Spring Hill High School seniors Jordan Bluhm (left) and Jordan Hall captured the 4A state improvisational duet acting title during the state forensics tournament recently in Topeka. The state title had eluded Bluhm, but a little friendly competition by his brother, Jacob, helped push him to take the title. Jacob won a state championship in improvised duet acting seven years ago. It was the last time Spring Hill had captured an individual championship. (Photo by Jennifer McDaniel)
Join our Mailing List!
Please click the link below to sign up for your community paper mailing list. Stay up to date with all the events going on in your community as well as the latest news.Sign Up Today!
Spring Hill duo takes state title in improv acting
Bluhm, Hall team up for season, develop friendship as they set sights on gold
By Jennifer McDaniel, jennifermcdaniel@miconews.com
Seconds after Spring Hill High School senior Jordan Bluhm received his medal naming him and his partner, senior Jordan Hall, as state champions during the Class 4A forensics tournament in Topeka, he flipped open his cell phone and began dialing a number as he headed off stage.
He was calling New York City.
In recent years, the chance to capture a first-place finish at state had eluded him, but this time, he had done it. He quickly dialed the number, and a voice answered on the other end of the line. It was Bluhm’s brother, Jacob, who won a state championship in the same category, improvised duet acting. It was the last time Spring Hill had captured an individual championship. That was seven years ago.
“There’s always been a level of friendly competition,” Jordan said. “At first, he didn’t believe me, but then he was happy. He was excited because he knew I wanted it.”
It was the second conversation the two had while Jordan had been at state.
“My brother had always held it over my head,” he said. “And I had won third place twice at state, so when I talked to him while at state this year, he told me that if I didn’t get a first, the next time he saw me he would wear his medal.”
Bluhm has spent the past four years in forensics, with three of those in improvisational duet acting. For Hall, this was his first year.
Hall moved to Spring Hill from the Chicago area last July and was recruited for the forensics team by Bluhm. The two teamed up, and in the process developed a friendship.
“We’ve definitely become good friends,” Bluhm said.
Hall said he decided to try improvisational acting because he enjoys making up scenes at spur of the moment. For Bluhm, the method gives him a chance to simply be funny.
“I like to be funny,” he said. “And it allows me to bring something of my own to it.”
The two said they use comedy 99 percent of the time – a method that has proven successful.
“It’s better to try to make it funny,” Hall said. “It’s good when it makes the judges laugh, and they’re having a good time.”
In improvisational acting, students are given the chance to draw three characters, but they only keep two. They also choose from three situations and locations but only get to keep one of each. Each team has 30 minutes to think over and develop their performance, which is limited to seven minutes. No props are allowed, just two chairs and a table.
“And then we just make it happen, which can sometimes be difficult,” Bluhm said.
At the state level, Bluhm and Hall competed in three preliminary rounds, a semifinal round and a final competition. The two were among nearly 50 other teams from across the state. In the final round, the two had to develop a scene where a newspaper editor and a detective fall in love in a supermarket.
“They always put things together that are totally random, that don’t go together,” Hall said.
“It’s interesting.”
And while the two will soon head off to college, both are not planning to major in acting full-time, but it’s in their futures.
Hall has plans to go into graphic design but also would like to act.
“It’s definitely one of my great joys,” he said.
Bluhm, who will attend Kansas State University next fall, will major in architecture. Although he wants to concentrate on school his first year, he would eventually like to get involved in summer theater.
printable version
e-mail this story
He was calling New York City.
In recent years, the chance to capture a first-place finish at state had eluded him, but this time, he had done it. He quickly dialed the number, and a voice answered on the other end of the line. It was Bluhm’s brother, Jacob, who won a state championship in the same category, improvised duet acting. It was the last time Spring Hill had captured an individual championship. That was seven years ago.
“There’s always been a level of friendly competition,” Jordan said. “At first, he didn’t believe me, but then he was happy. He was excited because he knew I wanted it.”
It was the second conversation the two had while Jordan had been at state.
“My brother had always held it over my head,” he said. “And I had won third place twice at state, so when I talked to him while at state this year, he told me that if I didn’t get a first, the next time he saw me he would wear his medal.”
Bluhm has spent the past four years in forensics, with three of those in improvisational duet acting. For Hall, this was his first year.
Hall moved to Spring Hill from the Chicago area last July and was recruited for the forensics team by Bluhm. The two teamed up, and in the process developed a friendship.
“We’ve definitely become good friends,” Bluhm said.
Hall said he decided to try improvisational acting because he enjoys making up scenes at spur of the moment. For Bluhm, the method gives him a chance to simply be funny.
“I like to be funny,” he said. “And it allows me to bring something of my own to it.”
The two said they use comedy 99 percent of the time – a method that has proven successful.
“It’s better to try to make it funny,” Hall said. “It’s good when it makes the judges laugh, and they’re having a good time.”
In improvisational acting, students are given the chance to draw three characters, but they only keep two. They also choose from three situations and locations but only get to keep one of each. Each team has 30 minutes to think over and develop their performance, which is limited to seven minutes. No props are allowed, just two chairs and a table.
“And then we just make it happen, which can sometimes be difficult,” Bluhm said.
At the state level, Bluhm and Hall competed in three preliminary rounds, a semifinal round and a final competition. The two were among nearly 50 other teams from across the state. In the final round, the two had to develop a scene where a newspaper editor and a detective fall in love in a supermarket.
“They always put things together that are totally random, that don’t go together,” Hall said.
“It’s interesting.”
And while the two will soon head off to college, both are not planning to major in acting full-time, but it’s in their futures.
Hall has plans to go into graphic design but also would like to act.
“It’s definitely one of my great joys,” he said.
Bluhm, who will attend Kansas State University next fall, will major in architecture. Although he wants to concentrate on school his first year, he would eventually like to get involved in summer theater.