By
Hillary Davis
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Comedy Corner, Ambidextrous Armada search for new homes before Union closing
The impending closure of the Memorial Student Union for renovations will not keep UA's popular comedy troupes who perform their weekly shows in the Union mainstay The Cellar from making people laugh.
Comedy Corner and Ambidextrous Armada may have to move out of The Cellar - which has been a part of the Union since 1970, when it was introduced as a multi-purpose performance area and student hang-out - while construction crews give the Union a facelift, but troupe leaders do not anticipate halting performances.
Ambidextrous Armada, an improvisational group that has performed in The Cellar since its debut a year and a half ago, is looking into moving performances to the Modern Languages auditorium, said Adam Berkowitz, an accounting junior and the group's co-founder.
"I feel pretty confident that we're gonna continue performing," Berkowitz said. "If it turns out we can't get it (Modern Languages auditorium), we'll sit down as a group and re-brainstorm."
Berkowitz said Ambidextrous Armada has been scheduled to perform in The Cellar until at least February, but, past that, the group must find a new home.
Although possibilities for Ambidextrous Armada's future venue and schedule depend on the availability of the Modern Languages auditorium, Berkowitz said, the "show will go on."
Comedy Corner plans are similar.
Zack Armstrong, a creative writing senior and Comedy Corner's producer, said the group will "absolutely" continue its 10-year tradition of entertaining students, despite losing the Cellar venue.
"We haven't set anything in stone yet, but we are currently looking at the auditorium in Modern Languages and feel pretty confident about getting it," said Armstrong, who is also an occasional columnist for the Arizona Daily Wildcat. "The downside of the move is that we are losing our Friday noon time slot and will have to have an evening show."
"We feel confident about retaining a strong audience, though."
Armstrong and Berkowitz said that neither university or construction officials have spoken with the groups about the relocation, but Armstrong said Comedy Corner has been given some guidance.
"We are a part of UAB (University Activities Board), and have gotten a lot of help from them, but have not talked with officials directly," he said.
Although both groups promise to return in the spring, Comedy Corner's performance last Friday was the last of the semester, as well as the final shows for departing cast members Andrew Shemin and Arnie Niekamp. Ambidextrous Armada's semester finale is at 10 p.m. Tuesday.
Despite neither performance group knowing for sure where they will take the stage come the closing of the Union, one thing is certain for Berkowitz.
"We don't see this as a hindering block for the future of our group," he said.
