New to campus in fall 2021, Bear Bait Improv has already made its mark on campus.

Freshman Kathryn Bale is new to the RSO and is a cast member and performer.

“I think it’s cool that we perform every few weeks rather than plays, which take longer to do,” Bale said.

Cast members are required to attend all meetings, and rehearsals and be in each performance.

“I just heard about [Bear Bait Improv] when I got on campus and started going to my theater classes,” Bale said. “Auditions made me a little nervous but after they began it was so much fun. I’ve learned to not be afraid and to put yourself out there. ”

Freshman Faith Nix is a new member and said that her high school experience sparked her decision to join.

“[It was fun] meeting a bunch of new people who have the same interest in acting and improv as I do,” Nix said. “So far I’ve learned a lot of new improv games and I also learned how great the community at UCA is.”

Nix said that there are added responsibilities to joining Bear Bait Improv.

“It’s not super challenging for me when I’m there, but the biggest problem for me personally is time management,” Nix said. “I love being a part of it but making time for school and work on the side is the hard part.”

President and co-founder of the RSO, senior Dalton Carroll works alongside senior Rudy Fajardo. A few of Carroll’s main responsibilities are having guest workshops, hosting performance events and taking trips to view improv and performance-based work. 

Both Carroll and Fajardo have a long history of involvement in professional improv companies in Arkansas, such as “Armadillo Rodeo” and “The Rev Improv Troupe” in Little Rock.

“[Being involved] allows us both a familiarity with the craft as well as a necessary sense for hosting, auditioning and group management when it comes to [Bear Bait Improv],” Carroll said. “Since we work closely as a group, it’s also great to have someone else there to bounce ideas off of and who can always help check your work.”

Carroll said one great thing about the club is getting to know the individuals who are interested in the performing arts, whether it be a comedy or telling stories through their craft.

“As our troupe is open to others outside of the theater department, we often encounter students from all around campus: from theater and film to English and sports education,” Carroll said.

Bear Bait Improv is one of the first and only organizations primarily focused on a specific form of performance art in theater.

“While there are other groups in the music and vocal performance departments, Bear Bait seeks to actively engage its members in both performing and learning about improv-based performance,” Carroll said. “This includes comedy, stand-up and overall acting without a script.”

Carroll said he has made a big commitment to the theater department at UCA and hopes for future growth.

“I’ve always wanted the department to expand into the realms of dance, musical theater and alternative dance styles, so when my buddy Rudy and I decided to come up with Bear Bait Improv, we truly gave it our all in order to make it happen,” Carroll said. “[It’s] not only for us, but for other students in the department and on campus as well who’ve particularly had interests that align with the type of stuff we do over at Bear Bait.”

Carroll said that there are auditions at the beginning of each fall semester and occasionally auditions in the spring semester for students.

“Be on the lookout for those if you are interested in joining,” Carroll said. “We are also looking for visual and digital artists who would like to produce artwork for our improv troupe as well as a musician who can effectively improvise piano accompaniment for shows.”

Carroll encourages students to join Bear Bait Improv and learn what it takes to be successful at improv and other skills.

“Bear Bait is always looking for new faces seeking to get involved with us,” Carroll said. “There are absolutely no prerequisites when it comes to experience with improv or even performance. We are equally a group dedicated to education and growth as a performance troupe. As long as you bring your passion and enthusiasm, we’re guaranteed to have fun.”