Terriers in Charge: Zach Schwartz (COM’25)
Copresident, Liquid Fun
Zach Schwartz knew he loved the performing arts. He performed in his high school theater group, knew he could memorize a script, and knew exactly what to do on stage. Improv comedy was another matter.
When Schwartz (COM‘25) arrived at BU, a friend encouraged him to join Liquid Fun, which bills itself as BU’s premier improv comedy troupe. He admits he spent his first freshman semester trying to muster up the courage to go on stage. “I was terrified,” he says. But when he finally got up on stage the following semester, he was instantly hooked: “I loved it.”
Schwartz has been with the group ever since, and this year is club copresident.
Liquid Fun does not hold auditions. Instead, throughout the year they have open practices on Sunday nights from 7 to 9 pm in CAS Room B36. No experience is required. The open practices routinely draw 35 to 50 students, who have a chance to experiment on stage and learn improvisational skills from current members. The troupe then invites people on a rolling basis to join the ensemble.
The club performs free monthly improv shows at BU Central (the next is Friday, November 15). Audience members have a chance to interact with the Liquid Fun comedians and offer suggestions for routines. There are currently 13 members in the troupe: . nine perform during their main stage shows, and the entire company performs in their “side shows”—gigs where they’re asked to perform by other organizations.
Schwartz recalls telling himself each week that he would go to the Sunday practices, but he’d “chicken out” every week. But after that first open practice he went to, he came back each week, honing his comedy skills until eventually, he got an email asking if he wanted to be part of the troupe.
“Liquid Fun has changed my college experience,” Schwartz says. “I hate to use the word tremendously, but it’s true. I think it was probably the best decision I’ve ever made at BU.”
Now, as a senior and the troupe’s copresident, Schwartz says he hopes to foster an environment where students can feel comfortable putting themselves out there. His goal: offering the BU community the opportunity to try their hand at improv, even if they’re nervous.
“I want to live my life in a way that gives back to people, and I think art can do that,” he says. “I think there are so many art forms that are beautiful and that help people so often.”
Follow Liquid Fun on Instagram @liquidfunbu and catch Liquid Fun’s November show and annual winter musical Friday, November 15 at BU Central in the GSU.
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