An improv group that helps freshmen transition into college life was back for its second year with a bigger cast and program Tuesday night, despite University cutbacks.
“Drink, Devils, drink!” may not be the key message ASU Student Affairs wants to convey to freshmen, but the satire behind the (dis)Orientation improv group’s song is effective.
Songs like the drinking song address misconceptions that incoming freshman have, said (dis)Orientation’s scriptwriter and ASU alumnus Jeremiah Neal.
“It’s a fun way to talk about a lot of important issues that need to be discussed,” he said.
Neal said he was surprised and excited to see the University-funded program return for a second year.
“This program is unique because the actors get paid to do this show,” he said.
The continuation of the funding shows the program’s importance to the University, Neal said.
“We made it through the economic crisis. [The University] cut so many programs, but not us,” he said.
Neal said a reason behind (dis)Orientation’s extension was the ability the improv group has to connect with its audience.
“We’re trying to develop peer-to-peer relationships,” Neal said.
Calli Wecker, a theater freshman who attended Tuesday night’s performance, said (dis)Orientation achieved that goal.
“The show breaks down our ideas of barriers and stereotypes. They tell us that college isn’t so bad,” Wecker said.
Neal said assembling a bigger, more diverse cast was also effective in building support for a second year.
“This year we have an international student, a Hispanic student and a Native American student,” among other minority students, Neal said. “It makes for much broader personal stories.”
Pamela Sterling, director of the program and professor at the Herberger School of Theatre and Film, said student stories contribute heavily to the program’s script.
“We depend on the contributions of the cast from their own lives and improvisations,” Sterling said.
Sherril Tomita, assistant director of Multicultural Student Services and (dis)Orientation’s University liaison, said ASU saw the need for a program that reaches out to both resident-hall and commuter freshmen.
“(dis)Orientation is about learning how to be successful,” she said. “We want to expose incoming freshmen to all of the opportunities and services available.”
Program support comes from the deans of Student Affairs on all four campuses, Tomita said. Performances saw bigger turnouts on all campuses this year, especially the Downtown Phoenix campus.
Tomita also said the cast’s motivation has little to do with University funding. “We run on a small budget. Really, we do it out of love,” she said.
Abraham Ntonya, a (dis)Orientation cast-member and theater major, said he agrees.
“Theater is my passion,” he said. “If I don’t act, what can I do?”
Reach the reporter at jessica.testa@asu.edu.
