The Lab: Improv Comedy Inspired By Real Science at Magnet Theater

Seasoned performers interview a scientist about their most exciting and interesting work, learning right alongside the audience about anything from why speed reading is a hoax, to why crabs make good test subjects. Their very real expertise becomes the inspiration for very made up improv comedy — to hilarious effect.

In this show, we’ll meet Dr. Vikram Gadagkar, Assistant Professor at Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute. As he puts it: “Practice makes perfect - but how? We study how songbirds learn to sing to understand how the brain changes during practice.” The “song” he’s talking about is what young male birds learn from their dads and practice obsessively to perform as their ultimate courtship flex.

We’re also joined by Scattergood, a comedy ensembles fresh off their best selling grad revue show “Stressed to the Nines” at Second City.

This show is supported by a grant from the Puffin Foundation.

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