FrISC throws on our finest argyle sweater to join Rebecca Brey, Jen Curran, Clayton Early, Faryn Einhorn, Katie Larsen, Adam Lustick, Billy Scafuri, Chris Smith and Sara Taylor as they share a bit of the knowledge they’ve acquired while on the high seas of comedy.
How do nine college graduates from New York, with no sailing skills, become the sketch comedy group, Harvard Sailing Team? “We're preppy, we wear argyle, we don't do dirty jokes. We're clean-cut. We're a team. ‘Harvard Sailing Team’ just seems to fit,” Sara declares.
Following their college graduation, childhood friends Billy and Chris set out to create a sketch comedy show. Chris invited his NYU classmates, Rebecca, Jen, Clayton, Faryn, Katie, Adam and Sara to help out on the project. After this production, Sara recalls, “We soon became Harvard Sailing Team, and one show turned into hundreds.”
Their career highlights include: a 2007 ECNY Award for Best Sketch Comedy Group, features on Sesame Street, CBS News, NBC’s DotComedy.com, and performances around the country at venues, such as The Kennedy Center, South Carolina’s Spoleto Festival, and Chicago SketchFest.
FrISC: Have you received any comments from Harvard University?
Sara: A contingent from the actual Harvard Sailing Team has been to our show and they were very enthusiastic and nice. They bought our t-shirts and took pictures with us.
FrISC: I hear Ashton Kutcher Tweeted about you? Do tell!
Katie: Ashton gave our video, “Boys Will Be Girls,” an A+ on his Twitter.
Rebecca: It was very exciting because when he did it we were all together on the set of our upcoming video. I automatically started screaming. I’m sure I ruined a shot.
FrISC: What’s the craziest thing that’s happened during a taping or live performance of one of your shows? What is your most memorable show moment together thus far?
Chris: On Saturday, December 23rd, 2007, during a holiday show at the PIT, I proposed to Rebecca in the middle of the last sketch.
Rebecca: The proposal was definitely the most memorable show for me and possibly for the rest of the group since it was really a surprise for all of us!
FrISC: How has your writing process evolved over the years?
Clayton: Our writing process has always been very collaborative. Whether someone has a full script or just an idea, we all toss it around and make suggestions and see what gets the best response.
Rebecca: In the beginning, we would bring a lot of scripts to rehearsals. But now that we’ve been working together for over 5 years, we use scripts less and less. We’ll usually just bring ideas to rehearsal and the group will first improvise to develop it and then from that we’ll set the sketch.
Clayton: Our group mind has become stronger and more fluid. Most importantly, it's become much more fun and playful!
FrISC: Do you have any advice for beginning sketch performers?
Jen: Focus on the ideas and concepts that make YOU and your friends laugh. If nobody in your group laughs when you pitch the idea, it's probably not that strong, so don't be afraid to leave stuff to the wayside if it isn't working. There will always be another hilarious idea around the next corner.
FrISC: In your wildest dreams, if money were no object, where would you want to take Harvard Sailing Team?
Jen: We'd live in a big house with all of our husbands, wives, dogs, cats, and kids. Or we'd all live on the same block in sick apartments with huge kitchens. The girls and Chris would have coffee together every morning out on the deck. And we'd get to write and perform together, make movies and TV shows and travel all over the world doing live shows.
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