We would like to introduce you to Anitra Cottrell of the Mulligan Family Reunion. She and her team share their story with us below.
Like all the great stories, The Mulligan Family Reunion began with a rag-tag group of friends, too much time on their hands, and a dream of making people laugh. Ok, maybe there is a bit more to it. As performers of the So U Comedy Theater in St. George, Anitra, Bekah, Ginger, Greg, and Bald Nate (yes… that is what he prefers to be called) have been playing improv since 2016. Their monthly shows are a compilation of sorts; guessing games, pantomime, gibberish, and everything in between. And of course, it is all made up on the spot.
Like many improvisers wanting to improve their craft, The Mulligan Family Reunion began as a practice exercise focusing on creating longer and more in-depth scenes. Reflecting on how it all came together, Ginger said, “We all just wanted to try something different. Once we started, we came to really enjoy practicing as a group. Improv takes a lot of trust and a lot of heart. We started to grow together through that experience and it only made sense to start putting a show together and call it a family.”
Today the Mulligan Family performs their Long Form Improv show as if it were the talent portion of a tedious family reunion. Chatting with the audience to generate ideas, the dive into scenes that make the audience giggle, sometimes reflect, and of course, appreciate being a “member” of such an entertaining family.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not many people know about improv other than Who’s Line Is It Anyway and getting people to take a chance on something they haven’t seen before is hard. Luckily we have had great audience members who take their first chance on us and then come back with friends. We have been very fortunate to find the perfect place to perform at Art Provides in St. George. A studio that facilitates all kinds of arts events for the community. Finding our place in that space was the perfect fit.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Improv is a basic form of live theater that is anything but basic. Creating a scene with characters, dialogue, and a storyline in real-time can be challenging but oh-so rewarding. The Mulligan Family Reunion uses inspiration from our conversation with the audience to tell a story that has never been seen.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Do what you love! The Mulligan Family Reunion is our way of having fun and sharing it with anyone and everyone ready to enjoy something new. We definitely do what we love and we choose to keep going because it brings us joy and fulfillment. If you have a passion for what you do, then making it a reality is totally doable!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://themulliganfamilyreunionimprov.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mulliganimprov/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themulliganfamilyreunionimprov
