Los Angeles, July 22, 2025 — USC’s Second Nature Improv troupe once again transformed the university into a bustling weekend hub of spontaneity, laughter, and creativity, as it hosted the 21st annual FRACAS! Improv Festival. This landmark event—under the banner of long-form improvisational theatre—reinforces its reputation as a leading festival in college comedy, drawing participants from across the nation.
Founded in 2004 by Second Nature’s original members, FRACAS! was conceived as a platform for collegiate improvisers to connect and learn from one another. Over the years, it has grown into one of the largest intercollegiate improv festivals in the United States. Since its inception, FRACAS! has emphasized long‑form improvisation, especially the “Harold” structure—a hallmark of Second Nature’s performances.
The festival’s evolution is a testament to its foresight: what began as a modest two-day showcase with eight troupes at a small venue has expanded into a three-day extravaganza featuring over fifteen collegiate groups, celebrity panels, and professional workshops. Notable past guests have included luminaries from Upright Citizens Brigade, The Groundlings, MadTV, The Office, SNL, and Whose Line Is It Anyway?
This year’s most anticipated event was the highlight of the festival: a dynamic masterclass and live Q&A with Wayne Brady. Brady, an Emmy-winning veteran of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, host of Let’s Make a Deal, and Tony Award nominee for Kinky Boots, has recently taken on the role of adjunct faculty at USC’s School of Dramatic Arts.
In what one student called “a masterclass in musical theatre improv,” Brady captivated a packed audience of about 100 students and public participants. He began by tracing his own journey into improvisation, highlighting fundamental principles such as spontaneity, active listening, and ensemble awareness.
He then invited student volunteers to the stage. With insight and encouragement, he guided them through improvised musical scenarios—in one case, a mock staging of rival lemonade stands battling for an investor’s funds. His warm, supportive teaching style allowed participants to shine. “They were really cognizant of pitching their improv partners softballs,” one student observed.
The interactive session underscored Brady’s emphasis on two core improv tenets: presence in the moment and trust in one’s ensemble. “For musical theatre performers, improv is a way to keep one’s mind sharp…and to be present in the moment. For improv performers, musical theatre is…a communal storytelling experience,” explained a student who participated. These qualities resonated deeply with both students and professional attendees alike.
FRACAS! thrived over the weekend, showcasing rising improv troupes and favoring collaboration between emerging and seasoned performers. One standout act was the return of the Crazy Uncle Joe Show, a main-stage production by The Groundlings that delighted audiences with its unpredictable energy.
Beyond performances, the festival offered immersive workshops—open to the public—that covered a range of skills from narrative improv to sketch writing. Led by industry veterans, these sessions provided practical tools for building characters, listening upgrades, and spontaneous storytelling.
Pop-up performances lightened the atmosphere in campus quads and walkways—casual showcases that encouraged passersby to sit down, laugh, and join the moment. It brought improv out of theaters and into everyday campus life.
Undergraduates echoed the festival’s impact on creativity and confidence. Dani Brown, a Second Nature member, highlighted FRACAS! as “Southern California’s leading platform for long‑form improv and emerging comedic talent,” echoing praise from Time Out Los Angeles. She emphasized the sense of belonging it fosters, both within the troupe and across university boundaries.
Another participant reflected on improv’s deeper personal benefits: “It’s the build‑up and release of tension…‘Comedic relief’ is such a good term for it,” sharing how deliberately choosing playful perspectives can make life “more cope‑able.”
As FRACAS! continues through Sunday evening with its final showcases and open jams, anticipation buzzes for next year’s edition. Second Nature has made a habit of introducing fresh ideas—this year’s “Speak No Evil” form, for instance, challenged performers with constraints on speech or sensory abilities.
USC’s investiture of Wayne Brady as an educator signals an ongoing commitment to professional-level instruction and industry ties. Students are gaining a rare blend: periods like masterclasses with Brady alongside peer-to-peer learning in a spirited, festival environment.
USC’s 21st annual FRACAS! Festival successfully reaffirmed its reputation as a cornerstone of collegiate improv. With the perfect marriage of professional instruction—most notably Wayne Brady’s inspired masterclass—and a spirit of innovation, the festival reinforced its place as both a celebration and incubator of comedic artistry. As Second Nature continues to chart new ground, FRACAS! stands as a prime example of how laughter, spontaneity, and community can transform both stage and life.
