In November 2002 four improvisers Dave Hyland, Dustin Sharpe, Kat Kiernan, and Tom O’Donnell, decided to join forces to create a new troupe. The goal for this venture was to create an experience which would progressively explore new avenues of the art, and ultimately grow South Florida improv in a new direction. The group went on to call themselves Mod 27 after the portable classroom they rehearsed in. Sorry if that explanation of the name is slightly less luxurious then what you were expecting, but it is the truth.

Later Mod 27 was joined by Ernest Mitchell and Sergio Soletero. The sixtet (a word we just made up) performed for 3/4 of a year with some mild success. However, at this point they were mainly performing short form improvisation and doing anything but changing the world or art.

All this would change, however, in the summer of 2003. Kat was accepted to Florida State University, so she and Dustin moved to Tallahassee, Fl. Ernest received an opportunity to pursue his love of basketball as a career. With the troupes enthusiastic support, all three moved on. The group was now in a state of flux, which was a perfect time for them to be contacted by the South Florida Improv Community to participate in a jam to benefit Gilda’s Club of South Florida. The three remaining members Dave, Sergio, and Tom, though facing the adversity of losing half their troupe agreed to perform. The trio decided that if there was a chance they would fail they might as well go out in a ball of fire and try something completely different. So they took a risk and decided to invest all their energy into presenting a type of long form improvisation that had never been seen in South Florida. Feverishly they practiced for a month straight to solidify their new ensemble and to prepare their show. On August 24th, 2003 they marched into the New York Comedy Club (well actually they were a little late and almost weren’t allowed to perform) for the jam, with a new found confidence. The would be failure, had now matured into a viable new improv troupe, took the stage and performed a show that reassured them that their original ideals could indeed come into fruition. In the aftermath of the jam Mod 27 enjoyed a new identity and became hopeful for the future. Its cast looked at each other and said, “Hey, this is going to work”.

…And it has, over the last year Mod 27 performed at the 2004 Miami Improv Festival, the 2004 Toronto International Improv Festival, and the Out of Bound Improv Festival Par 3 in Austin Texas. They had a great time at each event and further solidify their bond. The three are now seeking to expand their troupe into short form and sketch. They are also taking an active role, along with other local troupes, to create a premier improv community in South Florida. Check them out and you too will realize, for yourself, that what they had envisioned does indeed work.

For more information, visit Mod 27's website.