So just to clarify something, we were actually told we could do shows in the HFAC if it didn't conflict with mainstage productions, but there were a few too many drawbacks.  The Pardoe theater is actually the perfect size (large stage, around 550 seats, etc.) but the feel of the theater is totally not a DC show.  For one thing we could never throw food in there and we'd be lucky if we could get away with glowsticks.  Also, the seats are rigid and the enitre theater is very formal-which is fine, but Divine Comedy is supposed to be fun and casual.  A place where you can kick back and savagely fight over glowsticks without feeling like you might ruin the plush seat you're on.  Also, the drawback to the JSB and other large venues. is that it loses some of the intimite feel of Divine Comedy.  It would be even more so in the DeJong and I know the glowsticks wouldn't make it to the back of the auditorium if we'd even be allowed to throw them. 

I also don't think the DVD that DC did several years ago was filmed on-campus.  I can't remember where it was exactly.  I think it might have been at the SCERA.  It was a reunion with old members, so it would have been really hard to get a BYU performance space unless it was organized through BYU (which it wasn't-I think it was mostly Rob Marsh.) 

As far as true best-ofs from all the years gone by, that's what we were hoping to do with summer renuion shows like the one 2 summers ago.  Then you get the best-of skits with some of the original performers too.

Jason, you might be on to something with doing just one best of show at the end of the year.  I do realize that doing three shows of all new material in the first semester would put a tremendous strain on cast and crew to, in effect, come up with an entirely new show in a small amount of time to put on a third show before finals week in Dec.  But, that could be alleviated by just doing 2 shows the fall semester, and then 2 shows in winter with a Best of at the end of that winter.  It would be tough to decide which headliners to do (because there would be no possible way of doing 4 headliners in one show), but maybe the cast should just reach a consensus on the what the best headliner was for the whole year, and just do one headliner at Best of (I know, reaching a consensus on the headliner is much easier said than done) But, hey, I think this idea is worth a shot.

I think Laurel has a point.  I knew a lot of people as well that would just attend Best of at the end of semester, and DC has been successful with the exsisting format for many years.  Although when I was in the group, I wish we would have done more skits from previous years at Best Of.  I realize the difficulty in getting a Best of with lots of old material:

1) the original writers and cast aren't there to provide insight, direction, or their own personal touch that might have made the skit popular, let's face it, could ANYONE replicate Alex Kirry's pony-tailed, Mitsubishi-Eclipse loving summer sales rep (certainly one of my favorite and funniest DC characters ever), or Trevor's Mr. Teacherson, or Natalie's Eunice Hurlabus, or Peyton or Will or Joel, etc.

2) Best of provides a nice break, there isn't usually a lot of time between Nov/March show and Best of and finals is right around the corner, so it is nice and comfortable to slip into auto-pilot on scripts you have already memorized and performed many times so recently, old material that cast member might not be familiar with just adds that much more to the already trying work load.

3) At least in my case, I had never seen a DC show before I joined, so I was simply not aware of older skits and too lazy to read through hundreds of scripts in the archives to find something I liked.

and the most difficult obstacle:

4) When it comes time to cut skits after Tech shows, old material is the first to go.  Current cast members are not attached to it and original cast/writers are not there to back it up.  Sometimes we cut old skits even if they did well in Tech shows, simply because people wanted to stick with material they had written (and I completely understand why)

Even though there are difficulties I think most of them could be overcome, perhaps there should just be a greater awareness when compiling material for Best Of.  Jason, I agree with you that having just one Best of at end of the year would be an exciting, big production, and certainly be truly special.  But my proposed format (2 shows in Fall, 3 shows in Winter) would mean we'd be doing one less show during the year.  Many people look forward to Best of at end of semester, plus it seems that at least one cast member leaves at the end of every semester mid-year and a Best Of show is a nice send off.

Laurel, don't get me wrong, I loved doing Best of the shows, perhaps I was just thinking of the AWFUL Dec 2006 Best of Friday 7 show when we sold only 175 tickets in the nearly 900 seat JSB auditorium (wow, that was a tough show to do, it was certainly not a "Best Of"…not even close).  But now that the show is in the Varisty (an outstanding venue by the way), we're able to fill the JSB up at the end of each semester (or at least come pretty close).

P.S. doing this skit synopsis with Matt Stringham has gotten me thinking about the show alot lately, and it has been tons of fun to read through old scripts and re-discover some of the gems, here's a topic I would like to hear from the rest of cast (current and former)

Favorite skits that somehow never got done in Best Of:

Christmas Vacation: Ryan, remember this one where Taylor was Taylor Who from Who-ville and everyone had christmas vacations that paralled classic christmas movies and songs?  Peyton got his eye shot out with a BB, Jono as Home Alone Kid, Frosty the Snowman/Compost Heap.  This was a great skit that totally got the shaft and not put in Best of and will probably never be performed again, what a shame!

First Mormon Thanksgiving: Matt and me as Indians teaching the Pioneers how to make Mormon staples like green jello and funeral potatoes (in native tongue: ho-chi-chi-ka-pa and ches-qau-ne).  The line about topping off the funeral potatoes with Western Family Brand Flakes-o-maize…priceless. 

Ultimate One-Stop: another overlooked classic where Peyton introduces a student to a new One-Stop where literally every service imaginable is available.  Peyton's character was so great,  Missionaries: "We want to talk to you about Where did we come from?  Why are we here? and Where are going after this life?" Peyton: "And our goal is to make the answer to all three of those questions…ONE-STOP!"

BYUSA: Matt wrote a good one where clubs on campus cleverly form to become the Village People and sing BYUSA to the tune of "YMCA" from the chorus…"we have everything, but do nothing at all, we will always drop the ball!"