Members threw around adjectives like ebullient, badass, skinny and effervescent, while a few thought a rousing rendition of Lil' Wayne's "Swag Surfin'" gave a more accurate picture of Dartmouth's oldest improv group.
Many members settled for just two words: "Sean drove."
Dog Day recently beat out 13 other college improv groups to win ImprovBoston's College Beanpot Improv Tournament, a competition hosted by ImprovBoston in late February each year. The group owes its title of Beanpot Champions to Sean Kaufman '13, members said.
Kaufman wowed his fellow Dog Day members with his expert ability to drive in inclement weather, braving treacherous road conditions to get the group to Boston in time for the Beanpot competition.
"Sh*t was wild," a member said.
Displaying the quick wit and collaboration that helped them win the Beanpot title, Dog Day members played off the energy and excitement of their teammates when trying to come up with a word to characterize their group. As soon as one person suggested a word, another member would interject, explaining why they didn't think the word quite fit and offering a new adjective for consideration. As the conversation picked up speed and word suggestions became more and more ridiculous, the discussion began to resemble an improv comedy show.
Eventually, after a good deal of laughter and joking around, the players came to a consensus in a word, their group is a "family."
Dog Day's family dynamic is evident in the group members' easy banter, their infectious enthusiasm for comedy and even their pride in Kaufman's driving abilities. Instead of bragging about their first place finish in the Beanpot competition, the players focused on the role Kaufman played in securing their victory.
Listening to the group describe their Beanpot experience made it even more obvious that the Dog Day Players are a family unit. For example, teammates were constantly calling and texting two Dog Day members who could not make it to the competition with updates, Hutcheson said. Dog Day members even updated alums of the group throughout the competition.
Priya Shanmugam '13 said that her favorite memories from Beanpot were the moments they waited in the stairwell before going onstage.
"We would say, Just do you,'" Shanmugam said. "We got pumped up, and that's where weird inside jokes and memories come from."
Shanmugam is a member of The Dartmouth Staff.
Although the tournament gave Dog Day members a chance to bond and hang out, it was not all fun and games the players spent the weeks counting down to the competition working frantically to master an unfamiliar improv form.
Dog Day is a longform improv comedy group, but the Beanpot tournament tests comedy groups on their shortform improv skills. Longform improv develops characters and a storyline throughout the scene. In contrast, shortform is more regulated and driven by predetermined structures, games and ideas. In order to have a chance in the competition, Dog Day members had to band together and learn the art of shortform improv.
To prepare for the competition, Dog Day members focused intensely on shortform improv in their rehearsals in the last two weeks before the competition, according to Alexi Pappas '12, the self-proclaimed "jock of the group."
"And we ran laps," Pappas added.
More than one member noted that performing on a stage with lighting was very different from performing in fraternity basements.
Whereas Dog Day typically performs for rowdy students in crowded frat basements, Beanpot allowed the group to showcase their skills in a formal setting.
"The audience was grown people," Henry Hutcheson '12 explained. "People paid money to see us. We normally perform at frats where people are hammered."
Dog Day performed for sold-out crowds each night of the competition.
Despite the obstacles, the Dog Day Players shone throughout the competition.
Not only did Dog Day win the tournament, but Hamish Tildesley '11 was also honored as the tournament's MVP.
Tildesley said every Dog Day member gave a standout performance. While some other groups chose to highlight their strongest members in every scene, Dog Day was recognized for having all group members participate and earn points.
"We're able to work together and shine independently," Tildesley said.
Although Dog Day found success in shortform at the Beanpot competition, they were also able to perform a longform set during the tournament.
"We got to cross back over to our style," Chase Klein '14 explained.
However, no matter what type of improv or where they are performing, Dog Day members are happy just to be in one another's company.
"All we do is giggle," Alex Rowe '14 said.
