Nameless Numberhead started in 2014 as a scrappy DIY operation, and now its shows, including Rip City CHS, Disruptor Improv, eXcess boXes, an all-women sketch comedy show, and others have become fixtures of Charleston’s live comedy scene.
This fall, the group announced an expanded partnership with Silver Hill Studios in Park Circle to offer weekly shows on Saturday nights. Nameless Numberhead has also announced classes for people looking to learn improvisation and sketch comedy writing.
The announcement follows a successful spring season of Nameless Numberhead x Silver Hill shows, as well as a sold-out night at the Terrace Theatre this past month for “Rip City at the Movies,” a show celebrating locally made short films, sketches, animated shorts and music videos.
“There’s clearly a hunger for more of an alternative scene in Charleston,” said Henry Riggs, co-founder of Nameless Numberhead and producer of Rip City. “There always has been. In our 10 years of producing Rip City, there’s been such a ‘luxury explosion’ that it’s hard for counterculture institutions to stay alive in such an upscale market.”
Even while facing the headwinds of more arts institutions getting pushed out of downtown, Nameless Numberhead and Rip City have found a home in Park Circle and an audience to support it.
In the past few years, the comedy outfit has been guided by its mission of keeping artistic growth on pace with commercial development.
“We want to see more art spaces, not less,” Riggs said.
But it’s a challenge when more beloved art spaces in Charleston have to shut their doors. A recent example is the news that Theatre 99’s space at 280 Meeting St., a building that has meant a great deal to Charleston’s comedy community, will close Sept. 12.
But Theatre 99 aims to keep doing shows, and so does Nameless Numberhead at Silver Hill Studios.
“That’s the only way to keep Charleston kinda cool and kinda weird,” Riggs said.
Nameless Numberhead believes arts advocacy and showing up to support live local shows are important to maintaining unique communities in Charleston. The group encourages people to check out a show, tell a friend or take a class and get involved.
Upcoming Shows
- Friday, Sept. 11 — Comedy Wars, an improvised game show
- Saturday, Sept. 19 — Rip Citizens, an original character showcase
- Saturday, Sept. 26 — Rip City CHS, the original sketch comedy/variety show
- Saturday, Oct. 3 — Disruptor Improv with Road Trip
- Saturday, Oct. 10 — The 16mm Show, live projections of 16mm film reels and improv comedy
- Saturday, Oct. 17 — eXcess boXes, an all-women sketch comedy and giveaway show
- Saturday, Oct. 24 — Rip City CHS, the original sketch comedy/variety show
- Saturday, Nov. 7 — Disruptor Improv
- Saturday, Nov. 14 — Comedy Wars, an improvised game show
- Saturday, Nov. 21 — Rip Citizens, an original character showcase
- Saturday, Nov. 28 — Rip City CHS, the original sketch comedy/variety show
Upcoming Classes
Improv Is Fun, taught by Maari Suorsa
Starts Sunday, Sept. 13, at 9 a.m.
Six-week course/$200
This class is designed for people of all experience levels and will focus on the basics of listening, agreement, heightening, having fun and trusting ourselves and each other. The course is also designed to be taken as many times as participants feel they are growing and learning from it.
Intro to Rip City, taught by Henry Riggs
Starts Sunday, Sept. 13, at 11 a.m.
Six-week course/$200
This hybrid comedy writing class will explore using improv fundamentals to create original works. Exercises will focus more on theatrical practices, recording improvised material, and writing and revising original material.
More About the Shows
Fall shows will continue to include the flagship Rip City CHS as a monthly offering. Rip City has been a fixture in Charleston for more than 10 years, providing an artistic melting pot of comedians, musicians, dancers, puppeteers, filmmakers and others. Shows take place on the last Saturday of every month, with upcoming performances Sept. 26, Oct. 24 and Nov. 28.
Also continuing monthly is Disruptor Improv, which features a veteran team of improvisers including Ian Brennan (Theatre 99), Lindsay Collins (EffinBRadio), Matthew Perry (We’re All Dead Podcast), Maari Suorsa (Nameless Numberhead) and Henry Riggs (Nameless Numberhead). Everything is based on audience suggestions, and each month features a rotating local improv group opening the show. Fall shows are scheduled for Sept. 5, Oct. 3 and Nov. 7.
In the spring, Nameless Numberhead brought back one of its more requested shows, eXcess boXes, an all-women sketch comedy and local giveaway show curated by Maari Suorsa. The next show will be Oct. 17 and will include original comedy sketches from some of the funniest women in the Lowcountry. The event will also feature giveaways from local businesses.
A breakout hit of the spring season was a new show called The 16mm Show, which will return Oct. 10. The 16mm Show combines public-domain 16mm film reels projected live with improvised scenes inspired by the footage. The concept brings together film and comedy in a collaboration between Rip City and Projectomat’s Mitch Lucas.
New to the lineup are two shows: Comedy Wars and Rip Citizens: Character Showcase.
Comedy Wars is a reboot of an old Theatre 99 show in which teams go head-to-head in short-form improv games to win points from character judges. The show will take place Friday, Sept. 11, and Saturday, Nov. 14.
Rip Citizens is a new show debuting this month. Eight performers will each showcase five minutes of original characters. In the style of The Groundlings or UCB character showcases, the show will feature solo performers presenting a range of original characters, hosted by Charleston comedian Andy Livengood. Rip Citizens will take place Sept. 19 and Nov. 21.