2022 - HYPROV: Improv Under Hypnosis returns to the ECC Arts Center

The Elgin Community College Arts Center presents the return of “HYPROV: Improv Under Hypnosis” with Colin Mochrie, the star of the long-running television show Whose Line Is It, Anyway?, and Master Hypnotist Asad Mecci. The live show combines hypnosis and improv for a unique comedy experience. The show will be in the Blizzard Theatre located in Building H on the Spartan Drive Campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, on April 2, 2022, at 7 p.m.

HYPROV (pronounced hip-rawv) was co-created by Mochrie and Mecci in 2016 at Toronto’s Second City. After working it out on stage, they took the show on the road to Just for Laughs London, Just for Laughs Montreal, and the Edinburgh Fringe. The duo set out on a 50-city tour in 2019 and performed across the U.S. and Canada before the pandemic caused them to postpone the remainder of the tour.

“I’ve been hypnotizing people for 20 years, but when I studied improv, I had an epiphany: hypnosis could unlock the comedic genius in everyday people and turn them into pros,” said Mecci. “You never know which participants will go under hypnosis and how long. But that’s part of the show and what adds to the laughs.”

The show begins with Mecci welcoming twenty volunteers on stage to be hypnotized. He whittles them down to four or five of the most susceptible and then brings Mochrie out to improvise while under hypnosis. In the hands of two experts and solely crafted from the audience’s uninhibited unconscious mind, each show is an entirely original and unforgettable theatrical experience.

Thirty volunteers are needed to fill 20 stage seats. Those interested in participating in the interactive show must sign-up in advance through the venue by calling the box office at 847-622-0300. Volunteers must present proof of full vaccination to participate on stage or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the show.

Tickets to “HYPROV: Improv Under Hypnosis” are $42-$49 and can be purchased online at ECC Arts Center or by phone at 847-622-0300. Visit hyprov.com for more information on the show. The ECC Arts Center can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/eccartscenter and Instagram @eccartscenter.

PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU BUY TICKETS - Patrons are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours of performance date and an ID. Patrons are required to wear face coverings at all times during the performance.

The ECC Arts Center will continue to follow the best practices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Kane County Health Department. As our knowledge and understanding continue to evolve, the College’s policies and plans will adapt as appropriate and in compliance with state and local guidelines.

If you have questions, please call the box office at 847-622-0300.