Jan. 17, 2013 - Issue #900: The ongoing musical evolution of Hannah Georgas
Rapid Fire Theatre presents: Date Night
Maybe a little less tongue / Meryl Smith-Lawton
Come on, a date with a couple of hilarious improv performers has got to be a whole lot more fun than that blind date you went on with what's-his/her-name last weekend, whose phone number you've now conveniently lost.
If you manage to beat out your bidding competition, you'll be able to hit the town with some of the fine ladies and gentlemen of Rapid Fire Theatre at the troupe's annual Date Night fundraiser, from which all proceeds go towards bringing in out-of-town talent for Improvaganza 2013. Even if you don't win, you'll be treated to an evening of improv performances, swing dancing and a little magic.
"We originally thought, I guess the question is, 'Does anyone at Rapid Fire actually have any kind of star power or celebrity?' There are tons of silent auctions all over the city to try and do fundraisers ... maybe some silent auctions are great, but I've been to some where no one bids on anything and they kind of lowball things and try and get away with a deal when really, it's a fundraiser for a non-profit," says Rapid Fire artistic director Amy Shostak, explaining that Rapid Fire wanted to inject some fun into the event through the live auction aspect.
To Rapid Fire's surprise, audiences were enthusiastic about the idea of hanging out with them, and Shostak recalls people getting into bidding wars and certain dates going for up to $300.
"Maybe it's the adrenaline of a live auction, so that was kind of attractive because it has to do with the same adrenaline that improv gives people," Shostak adds.
There's no pressure to actually go on a date with Rapid Fire cast members, and the winners are free to go on the dates with a group of friends instead, but this is rarely the chosen option.
What's in it for you, you ask? How about a tour of the BioWare offices with Mark Meer, or tagging along on the "True Ballers" date with Shostak, Jamie Cavanagh and Richard Lam? Before the trio takes you out on the town, you get prepped with a new 'do from Ponytails and Horseshoes, and then—armed with $200 in gift certificates—party like a rock star.
"One of the things about being on a date like that is you have to focus on giving whoever buys the date the best time possible. There's no time for 'I don't feel like dancing right now, or I'll just have one drink,' " Shostak says. "We'll be committed to making sure the people have a great time. And the fun thing about it is we're good at talking to people, so we get to learn a lot about the person who buys the date, and then when we see them along the line throughout the year it's like we have a special connection with them from then on."
Sat, Jan 19 (7:30 pm)
Citadel Theatre, $5
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