HARK! Is that the sound of summer ending? Yes, as many good things tragically come to an end, like the Harry Potter series and M. Night Shyamalan’s directing career, so does the carefree frivolity of summertime. With the hustle of fall, freshman are instantly thrust into the big, bad world of college life. And at a huge institution that is the University of Florida, they may wonder where they fit into this occasionally overwhelming community.

Well, do you like making your friends laugh? Are you a fan of shows such as Saturday Night Live, Whose Line Is It Anyway? and 30 Rock? Are you morally against the slaughter of kittens?

THEN THEATRE STRIKE FORCE IS THE CLUB FOR YOU!

Here’s a handy back-to-school guide to aid your transition from big fish in a little pond to clown fish in a swamp.


You, post-TSF. We’ll try not to lose you in the ocean, but no guarantees.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES: your body, a sense of humor and an eagerness to learn. No cash. This shit is FREE.

CLASSES BEGIN: MONDAY, AUG. 30TH from 7-9 p.m. in Weimer Auditorium (absolutely NO experience necessary!) We split up our classes from Level 1 (beginners) to Level 5 (old farts) based on experience, so you’ll be learning at a speed tailored to your individual skill level to ensure a kick-ass time. In addition, Jams will be held every Thursday (also 7-9) for ALL skill levels to get together and practice.

SYLLABUS: Level 1 will cover basic performance technique and some of the short form games you see at our Gator Nights shows. Level 2 is our short form intensive that drills games we frequently play in shows, practices newer ones and experiments with making the games more challenging. Level 3 is our intro to long form, covering basic forms with an emphasis on strong scenework. Level 4 is our Harold intensive, drilling the innovative form invented by Del Close at the iO Theatre. Level 5 is our experimental long form group featuring TSF’s most experienced players that practices more advanced forms. Every level will have the opportunity to perform multiple times throughout the semester in weekly Academy shows, as well as perform with members of other levels in shows.

If you’re interested in joining TSF Sketch, the sketch team that brought you iGasm, Gary: A New Hope for America and the campus sitcom “Oppie’s Friend, Gene,” applications are now available and should be sent to theatrestrikeforce@gmail.com within two weeks. Just fill it out and attach any writing sample that you think highlights your comedic voice (sketch, column, short story, etc.)

It’s really that simple to start getting involved, so check us out and be a part of one of the most fun-loving and visible groups on campus! We’ve got some great plans lined up for this year and we want YOU to be a part of it.


Yes, you. Stop looking over your shoulder.

Any questions, comments or concerns? Hit up our Contact page and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. And be sure to look us up on Facebook, follow our Twitter, shoot us any pressing questions via Formspring (formspring.me/strikeforce2010) and keep checking back here for news and show updates!

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One of the great things about Summer B is the eclectic group of students in Gainesville for the next six weeks. It’s also the time for them freshly newbs to get a feel for UF before the hustle and bustle of fall kicks in. Which means Strike Force is on the prowl for fresh bleeders.


TSF Wolf stalks three portly freshman.

In order to get the frosh on board, as well as keep our seasoned vets sharp, we’re offering SUMMER CLASSES! On Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m., anyone and everyone (no experience necessary) can come and learn the short form games you would see at our Gator Nights shows a la “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” On Mondays, our more advanced TSF members can exercise their long form muscles. Almost as importantly as Academy days, there will be Jams every Thursday in order to reinforce skills taught earlier in the week and bring everyone together for deliciously decadent improv fun times. You won’t want to miss this orgy of hilarity.


Doing improv will make you this sexy within 14 days or your money back. Wait, our classes are free? Well then, how ‘bout a sexual favor?

Liz Anderson, director of TSF Sketch, the sketch team that brought you iGasm and “Oppie’s Friend, Gene,” has compiled a summer writing team, so be on the lookout for all their goodies coming your way. Especially for summer, we’re looking to get the word out about our greatness, as well as raise funds for our upcoming projects throughout the year (we do some big stuff in TSF and, therefore, need big bucks). Hold on to your undergarments, UF.

Speaking of getting the word out, be sure to look for us in all of our upcoming shows. We’re gonna rock the house at MURPHREE and LAKESIDE open mic nights June 26th and 27th, respectively, and we’re bringing the party to the Rion Ballroom July 16th for GATOR NIGHTS, as well as GATORMANIA on July 17th. You don’t want to miss this gold!


Gator Nights audience, c. spring 2010. Going to TSF shows makes you a better Amurrican.

Find us on Facebook, hit up our Formspring and follow our Twitter! Any questions or concerns? Shoot us an email at theatrestrikeforce@gmail.com or hit up our Contact page. We look forward to seeing you all at shows and Academy. We’ll know if you’re not there. *knuckle crack*

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Aloha, Gators!

Summer A is upon us, but TSF is hardly taking a vacation. Even while the average student is sleeping through his or her summer classes or bumming around their hometown looking for cocaine and hookers, much like New York, members of TSF never sleep.



School's out for summer! Middle school anthems are awesome!

In order to keep our improv muscles well-oiled, our very own short-form director Spencer Hamilton is leading FREE weekly workshops on Tuesdays in Weimer Hall to refine short-form games and skills necessary to be the short-form badasses we know you all want to be. If you're going to be around at all during Summer A, check these out! For more info, join the Facebook group: Spencer's Summer Short-form.


On a similar vein, recent TSF alum Erik Voss is hosting a weekly performance series in Weimer Auditorium on Wednesdays (fondly entitled "Wednesdays in Weimer"). Every week, Voss and a guest improviser will be experimenting with long-form for the public. These funnies are free and there will be candy. EVERYONE LOVES FREE CANDY. He also promises movies post-performance so come on over, enrich your lives and enjoy some improvs. RSVP to this week's performance with guest improviser Spencer Hamilton on Facebook.

NOTE: if you're not currently in Gainesville, but still want to take part in the fun, Voss will be trying to broadcast the performances live via U-Stream.


Voss is no stranger, just sort of strange. But he has sweets! Hopefully they’re not lint-covered hard candies from the bottom of his purse.


Recently, creative director Rudy Mendoza has decided to embrace the invasive yet woefully addicting medium formspring.me to open up questions to both members and fans of TSF. If you have any questions at all, shoot 'em at us! Just don't ask us who the hottest member is. The answer is Ricky Klopfenstein. formspring.me/strikeforce2010


Stay tuned for more updates about shows, events and workshops throughout the summer!

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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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