History
Theatre Strike Force has been a comedy powerhouse at the University of Florida since 1989. Founded by Dr. Judith Williams and Sid Homan, both of the UF School of Theatre and Dance, the improvisational group initially performed experimental "street theatre" that was satirical in nature.
In the mid 90s, the group came under the direction of Heather Roberts, who fused TSF's social and political consciousness with a more comedy-based style of improvisation. Roberts also created The Sunday Group, a special team in TSF that would focus specifically on "long-form" improvisation (a Chicago style that provided the comedic foundation stars like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Chris Farley).
Now, with regular performances for packed audiences and ever increasing membership, TSF has become one of the largest and most popular collegiate comedy groups in the nation. Although we're best known for our "short-form" improv (popularized on the TV show Whose Line Is It, Anyways?), we also perform long-form improv, musical improv, and sketch comedy. Many of our alumni have moved on to Chicago and Los Angeles, joining the ranks of some of the best improvisers in the country.
With dozens of shows each semester, if you're anywhere on the UF campus (or surrounding Gainesville area), there are plenty of opportunities to watch TSF do its thing.
TSF may function as a performance group, but at its heart is also a completely open club. Every Monday at 7 p.m. in Weimer Hall we teach our TSF Academy. These classes are THE way to learn the games and techniques used in our monthly Gator Nights shows and our more frequent dorm shows. Anyone who is interested can send us an e-mail. You need no experience to join. All you need is a desire to have fun.
2012-2013 Executive Board
Theatre Strike Force operates like all the other clubs at UF, with a constitution and a board of five elected officers as defined in that constitution. That's a picture of us up above—nice to meet you!
From left to right in the picture above, you'll see: Our Vice President Dan Levine, who's in charge of booking shows and filling in for any other officers as needed. Then there's Treasurer Jessica Sheldon, who manages our finances and tells us, "no we can't buy a goat." In the middle there you'll see our adorable President Sami Main, who does everything you can imagine. Next up is Secretary Patrick Hart, who keeps our meetings running smoothly and handles announcements as well as the TSF ListServ. If you want to get emails about all the stuff we do, talk to him! Lastly that's Historian Jonathan Burnett, who runs this website, TSF's social media presence, makes sure we get photos and videos taken at all the shows, and relates with TSF Alumni.
There's one more notable member of the TSF Executive Board, who, although appointed and not elected, has perhaps the most important task of maintaining TSF's creative vision. That person, this year, is our Creative Director Brad Hersch. In order maintain the integrity of our board members, the Creative Director makes final decisions regarding casting/artistic matters.
Feel free to contact us at any time—address your message to a specific board member and we'll make sure it finds its way, or to no one in particular and we'll do the thinking for you!