Lights, Cameras, Improvise/Mischief Movie Night

Mischief Movie Night, or Lights! Camera! Improvise! as the title it was originally performed under in 2009, is an improvised comedy show performed by Mischief Theatre.

The show introduces a film collector named Oscar or Emmy, who has every movie ever made and every film you could imagine. They then ask the audience to suggest a genre, a location or setting, and finally, a title for a movie that they are going to watch with the audience. Oscar or Emmy, depending on who is playing the character, then prepares a film with the exact details given by the audience. Throughout the movie, Oscar or Emmy, pauses, rewinds as well as cuts to brief scenes like DVD extras and behind the scenes clips.

In each show, a total six to eight improvisers attempt to create a movie based on the suggested details of the film, with direction from the person playing as Oscar or Emmy.

> "The improvised movie, live onstage. The Scat Pack's team of electrifying improvisers weave a new movie, live every night based on your suggestions. Join Oscar in his home cinema to watch another never before seen and never to be seen again motion picture created before your very eyes, complete with special effects sequences, musical score and celebrity cameos. Choose what the film is about, where it’s set and even what awards it has won and Oscar will dig out the tape. Hilarious, exhilarating and totally improvised." - Description of Mischief Movie Night from Mischief Theatre's official website.
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## History

### Lights! Camera! Improvise! (2009-2017)

The show, under its original title, Lights! Camera! Improvise!, was first performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2009 by The Scat Pack, which is what the company was known back then, and it was performed yearly at the festival until 2015. The primary colors used by the cast members were yellow and black, until it was changed to blue and orange in 2017.

A recording of the show from 2011 was uploaded to Vimeo in 2012 entitled, Scubahero, and follows a man who gains aquatic superpowers after being exposed to radiation.

During its run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2013, the show received the Spirit of the Fringe Award.

From 2014 to 2015, the production was also performed in the Duchess Theatre in London.

In January 2017, the show came back for one night at the Wilton Music Hall for the 10th Annual London 50 Hour Improvathon. The genre suggested that night was a Detective-Mermaid-Fantasy film that was entitled, Splash Gordon.

### Mischief Movie Night (2017-Present Day)

Now renamed Mischief Movie Night, the show came back again on December 13, 2017 at the Arts Theatre in the West End, and ran until January 27, 2018. This production was also nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy.

Following its success on the West End, the show toured around UK from June 6th to July 21st of 2018.

During 2020, with theatres closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company performed at outdoor theatres from August 29 to September 9.

The show was also scheduled to open at the Vaudeville Theatre in the West End on 9 December 2020 but was forced to close early on 13 December 2020 after just 4 performances due to the pandemic.

In 2021, theatres were still closed due to the pandemic, so the company performed at outdoor theatres again from August 31 to September 12.

In 2022, Mischief Theatre came back to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to present the show again.

### Mischief Movie Night In (briefly in 2020-2021)

In December of 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Mischief Theatre began live streaming Mischief Movie Night In around the world after performances at the Vaudeville Theatre were cancelled. The show had four series from December of 2020 to August 2021.

## Featured Cast Members

There are a number of performers, particularly members of Mischief Theatre, who perform in Mischief Movie Night. The cast changes in every time. These performers include, but are not limited to:

* Jonathan Sayer, who usually plays Oscar in the show, but occasionally performs as part of the improvising cast.
* Henry Lewis, who also plays Oscar in some shows.
* Charlie Russell, who plays Emmy in some shows.
* Nancy Zamit, who also plays Emmy in some shows.
* Bryony Corrigan, who also plays Emmy in some shows.
* Henry Shields
* Dave Hearn
* Harry Kershaw
* Niall Ransome
* Mike Bodie
* Josh Elliott
* Ellie Morris
* Susan Harrison
* Rhyanna Alexander-Davis
* Laura Kirman
* Matt Cavendish
* Lauren Shearing

## Trivia

* There is an ongoing rivalry between Jonathan Sayer and Harry Kershaw, as the two often bicker and insult each other, specifically when Jonathan plays Oscar, he often comments on Harry Kershaw's performance.
* Henry Lewis, particularly in Mischief Movie Night In, plays sentient or supposedly inanimate objects in shows.
* Nancy Zamit has played a chicken atleast twice in Mischief Movie Night In

## References

1. ↑ https://fringereview.co.uk/review/edinburgh-fringe/2009/lights-camera-improvise/
2. ↑ https://officiallondontheatre.com/news/5-things-you-might-not-know-about-mischief/
3. ↑ https://vimeo.com/36226605
4. ↑ https://www.whatsonstage.com/edinburgh-theatre/news/edinburgh-fringe-2013-awards-round-up-who-won-what\_31752.html/
5. ↑ https://playbill.com/article/lights-camera-improvise-to-be-presented-at-west-ends-duchess-theatre-by-cast-of-play-that-goes-wrong-com-335184
6. ↑ https://wiltons.org.uk/whatson/274-the-2017-london-jam
7. ↑ https://www.officialtheatre.com/arts-theatre/mischief-movie-night/
8. ↑ https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/leisure/16287922.review-mischief-movie-night-oxford-playhouse---improvised-cinematic-genius-us-stitches/
9. ↑ https://britishtheatre.com/mischief-movie-night-uk-tour/
10. ↑ https://www.officialtheatre.com/vaudeville-theatre/mischief-movie-night-vaudeville/
11. ↑ https://everything-theatre.co.uk/2022/08/review-mischief-movie-night-edfringe-2022/
12. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/jan/25/mischief-movie-night-in-review