Q + A >>
Funny Business
Providence couple Luke and Taylor Bruneaux bring their love of laughter to the stage at Kismet Improv . By Paul E . Kandarian
In fall 2021 , the pandemic was still very much a thing — and no laughing matter , but perhaps a much-needed time for a few chuckles . So Providence-based husband-and-wife team Luke and Taylor Bruneaux — he a health care data scientist , she a tech industry marketing specialist — created Kismet Improv in Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket and let the funny business begin .
Why did you guys start this ? LUKE : Taylor and I had done improv for years , in Boston and Chicago , and we started doing improv here , like at Wage House . But the pandemic hit and that closed everything down . We ’ d always wanted to start our own improv theater and talked to others in the state we knew , and we opened last fall . It ’ s been going pretty well ever since .
No one does comedy to get rich , right ? LUKE : True , but here , we pay our performers . It ’ s a big part of our mission ; we wanted improv to be rewarded . We have a regular marquee cast that I direct and it performs on Friday and Saturday nights .
You teach improv , too ; what are the basics ? LUKE : Being positive and present , having the idea of opening your mind to what ’ s in the
room , listening to other people . The more you ’ re thinking of a joke , the more that works counter to being funny . It ’ s about creativity , being spontaneous and sharing the stage , opening yourself to being there and getting rid of your inner critic . Rational thinking is what you do all day long , not here .
Do improv skills help in real life ? LUKE : Some people take classes to get on stage , some to gain more confidence at work and be comfortable in meetings . It ’ s all good .
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT : Artistic Director Luke Bruneaux and Executive Director Taylor Bruneaux , founders of Kismet Improv . The Pawtucket-based troupe holds regular performances and workshops .
Is Rhode Island intrinsically a funny place with funny people ? TAYLOR : Oh , yes , for sure . For one thing , there are a lot of transplants here , trained improv artists from New York and L . A ., and Rhode Islanders themselves are proud of being quirky and understanding the nuances of being here . You tell jokes about Benny ’ s , and people love it . 1005 Main St ., Pawtucket , 205-2552 , kismetimprov . com �
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF KISMET IMPROV / PERFORMANCE PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY PACITTI PHOTOGRAPHY .
22 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l MAY 2022