Investing in Ensemble: Behind TuPOC's For The People Show
A lot of the most important work Unscripted does never happens on stage. It happens in a rehearsal or classroom, with intentional teaching and facilitation.
This year, that room belonged to TuPOC, Nashville’s BIPOC Improv Ensemble Unscripted supported in 2026, and visiting artist John Gebratatose, of Good Camel Comedy in Minneapolis, who came to Nashville in late February 2026 to help build For The People, a show made by and for the community.
The Workshops
Then, the weekend of the show in late February, John arrived in Nashville and packed in three workshops, opening the work to the wider community: one for our community partners and participants, a public workshop on character work, and Hard Topics, built for teachers navigating tough moments in an improv classroom.
The Rehearsals
Rehearsals started January 2026: 10 sessions, coached remotely by John, in the Unscripted Studio where TuPOC gathered in person to do the work. Over those months, TúPOC built the trust, timing, and shared instinct that turns a group of improvisers into an empowered ensemble.
The Show
For The People was the payoff: an ensemble performing at full strength, in front of a community that asked for more at the end of the show. A sold out audience that took time for a dance party at the end. TúPOC asked that the show proceeds should be donated to mutual aid in Minneapolis, in solidarity with John’s home community. After artists were paid, Unscripted rounded up all ticket sales and donations sent a $2000 to our neighbors up north.
The Investment
Here's what it took to make it happen:
Direct investment in TuPOC's rehearsals and show totaled $3,257.31: coaching, ensemble and artist fees, flights and lodging, and rehearsal space. Add in $1,000 for John's community workshops and $2,000 in donated ticket sales (including $1,000 in venue rental generously donated by Shannon at The Darkhorse Theater) and the total project investment reaches $6,257.31.
Every dollar of that is an investment in the same idea: that people deserve access to art that heals, empowers, and connects them, and that the artists and ensembles doing that work deserve to be paid.
That's what it looks like to build a show For the People, human by human.
This project was funded in part by the Tennessee Arts Commission.
