Card 53 comedy returns home

The University’s Campus Activities Board welcomed Card 53 Comedy to the stage Thursday night for the group’s first home performance as graduates.

Courtesy photo

Card 53 is an improvisational group originating from former students Jamey Whitley and Aaron “Smitty” Smith, who met while taking a theater class at the University.

Together, they created the student-theater organization, Patriot Act, in hopes to improve student awareness.

“We saw a need for more support for a dying program on campus,” Whitley said.

The organization was new, which meant funds were nonexistent. Whitley and Smith decided to do what they did best – be funny.

The dynamic duo knew improv was the way to go and recruited friend Chris Pelton, also a recent University graduate, to help them launch their first show.

“Aaron called me up one Monday night, asked if I was free Thursday, and told me I was going to do an improv show with him and Jamey,” Pelton said. “I was in from that phone call.”

Card 53’s first performance for University students in December 2009 was the beginning of something bigger for the trio.

The show was a hit, and they knew they had done what they set out to do.

Both Smith and Pelton already had great chemistry from working together in high school.

They were in an improv group for a creative-problem-solving competition called Destination Imagination (DI).

“I think we chose the route of improv, so we didn’t have to do any work for DI and could just get up and perform and get out of school for a few days. What ended up starting as a farce became an obsession,” Smith said.

Whitley also took to improvisational comedy and found it to be a “natural love.”

He was introduced to improv exercises while attending his acting class at the University.

“My outgoing personality mixed with being able to act like an idiot and get away with it made it a pretty good combination,” he said.

A typical Card 53 show consists of eight sketches, or games, ranging from three to five minutes each.

The beauty of improv is found within the audience, as each sketch requires their participation.

The audience is asked for suggestions for each game.

This may include locations, emotions, movie genres or an object. Sometimes the sketches are scene-based while others require an audience member to be on stage.

The actors then perform by pure instinct. Everything the audience sees and hears is completely made up from their suggestions.

Members of Card 53 said performing improv is a complete adrenaline rush. Not only are they getting on stage in front of a lot of people having to make stuff up on the spot, but also they realize there is a risk it may not work.

“You don’t know what’s coming, and you have to try your hardest to make things make sense in the skit,” Smith said.

Their performances are always guaranteed to fill the room with laughter and sometimes their “mess ups” are what make it even better.

Card 53 grew in popularity and size.

The group seemed to add an additional member almost every show and the comical team now has three more members, making a total of six.

Lukas Neubauer, Brad Johnson and R.J. Norman, individually, bring their own sense of comedy and energy to the group.

They all have become close friends in the short time they have been together. The shared passion to make people laugh is what makes them stronger.

Their chemistry on stage has certainly amped up with the latest additional members.

Whitely said they are just a group of friends goofing off that allow people to watch them act stupid together.

Card 53’s latest show at the University was the first since all members have graduated. For Whitley, Smith and Pelton, it was their best show yet, as they returned home to their alma mater.

The turnout was more than they could have hoped for. Supporters and many newcomers filled the audience and were excited to see what Card 53 was all about.

In a game called “Changing Emotions,” three members were acting out the scene of a car wreck, using the random emotions and characters given from the audience.

At one point, Whitley was a zombie, Smith was a ninja and Pelton was a sorority girl—all at the same time.

Laughter radiated throughout the dimly lit sports café, as the hilarity continued during the night.

Their performance was electric.

Card 53 gave the University their very best. Members said this was the most successful show to date.

“This was the first show that I really felt the rush that comedians are always talking about. I literally felt like I was jumping out of a plane.

In fact, I couldn’t even go to sleep that night,” said Whitley, still emotionally high from the night before.

Every performance is its own and the show is constantly changing, random and full of funny.

All ages can enjoy.

Now that all members are recent college graduates, they are looking to expand their horizons as they enter Tyler nightlife and other events, hoping to provide live, comical entertainment in a town craving something new and exciting.

They plan to post videos like Saturday Night Lives’ Digital Shorts on websites such as Funny or Die, YouTube and their own website that is currently in development.

The team is also looking into teaching improv workshops for the public.

They believe everyone can benefit from improvisational training whether you have aspirations to be a comedian or are a student, lawyer, writer or a team builder.

Card 53 Comedy now has a page on Facebook to better let their followers know the latest news and upcoming show dates.

Their next fun-filled performance will be on March 18 at the Caldwell Auditorium.

Tickets will be sold at the door, adults $5 and students $3. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., the show begins at 7 p.m.

All proceeds will benefit John Tyler High School choir and theater students.

They are currently raising money to fund a trip to New York City, N.Y. and they hope to gain a deeper knowledge and respect for the arts as well.

Card 53 never thought they would be where they are today and they believe much is owed to the place that will forever be a part of them – UT Tyler.

For its founding members, the University not only gave them the foundation to be successful in the real world, but allowed them to meet their very best friends, create a comedy group and change the lives of people one laugh at a time.

“If I hadn’t gone to UT, I probably wouldn’t be a part of Card 53,” Pelton said.