Improv Show Brings True Stories Of Notable Tampeños To Life On Stage

TAMPA, FL — Tampa improv theater The Commodore’s signature series Salud & Happy Days continues Friday night, 7:30 to 8:45 p.m., with guest Mark Beiro.

The series features comedians improvising scenes inspired by the true stories of well-known Tampeños. Tickets are $18.12, including tax.

Beiro, a professional broadcaster known for announcing jai alai, wrestling, and boxing matches, and as the voice of Comedy Central’s “BattleBots,” will share stories from his career and growing up in West Tampa.

As he tells stories from his life, improv actors will perform scenes based on them.

The Commodore has been hosting the series, a concept created by co-owner Justin Peters, for about two years.

“The concept is really simple. We get a notable person from Tampa to tell true stories about their lives and experiences here and [comics] perform improv based on those experiences,” Kelly Buttermore, a co-owner of the theater, told Patch.

In the improv world, this is a popular long-form format rooted in storytelling called the Armando, named after the Chicago improv player and teacher, Armando Diaz, who created it.

“It draws inspiration from monologues and stories and things like that,” Buttermore said. “[Salud & Happy Days] is a modified version of that.”

When Buttermore, Peters and the other owners formed The Commodore, it was important from the start that the theater paid homage to Tampa in some way.

“We knew what we really wanted was a place that reflected Tampa. We didn’t want the sort of garden variety venue that you could find anywhere; we wanted to reflect the city in which we live,” she said.

The Salud & Happy Days series closely ties in with this mission, Buttermore added. “It’s an interesting, rich and, frankly, weird place. There are so many interesting characters and so many interesting relationships and connections. We wanted to make sure that our shows incorporated that, and so we love the way that we do that with this show, in particular.”

The series is also a great launching point for people who have never attended an improv show before.

“It’s not all ‘Who’s Line Is It Anyway?’” Buttermore said, noting that the television series is often all anyone knows of the art of improv.

Salud & Happy Days' storytelling core “lends itself really nicely to be very accessible for an audience,” she said. “It’s more theatrical [than regular improv]. People see our guest [on the line-up] and think, ‘Oh yeah, I know that person and I want to know their stories.’ They come in and also see improv. It’s also easy for them to follow.”

For those who can’t make April’s show, Salud & Happy Days is held the second Friday or every month and has featured a range of community members sharing their personal stories.

“We’ve had a lot of great guests from all walks of life, all experiences of Tampa - different jobs, different angles and different generations,” Buttermore said. “It’s an interesting way to hear Tampa lore and history and experiences.”

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