Every table was packed with people in the back room at Twiggs on March 13 to watch Bellows Free Academy’s Improv Team perform.  It was the first show the team had performed since before the pandemic.

The team, fronted by co-captains Jakob Birnbaum (‘23) and Ben Birnbaum (‘23) and led by BFAś Theatre Director, Susan Palmer, performed to a full house and raised $250 for The Samaritan House.  

The Birnbaums said they have been on the BFA improv team since 2020 and team captains since Nov. of 2022.

In an interview with The Mercury, Ben Birnbaum recounted his experience performing. 

“It went better than I expected,” Birnbaum said. “Our improv team is really funny, but we’ve never really done [a show] in front of an audience.  We’re fairly new to it.”

Birnbaum said that he was also very nervous before the show. 

“My heart was beating out of my chest,” he said. “I had never done this before.”

Another team member, Lydia Tomlinson (‘23), who has been a part of the team since 2019, recounted her experience performing on Monday night. 

“I think it went well,” Tomlinson said. “There was some good communication between the team.”

When asked if she was nervous before the show, Tomlinson said she wasn’t. 

Among the audience of family and friends was BFA principal, Brett Blanchard, who even participated in a few of the games performed.

Blanchard said he was impressed by the students and their ability to perform outside their comfort zones.

“For me, it’s really about seeing students utilize their skill set,” Blanchard said. “It’s what life’s about.”