Seoul City Improv is holding anniversary show on Nov. 18, featuring special guest appearances from U.S. troupe ImprovBoston.

“Improvaganza” marks SCI’s fifth year as a troupe.

Brad Curtin, like many others in the group, came back after a spell away, but he is now the sole original member of the troupe.

“There certainly is a turnover. However we’ve managed to keep the group going,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of laughs over the years, performing in a lot of different venues, touring to other countries and even enjoyed raising money for charity.”

The group has performed in China, Taiwan and Japan as well as North America, and has also hosted groups from overseas in return.

ImprovBoston came last year to perform with SCI and run some workshops and Curtin said he was looking forward to working with them again.

“Our connection with ImprovBoston is really good,” he said. “Some SCI members met Will Luera, the artistic director of ImprovBoston, over the years at improv festivals.

“He is very friendly and helpful. He came to Seoul last year and did a show with us, and ran some workshops as well.”

That said, Luera may have gotten to know the troupe a bit better than he had intended.

“Will actually got stranded here because of a visa mishap last year,” explained Curtin. “He had his family traveling with him and ended up even staying with us over Christmas, so we all really got to know each other well.”

“He’s looking forward to being back in town, but not for as long this time.”

ImprovBoston, which has won several local and national awards at home, is also celebrating an anniversary, but it is 30 years since they formed. It is their sixth trip to Asia, during which they will perform and hold workshops.

This year, Will Luera and will be joined by four other performers for the show.

“ImprovBoston had such a great time performing with SCI last year that we made it a priority for us to come back,” said Luera. “The Korean and expat community were such a great audience. We look forward to another night of laughs and to ImprovBoston’s return to Seoul.”

“Improvaganza” will feature a big set from ImprovBoston early on in the show after some warm-up performances.

This will be followed up by short-form improv games, which Curtin describes as being like those from the show “Who’s Line is it Anyway?” as well as some longer-form improv games. All the improv games will be based on suggestions taken from the audience.

The group was started in 2007 by Margaret Whittum, and has since grown to include a Korean-speaking improv group with about 200 members.

“Through the years the performers have built remarkable friendships, traveled to many festivals, and made lots and lots of people laugh. I am particularly proud of the KSCI troupe,” she said in a press release.

Korean Seoul City Improv will be performing at the show with the SCI and ImprovBoston.

“It will be fun to see the ImprovBoston people acting with the Korean members,” said Curtin.

“KSCI has been going a couple years now. They have a couple members that have been with it from the start,” he said. “Like us they’ve seen some people come and go but are still strong. They are great ambassadors for improv in Korea.”

Owing to expenses, this show is not raising money for charity, but the troupe has raised money in the past, mostly for Hae Sin Orphanage near Seoul Station.

“The last time we helped out, last year they needed money for their roof because of all the rain,” said Curtin, adding that they had also helped with a show for poor people in Pakistan last year.

The show runs from 8 p.m. at Moon Night in Itaewon.

There will be an open practice with ImprovBoston from 7-10 p.m. on Nov. 19 at Bar Carmen in nearby Haebangchon.

Tickets to the show are 15,000 won. Email seoulimprov@gmail.com for reservations or for more information.

To get to Moon Night, walk along the road opposite the Hamilton Hotel and take the first left. Turn right at Viva Glam, and Moon Night is on the left.

By Paul Kerry (paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)