Law & Order SIU! is coming to Baltimore on Saturday, March 29, courtesy of MidAtlantic Improv, the Central Baltimore Partnership, and Area 405.
Created by Michael Harris and the performers of MidAtlantic Improv, Law & Order SIU! is a fully improvised take on America’s longest running police procedural.
“Rather than headlines, this show is ripped from the suggestions of the audience creating a never seen before, never to be seen again comedic murder investigation,” reads the press release. A volunteer plays the victim, who is discovered Law & Order-style. From there, every aspect of the television show’s format is followed, from the tough-but-fair lieutenant to attorneys walking a fine ethical line to a final verdict, decided by the audience.
Law & Order SIU! was created almost a decade ago and remains a regular part of the schedule at the Baltimore Improv Group (BIG) on North Charles Street. It was part of the 2023 Charm City Fringe Festival, 2024 Artscape, and has had multiple sold out runs at New Spire Arts in Frederick.
Michael Harris is an actor, improviser and teaching artist who has worked in the Baltimore/DC area for 20 years. He has performed at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Studio Theater, and the Kennedy Center amongst numerous other regional theaters. Under the MidAtlantic Improv banner, he has created multiple shows including Choose Your Own Election (w/Baltimore Sun Cartoonist KAL), and Bah Humbug: A Christmas Carol (Mostly) Improvised.
This is not Law & Order SIU!’s first run in Baltimore. Harris told Baltimore Fishbowl that they have (and continue) to perform it on a regular basis at Baltimore Improv Group. It is, however their first performance outside the BIG theater.
“This allows us to do the full 70-75 minute version of the show. Shows at BIG have to fit into slightly less than hour long blocks,” Harris said. “[It] also gives us a chance to work with the good folks at the Central Baltimore Partnership & Area 405.”
Harris said those in the troupe now have been doing the show for between two to four years together, and have developed the joyful rapport of longtime friends.
“Having the fairly rigid structure of the Law & Order procedural is oddly freeing for improvisers,” Harris noted. “We can focus on making wild, bold choices for characters and relationships without having to worry about driving the plot. This also solves the biggest problem that performance improv has, to whit, typical improv shows are funny but have no overarching story. Which, ultimately, confuses, even alienates, the audience. So, it’s a joy for us to do a show that holds the audience’s attention and involvement throughout.”
Area 405 is located at 405 East Oliver Street, Baltimore, MD. The show will take place on Saturday, March 29 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general admission, and $12 for seniors and students. For tickets and more information, click this link.
This city is going to need more of things like these . . We did enough with HOMICIDE: Life On The Street, True Colors, ROC, and The Wire!