Members of Laughter Shock Improv, Nevada County’s newest comedy troupe, will make their debut Aug. 16 at Wild Eye Pub in Grass Valley. The ensemble grew out of Instant Improv, a community group founded by Kimberly Ewing and Sandra Rockman. Photos courtesy of Laughter Shock Improv

GRASS VALLEY, CA (MPG) - Nevada County’s newest comedy troupe, Laughter Shock Improv, will make its debut on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Wild Eye Pub in Grass Valley (535 Mill Street).

The evening will feature a fast-paced mix of short-form games and scenes built entirely on audience suggestions, meaning no two shows are ever the same. Tickets are available through Wild Eye Pub, and early arrival is encouraged for seating.

“We really just want to share our laughter and encourage others to try something new,” said troupe co-founder Kimberly Ewing.

Laughter Shock Improv grew out of Instant Improv, a group Ewing co-founded with veteran theater artist Sandra Rockman following the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially meeting in Ewing’s living room in 2022, the sessions were meant to be lighthearted get-togethers but quickly revealed a deeper purpose.           

“It was really just an informal time to have fun,” said Ewing. “What I didn’t realize was the real human needs that it was touching on.”               

Some participants came seeking connection, others an escape from personal life challenges. The result was a multigenerational, supportive community where humor became both a creative outlet and emotional release.

Today, Instant Improv runs fall and spring class sessions at the UnChurch in Nevada City, welcoming newcomers and seasoned performers alike.

About Kimberly Ewing

A longtime Grass Valley resident, Ewing’s passion for performing began in fifth grade when she played the Wicked Witch in a school production.

“The games and exercises you do before the show were always so fun to me,” Ewing said. “I just remember feeling so energized and excited.”

After college, she spent two decades in finance and communications before a career change rekindled her love for the arts. She has taught English, worked in radio, led arts education programs for the Nevada County Arts Council and performed in award-winning female-powered troupes such as Sketchy Ladies and MenoPosse alongside actor

Lois Masten.

When the pandemic halted live performances in 2020, Ewing adapted, fostering a home-grown improv community that has now blossomed into Laughter Shock’s public debut.

Following the Aug. 16 show, Laughter Shock Improv has been invited to perform at the historic Nevada Theatre on Oct. 9, a milestone for a troupe less than two years old. The performance team currently consists of Lindsay Dunckel, John Paul, Jamie Lynn Fong, Kimberly Ewing, Marsha Burch, Chel Svendsgaar, Brian Coe, Sandra Rockman, Anna Durga, Deborah Gilcrest, Heather Federmeyer, Andrew Barclay, Rod Tayler and Ehrland Hollingsworth

For more information about classes and performance opportunities, check in with Ewing at [email protected]. Tickets to the premier Laughter Shock Improv show are available at www.wildeyepub.com/events-1/laughter-shock-improv-debut-8-16.