Spotlight on The N Crowd

Short form group the N Crowd has just begun their premiere season in Philadelphia. In this month's spotlight, we sit down with the cast for a closer look at the latest group to hit the improv scene.

Originally published in April of 2005

When you first come upon the Spirit Wind Internal Arts Studio, at 213 New Street in Old City, you find a non-descript brick building, dwarfed by the Painted Bride Art Center. What you don’t expect is that the range of uses for this old warehouse space is anything but ordinary. Primarily functioning as a karate studio, on a given night you may find bands, belly-dancers or Philly’s newest short form group, the N Crowd.

It’s hard to believe that only three short months ago the group didn’t exist, yet they already have several shows under their belt. Their original public appearance was on April 22nd, where the N Crowd played for an audience of over 100 people.

At the beginning of this year, Ray King Reese and Emily Dufton were both members of a local sketch comedy group. They began discussing their desire to break away from the scripted nature of what they were doing, and turn their focus towards improv. Reese, 29, brought over a decade of short form experience with him from performing in places like New York, St. Louis and Pittsburgh. Dufton, 22 had just moved to Philadelphia after founding NYU’s Gallatin Theatre Group. They decided they would pair up and channel their energy into creating a new breed of short form group.

They had a very clear vision of who they wanted to join them. They would pull from a local pool of performers. They wanted to create an association of players that were dedicated and wanted to hone their skills while supporting the whole group. “We wanted people who weren’t trying to be funny, trying to hold the spotlight or showboat,” says Dufton. “We want to work with people that have a definite presence, but want to connect with others in the group.”

Dufton, originally from Allentown, enjoys the spontaneous energy that improv brings to a performance. “I wanted a freedom that still existed in structure… This is it.” Reese, having headed up Team Beta Comedy Assassins in St. Louis, felt his experience and Emily’s energy were what they need to head out on their own.

Over the next month, the duo would post audition information in online forums like Craigslist.org and Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. The response they received was a little different than what the two expected. “With the overwhelming response, it was a challenge to cast because of all the talent that came out,” Reese said. Dufton added, “We never anticipated how many people with genuine quality showed up.”

Brandon Libby, 27, and a general member of the group, ended up auditioning on a lark. “I had a friend coming to audition, and he brought me along. I didn’t really know what I was getting into. It’s turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me.”

It seems as though it’s a great thing that has happened to a lot of people. When they closed auditions, the N Crowd found itself with over a dozen members. “The diversity of experience is huge. You see people with years of training, and others who come by it naturally,” says another general member, Jessica Snow, 25. Jessica, a graduate of Cabrini College, headed up Cabrini’s On the Spot with Matt Holmes, now of the Rare Bird Show. “With our large numbers, we make a good audience for each other.”

Danziger will be leaving for NYU in the fall, and she is not the only roster change the group is looking at. “We cast a lot of people so that we have that flexibility,” says Dufton, who herself is leaving the area to pursue other ventures. “It feels strange to be leaving so soon after Ray and I started on this.” But she is confident the group will do great things in the future. When asked what she will miss most about the N Crowd, it didn’t take long for her to answer. “Oh, man… the people!”

When looking to the future, Reese sees a lot of different things for the group. “We see our regular shows incorporated with monthly scripted performances along with a variety showcase for bands and groups.” He would like to see them as a regular performing arts face in Philadelphia.

With the their premiere season now underway, and a weekly performance in a consistent venue, the N Crowd may just get their wish…

By Matt Nelson