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Hello citizens!

Former T-shirt Guy Erik Voss here. TSF Sketch, the comedy writing team of Theatre Strike Force, has launched a new Web-video series called "Yesterday's News -- Today!"

In the year 2109, the government propaganda department will release weekly newscasts covering the headlines from 100 years in the past (the year 2009). Like all government media, these broadcasts will have their share of biases and inaccuracies, which at times will be so absurd they might just seem humorous. But make no mistake: in the future, comedy of any kind is dangerously unpopular.

We will be posting these broadcasts every Monday or Tuesday. You can also view them on our Facebook fan page, or by subscribing to our Youtube channel.

See you yesterday!

Erik

Video Link

Erik Voss is the Former T-Shirt Guy of Theatre Strike Force. His friends agree he's a lot more fun to be around now.

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It's been a big two weeks in our TSF world.

Our TV show for campus, officially titled "Oppie's Friend, Gene", is now being aired into your over-priced, under-spaced resident halls every Friday, Sunday and Tuesday at 8:30pm on channel 8! Bunk-bed-eriffic!

For the television premier, we all gathered around the big screen in the Keys recreation area. Coincidentally, the Keys resident hall was the location of the production's first shoot. Sock-on-the-door-errific!!

AND, if you don't live in a resident hall: IT'S ONLINE!

A huge special thanks to UF's IRHA for making this all possible. If you like the show, let 'em know!

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I am friends with frog DNA.

People who live in Gainesville during the summer face a harsh reality: most of their friends have go home for the summer. They are left with a fickle sun, a $120-plus utility bill and a desolate social scene.

Rather than waste away on morsels from TMZ (remember when Michael Jackson had only a simple coma?), they choose to evolve. Their social life finds a way.

Friends of friends transform into desperate lifelines in a sea of solitude. Slowly, these new I-guess-they're-ok people become the Friday evening phone call. They become the norm.

For you Steven Spielberg, Jeff Goldblum and this guy fans, they are frog DNA.
This summer, my frog DNA has taken the form of Oppie. Take a look:

Oppie Teaser Trailer from Theatre Strike Force on Vimeo.

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Improv. Sketch comedy. And now… television.

In cooperation with UF’s Inter-Residence Hall Association (IRHA), TSF has embarked on a journey to the world of TV.

During the spring semester, TSF Sketch wrote ten episodes for a little show we like to call “Oppie.” This is the story of a troubled young vampire who just can’t get by in the college world. Sorority parties? More like an all you can eat buffet!

Okay, not really.

Oppie follows two college freshman that are on a quest to get to the top.

For the past two months, TSF has been hard at work filming this show. Gainesville has become our set and Oppie’s world is becoming a reality.

It’s hard work, but it’s also a lot of fun. I’m a telecommunications production major, and I’m learning things that I haven’t been taught yet just by crewing for the show. There’s always something to do on the set, and everyone really has a hand in bringing this show to life.

Oppie is due to premier during the fall semester on Resident TV, but will also be available online. You can follow its progress on the show’s Official Blog.

If you’re interested in working on Oppie, it’s not too late! Shoot an email to theatrestrikeforce@gmail.com and you can sell your soul to us!

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Hey there!

Are you itching to perform comedy for a live audience? No? Just itching, then? Okay...

Hey, you! Did you catch "Captain Herpes" over there? Yeah, crazy, huh? Anyways... you look like you're interested in doing improv. You may not know it yet, but you are. 

Theatre Strike Force would like to announce its new improv training program starting in the Spring 2009 semester!

In these sessions, you will learn the style of improv comedy TSF performs regularly on campus. Our top performers will instruct these sessions, which will feature exercises in spontaneous performance, various improvised "games," and general improv technique and theory.

The goal? To make you a more confident comedic performer and the newest member of the Theatre Strike Force team. So if you're interested in learning and performing improv comedy at UF and joining Theatre Strike Force, this is the place for you.

This training program is FREE, and no experience is necessary. Even if you've never performed before, come out anyways. It's a ton of fun and a great way to perform comedy with an interesting group of people.

The sessions will meet Mondays, 7 to 9 p.m., at a location TBA.

Space is limited, so if you're interested, please contact us at via the contact page as soon as possible to register.

We're looking forward to working with you!

Erik

Erik Voss is the president of Theatre Strike Force. He was voted "Loudest Moo-er" in the Animal Day Parade in Ms. Miller's 1st grade class. He was 19.

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Hey there! At the height of a hotly contested election season, Theatre Strike Force would like to announce its endorsement of Gary for President in 2008!


Finally, a candidate who knows how to connect with the American people. Gary is the only person in America who knows what America really wants. He's a lunch tray full of all your favorite foods. You can hold on to the cake, Lunch Lady Liberty -- we got bowl-full of icing.

We couldn't be more excited about this guy, and neither can a growing number of Americans, according to an article in the Independent Florda Alligator. Gary has literally made his mark on UF campus. He's cozied with students in their dorm rooms via inspiring TV spots. Gary enthusiasts have rallied in Turlington Plaza shouting their support of the candidate America has been waiting for.

As a climax to this exciting campaign, TSF will be presenting a political rally in support of Gary this Monday, Oct. 27, at 9 p.m. in the Reitz Union Rion Ballroom. Join us for a night of special guest speakers, inspirational videos, and a rousing speech by the messiah himself.

Political comedy, folks. It's in. The truth makes everything funnier. Scarier, but funnier.

We'll see you Monday night. We are Gary.

Erik Voss is the president of Theatre Strike Force. He lies to his mom about getting bullied at school because he's ashamed.

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Come one, come all!  Be apart of the excitement, education and elite of being a part of a Theatre Strike Force troupe!

Theatre Strike Force is having auditions for a number of groups, which are all excellent opportunities to learn and explore improv or sketch comedy.


First is AG and the Sunday Group.

AG and the Sunday Group are TSF's premiere long form troupes.  They focus on improvisation scenes with a focus on relationships and characters.  Anyone who would like to become better at the art of improv should attend.

No experience is necessary! The cast includes both those with improv experience and those who did their first scene at the audition!

Long form is very much like an episode of Seinfeld or Curb Your Enthusiasm. So if you enjoy watching those shows, and always thought that you should be on them, come on out to auditions.

The audition is Tuesday, September 2, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. in room G14 in the Constans Theatre Building at UF.  The only preparation you need is to bring the audition sheet: AG and Sunday Application


Next, TSF's musical troupe is looking for new talent!

Only eight months old, AM Radio is the exciting new troupe on the scene bringing laughter and music to audience's ears around Gainesville.  They use long form and music to create a half hour musical on the spot!

They recently had a hugely successful performance at the GIF Summer Shuffle, which can be seen HERE.  All those who are interested, those with musical experience and those without, are encouraged to attend.

AM Radio will have auditions Sunday, August 31, at 2 p.m.  Meet at the information desk in the Reitz Union.


Finally, TSF is having auditions for it's new sketch arm, TSF Sketch.

TSF Sketch focuses on the writing aspect of comedy.  The group will have from 6 to 10 writers who will prepare sketches for Gator Nights and other TSF events.

If you've ever laughed at Saturday Night Live and thought, "Hey, I could write that," this group is for you!

Everyone interested should fill out the application and send it to theatrestrikeforce@gmail.com by Thursday, September 4:TSF Sketch Application

Good luck to everyone! 

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It's summer in Gainesville, and the city is on fire.
Gas prices keep our windows down and our wallets empty. Economic woes are making us sweat even when we're out of the heat. Some men, it seems, just want to see the world burn.

So what do we do? Do we place our hopes in an idealist politician to clean up the streets? Do we channel our fear to fight our enemies on our own terms? Or do we simply ask...
...WHY SO SERIOUS?

Come laugh away your worries with a wild night of FREE improv comedy with Theatre Strike Force. Starting Friday night, people will laugh.

Meet us at the auditorium (room 1064) in Weimer Hall, the journalism building that is located across the North Lawn from the Reitz Union. Show starts at 10 p.m., and seats are first come, first serve, so get there early!

Read more...

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"Mission accomplished."  

Not since "premature ejaculation" have two words jumped the gun more.

We did it, troops! With four shows booked at dorms across  campus, I think it's safe to say we're well on our way in liberating campus residents from the hands of tyranny... the tyranny of not having enough improv shows.


It all begins this Sunday, July 20, at 5:30 p.m., when TSF will entertain the residents of Springs Residential Complex during an afternoon barbecue. Afterwards, we'll regroup at the Beaty Towers Commons at 8 p.m. for another show for a group of high school students.

On the evening of Wednesday, July 23, we'll move into the Murphree Area to perform as part of MAC's Alcohol Awareness program, which runs from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m.

A week later, on Wednesday, July 30, TSF will resurface at the Jennings Basement for a show at 8 p.m.

So tear down that statue of Albert A. Murphree! Paint those thumbs! Tighten the crotch harness on that flightsuit, because TSF's got a full-scale invasion on its hands!

Soon enough, we'll be kicking down your door in the middle of the night and screaming at you to watch us do improv. Now, you can enjoy shows that stretch on for years and years, with no real exit strategy. And if you thought Abu Ghraib was fun, just wait until you see what we'll do with our games "Moving Bodies" and "Slideshow!"

USA's got IRAQ; TSF's got IRHA. With any luck, our IR-- will like us better.

Stop on by, now.

Erik Voss is the president of Theatre Strike Force. He studied international relations from stall graffiti in dormitory bathrooms.

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Hey everyone,

Erik Voss here. I'm currently studying abroad in London, spending the first half of my summer visiting museums, seeing plays on the West End, frequenting pubs... and going bankrupt in the process. Since every dollar is only worth half a pound, I'm twice as bankrupt as I thought I was.

The only thing I haven't been doing is improv. None. My talk radio call-in name would be "Improv-less in London." I'm taking a much-needed hiatus from an obsessive two-year relationship with the mother of all ball-and-chains, which we know as Theatre Strike Force.

But enough creepy romance metaphors (I've got issues). The day when the Strike Force dragon wakes up from its Summer A hibernation and purges the sinful is rapidly approaching. The Summer B semester at UF begins in July, and with it, our improv class, TPP 3124, goes back into session for those overachieving upper-classmen and "special" Summer B freshmen who are stuck in town over the summer. That means improv with TSF will go from being a wet dream to an awkward reality.

So if you'll be in Gainesville this July, check out TSF. Register for the class -- it's a lot of fun and a great way to spend those long, summer days. And it's in an air conditioned acting studio in the Nadine Maguire, a cool sanctuary from the assault of swampy heat outside. We'll also be doing some after-hours jamming sessions; look out for those as well. I also want to look into doing some sketch, for all those writers out there.

We'll keep you posted. Check your e-mails, the Web site and the Facebook group for notifications about any developments over the summer, and for news about the upcoming year.

Now, back to sobbing over the heartbreaking pound/dollar exchange rate.

Though we know it's TSF that really broke my heart...

Regards,

Erik Voss

Erik Voss is the President of Theatre Strike Force, but he still makes his mother dress him every morning.

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