<p>Anyone have any experience--as a participant or spectator--with the improv groups at UChicago? Are they good? Difficult to get into? Do lots of people attend their shows? What is the difference between Off Off Campus and Occam's Razor?
Thanks.</p>
<p>I saw one improv show at UChicago during Admitted Students weekend last spring. I (and the rest of the large crowd) definitely enjoyed it. 
I can’t comment on any of the other details, but I would definitely say that they are good. :)</p>
<p>UChicago students will readily tell you that UChicago INVENTED improv, so needless to say, both of our comedy groups are top notch. They have slightly different structures, so lemme give you the rundown. </p>
<p>Off-Off Campus is our older, more settled troupe. They are super intense. If you get in, you’ll be part of the year’s “generation”; you’ll move up within the group along with your other generation-mates. You’ll have to practice for about three hours A DAY. Off-Off is also mostly sketch based, meaning they write scripts and perform scenes. They do improv from time to time, but they specialize in sketch. They have shows most Fridays during the quarter. They aren’t super well-attended; I only went because two guys from my house were in it. Auditions are pretty darn competitive. They won’t even let you do the call back unless you sign a contract saying that if they choose you, you’ll accept. It’s like EA for improv groups. </p>
<p>Occam’s Razor is a younger, lighter-hearted group. They practice less (2 hours twice a week or something?) and do 2-3 shows a quarter. They are entirely improv; no scenes, just pure improvisation based on audience suggestions. Their shows are very popular; every time I’ve gone there have been people standing in the back of the performance space. Their auditions are fairly competitive as well, though it varies from year to year. Since they accepted a lot of people last year, they might not even add any members this year. Also, everyone in Occam’s Razor is super awesome (one of my good friends, two of my coworkers at the admissions office, and my RA last year were all in Occam’s).</p>