What started as an idea among a group of women who desired increased female involvement in the comedy scene at Colorado College has developed into a comedy troupe, all in the short span of the past few months. Holly Pretsky, Angelica Florio, Rayna Ben-Zeev, and Tess Gattuso met over half-blockHalf Block to plan the development of “Eggs Ovariesy.” With a successful first show last block, the group is looking forward to its second show, “F*ck Bitches, Get Funny” on Sunday, March 8 at 8 p.m. in Taylor Theatre.
Originally, the hope was to create a forum for extending women’s involvement through various comedy, theatre, and drama venues at CC. That quickly turned into something so much more. “Florio, Ben-Zeev, Pretsky, and I wanted to create something that would encourage involvement among women in a larger, new forum. “ Said Gattuso.
According to Suzie McMurtry, a sophomore involved, the process has felt very inclusive. This rings true for Nicole Wilkinson, who was invited to do spoken-word poetry for the first show. Wilkinson especially enjoyed seeing the show come to life, from the initial brainstorming process that is the backbone of all skits, to the finished, performance-ready product. Grace Geracoti has been waiting for something similar to this group to crop up, a sort of sketch comedy that’s neither TWIT nor Relations. She was able to explore her interests through involvement with Eggs Ovariesy.
As for the reception on campus, it has been overwhelmingly positive. Florio mentioned that it is going “surprisingly well,” and that none of the members were expecting such a big crowd at their first show. For everyone involved, it seems to be an inclusive process. According to Ben-Zeev, any woman who has the desire to participate can do so.
Their next interest meeting will be block seven, on Thursday, March 26 at 6 p.m. in the Cornerstone Main Space. The group emphasizes their desire to foster a comfortable environment in which women feel that they can take chances they might not otherwise take, thinking of it as a support system. According to Florio, “If you’re nervous about it, you might as well try it. Hearing people laugh when you’re on stage is encouraging.”
As far as what to expect for this Sunday night, the women say more sketches and more voices. The producers emphasize the collaborative nature of the whole project and the ability of all women to become involved.
Please email theresa.gattuso@coloradocollege.edu if you are interested.