CCE Showcases Sharp Wit at Improv Show, Murder Mystery Musical
by Tyler Dean ‘25
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Poster for Mjürder
What do Superman and Ikea have in common? Ask the ‘CCE,’ a comedy group at Boston College whose fall semester performances included both an Improv show in November and an original murder mystery musical in December. Both events were successful in entertaining the audiences and showcasing the comedic instincts of the group. What makes the CCE unique, beyond its rare combination of improvisation and scripted comedy, is their openness. Unlike the other comedy troupes on campus, which hold intense auditions at the start of each year ultimately choosing just a few students per class, the CCE – short for Committee for Creative Enactments – holds open improv practices three times a week and encourages new people to come and get involved regardless of experience.
November 13, 2021 — A blackboard featuring detailed drawings of dozens of superheros looks out at an audience talking in hushed whispers as they eagerly anticipate the commencement of that evening’s improvised theatre performance. A few minutes after the stroke of 8:00 PM, eleven students strode through the side door of Stokes 159S to much applause. For the next hour, the audience was enraptured by a series of short scenes in which two, three, or four improvisers worked with audience suggestions to tell compelling stories and, naturally, elicit laughter. Towards the end of the show, titled “Marvel vs. D[CCE],” the entire cast came together for a long-form improvised scene based on an interview with an audience member about her day. This hilarious and oftentimes chaotic ten minute experience capped off a night that felt far from the usual uses of the Stokes classroom.
The evening was led by two “coaches,” Firebird LaRocca (CSOM ‘22) and Sam Frechette (MCAS ‘22). The coaches talked through the transitions between activities and facilitated each improv exercise. When asked about why they love the CCE, the two had very similar responses: the people. As Frechette says, “The CCE has been a great social group to spend time with, and the improv practices have given me a lot to look forward to each week. ... My entire friend group is made up of people I met through the club.” And in the words of LaRocca, “My favorite part of the CCE is easily the people. ... something about doing improv is such a stress reliever. You spend most of your time doing work for classes, but for a brief time you can just sit back, relax, and goof around with some amazing people.”
The cast of “Marvel vs. D[CCE]” performing their improv show
December 3, 2021 — A crowd packs into the Vanderslice Cabaret Room, filling every row of chairs set up, standing in the space behind them, and even taking advantage of seats up on the balcony surrounding the makeshift stage. The Ikea logo projected onto a large screen hung over the excited room. What followed was a brand-new original murder mystery musical produced and primarily acted by members of the CCE called “Mjürder.” In broad strokes, Mjürder follows the aftermath of the murder of head meatball chef Sandra, tracking three different groups trapped inside the locked down store. Written by Frechette and Grace Cutler (MCAS ‘24), edited by Leann Gardner (MCAS ‘23), and directed by Kayla Carew (MCAS ‘22), Mjürder brought its audience along on a two-plus hour rollercoaster ride of parody songs such as “Gee, Officer Tibbitts,” original group numbers like “Swedish Furniture Day” and “Where Are They Now? (The Detective Song),” and audience favorite, “MILFs.” The musical was well-received, as shown by an emphatic standing ovation and constant engagement throughout the runtime.
The cast of Mjürder performing the number “MILFs”
While one might think a show like Mjürder is far removed from the improvisation of “Marvel vs. D[CCE]”, Cutler would disagree. “Improvisation plays a monumental part in writing something scripted. ... Our dialogue was written similar to improv scenes and the flow of our process and storyline stems heavily from our improv experience and process.” Cutler, Frechette, and Gardner’s writing process began more than eleven months ago, in January 2021. The process was hardly smooth, with rehearsal space challenges and the time crunch of rehearsing more than two hours of material with just thrice weekly rehearsals. Despite this, the creative team persevered, and was still able to keep their sights focused on their love for the art. As director Carew puts it, “I think art really gives you a chance to create things that are fun, special, weird, and important. And a lot of the time art gives you the chance to create with other people.”
There are no shortage of ways to get involved with the CCE. Open practices are held in Gasson 306 from 8:00 to 10:00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 3:00 to 5:00pm on Sundays. CCE President Mark Schmit (MCAS ‘22) encourages people to come, saying, I believe the main draw of this club is that we offer a place for people to learn and develop their improv skills. ... The CCE strives to create a sense of community in which every member feels supported and comfortable to put themselves out there and give it their all, both on and offstage.” For those more interested in something theatrical, like Mjürder, the CCE’s spring murder mystery, The Die-Ner, by LaRocca and Jeffrey Cruz (MCAS ‘24), will hold auditions in late January. For more information, feel free to reach out to Schmit at schmitmk@bc.edu and check out the CCE’s Instagram at @BostonCollegeCCE.
