SAN DIMAS/LA VERNE – Laughter filled the Bonita Center for the Arts (BCA) as Ramona Middle School drama students took the stage for the school’s annual Comedy Improv Game Night, an evening full of quick thinking, teamwork, and confidence building.

The event, hosted on Oct. 17 by the Ramona Drama Society and Drama Society Parent Board, gave junior thespians a low-pressure opportunity to perform in front of their families and peers while building confidence and stage presence. Designed to welcome new students into the world of theater, the event featured multiple teams guided by student captains, who helped organize and lead the games each broken up by a series of monologues – creating a night that blended learning, leadership, and laughter.

“This was my first year doing comedy improv, I went into it blindly not knowing how it worked or what to do,” seventh-grader and Junior Thespian Officer Tanner Samuelson said. “Captaining a team was really fun because it helped me hone my leadership skills and taught me how to stay calm when things got a little loud. What I like about comedy improv is the freedom on stage; you’re not stuck to a script, and each game is a new experience, which makes it so much fun.”

Now in its fourth year, Comedy Improv Game Night began in Ramona’s gymnasium before expanding to the Bonita Center for the Arts in 2023. Ramona Middle School Drama Director Colin Campbell said the partnership with theater manager Melissa Stone and the BCA staff has elevated the experience, giving students the chance to perform in a professional environment while learning about the technical aspects of theater production.

The Ramona Drama Society provides a wide range of opportunities throughout the year for students to grow as performers and leaders. The program offers two levels of yearlong drama electives, three mainstage productions, a student-led musical, a touring group that alternates between performing at the Junior Theatre Festival and visiting New York City, and a Leadership Team that meets weekly to plan events and guide peers. Students can also earn recognition through Ramona’s Junior Thespian Troupe, an honors society that celebrates dedication to the performing arts.

“The overall goal of Ramona Drama Society is to give any middle school student even remotely interested in the world of theater the opportunity to grow their understanding of the performing arts,” Campbell said. “Comedy Improv Game Night is designed as a ‘low barrier’ opportunity for students to take that first step on stage and discover the excitement of performing. Watching them grow in confidence and leadership through this event is truly rewarding.”

PHOTOS:

BUSD_COMEDY_IMPROV1: A Ramona Middle School student performs the monologue “RSVP” from the movie “Clueless” at the school’s Comedy Improv night, an event designed to inspire confidence in future thespians.

BUSD_COMEDY_IMPROV2: Ramona Middle School students laugh through their performances at the annual Ramona Middle School Comedy Improv Night. Students participating had the opportunity to practice leadership and teamwork in front of their family and peers.