes to the printer today.

We have Philstar representing us as a booking agent; they get shows into the Borgatta and other venues in Atlantic City.

INVESTOR ALERT - NON-PROFIT DEDUCTION - WE NEED SPONSORS: On the Improv Festival front, we're at the Black Box Festival in Atlanta this year, and are an OFFICIAL INVITEE to the Chicago Festival in 2010!!!!! Travel, housing, per diem etc. - we need investment funds if we're going to make this work, and we will *absolutely* wear your company logos etc. on our clothing!!!! WE NEED SPONSORS and we're going national with the whole festival circuit - INTERNATIONAL NEXT YEAR - plus think of the promotional kudos you'll get out of the TV show ... so GET IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR NOW! FYI - with six troupe members, one roadie, travel, hotel, meals, etc. and each festival runs for one week, we are looking at $10,000 per festival for full sponsorships; exclusive sponsors welcome at $18,000 for a one-festival run. Please call Jo Mercer (artistic director) at 888-857-6140 for more information; we are under a non-profit umbrella, so YOUR SPONSORSHIP CAN BE DEDUCTIBLE UNDER THE LAW!

And yes, I am getting *some* pay - although there is no work available in my area (unless you're in the medical field, which I am NOT), I did get hired as a substitute teacher in two of the local school districts. YAY!!!

Visit our improv website please, www.dutchblitzkrieg.com!