By Kirsten Mahon/tr news editor
David Reid/The Collegian
A TR student venturing in an improv comedy and acting career has one rule to live by.
“It’s not funny unless you’re broken,” Riley Morris said.
Morris is in an improv group called Shut Up and Prance. TR Campus paid this group to do a special orientation video to, as TR student activities associate Eddie Brassart said, “liven up the experience” for new students.
Morris is currently taking a 15-hour semester while zipping across the Metroplex between short-film editing projects, comedy shows and Shut Up and Prance performances.
Morris and close friend Naaman Rodges began to form the group just a couple years ago.
“Naaman went through a wicked divorce, and I was going through a nasty break-up,” he said. “And I thought, ‘Let’s turn the pain and misery of having your heart broken into funny stuff.’”
Students can check out the orientation video and other works of Shut Up and Prance on YouTube. Morris, however, was doing other work for the community before Shut Up and Prance started. Previously, Morris worked as a motivational speaker for elementary schools, teaching young students how to prepare for tests, deal with bullies and avoid drugs.
Currently, students can attend a monthly showing of a “terrible movie,” in Morris’ words, where Shut Up and Prance voices humorous commentary and edits the movie at the Grotto the last Tuesday of every month. They call it the Wondercrust Movie Watchers’ Club.
“The show in general was super fantastic. I loved it,” said Mia Sarbu, an audience member at a recent showing. “I will definitely come to the next one because I really enjoyed how they mixed in modern pop culture with the outdated special effects of the movie.”
During the showing of Bloody Pit of Horrors, the comedians played the song “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen during the quiet, dramatic moments in the movie.
Shut Up and Prance also does weekly morning radio shows on Saturdays at 11 a.m. during the Good Show on 88.7 FM. Morris says he would like TCC students to join him in the group — with one condition.
“As long as they’re funny, we take submissions,” he said. “I need you to submit stuff. I need to see what you’re capable of because, honestly, I don’t have the time to baby step and hold your hand and walk you through the process of writing, creating jokes and stuff.”
Morris said he needs someone else to step in and take the stress off his shoulders by helping him write and edit funny short films. He wants to keep doing this until something bigger happens.
“Honestly, I want to do it until something gets picked up or goes viral,” he said. “I’d like to direct movies or TV shows, anything funny.”
