A political comedy that can help you feel more connected? Chris Olinger and Sam Sanders talk Stumped
Just in time for the mid-terms, WIT’s new political romp Stumped debuts as part of our fall performance series. After an early run under the name Democracy Debacle, co-directors Chris Olinger and Sam Sanders rounded out their cast and developed their concept into a one-of-a-kind political comedy.
The duo answered some of our questions about the show’s origins and what audiences can expect.
In your own words, what is Stumped about?
Sam: Stumped follows two fictional candidates (and their hapless but hilarious staff) on a fun-filled, satirical romp along the improvised campaign trail as they vie for a seat in Congress. The show explores electoral chaos as improvisers investigate the absurdities of American politics through a distinctly comedic lens, touching on everything from campaign financing and political polarization to scandals and live debates!
Chris: What Sam said. We strived to make a show that highlights the challenges to our political systems that is fun and is engaging for the audience. Stumped is an immersive experience, so it will allow you to put aside what is going on in the real world for a while and become a member of our fictional, fun, and wacky district.
Every WIT show has an origin story. How did Stumped come to be?
Sam: One reason I started comedy is that I believe it is one of the best tools we have to talk about difficult topics. Political comedy has a rich tradition dating back to ancient Greece, and it is a core tenet that falls under our First Amendment. Political comedy has always helped us make sense of society, understand the systems we live in, and punch up at things that are unfair.
When I first partnered with Chris, we aligned on a unique and specific aspect of politics we wanted to talk about: not the politicians, but the rules and systems that govern them. We love the minutiae, those niche details, like understanding how our money moves through the government or congressional rules. That, dare I say, nerdy attention to detail means Stumped looks nothing like political comedy on TV now. It’s a new type of show with a unique political perspective that isn’t out there yet. Perfect for the super fan of political comedy or anyone who loves seeing fun-loving characters navigate a wacky world.
Chris: I was motivated to co-direct Stumped as I was very frustrated watching the new administration denigrate federal employees. I retired in 2021 after 32 years of federal service, and I can say that the majority of my former colleagues were among the hardest-working people I know. They strived to do their job in accordance with the statutes and regulations we were assigned to execute, always remembering the interests of the American people, whose hard-earned income paid our salaries.
Now that I’m off my soapbox, I will say it has been a privilege to work on this show and channel the frustration into fun.
As co-directors, you’re a unique pair: a young comedian/writer/board game consultant and a government retiree who started taking improv classes in her late fifties. What unifying interests have helped forge your partnership, and how do you work together as co-directors?
Sam: We both share a vision that comedy can be a powerful tool to point out flaws in our politics. Our skill sets and work experience complement each other quite nicely. Chris has a deep understanding of tech and booth ops, but also a wealth of experience working inside the government for most of her career. Her industry experience, creativity, and knowledge take the show to another level. As mentioned above, I think a lot about play in my career. I’ve worked in board game design, marketing, and supply chain, and write a lot about play’s role in society. In my board game work, I think a lot about “What makes a game fun?,” “How do we measure fun?” and “How can we maximize fun?” In my writing work, I write a lot about how play can make large-scale impacts on society, for example, in bettering education or for combating loneliness. To me, improv is ultimately a form of play (hence us all being called “players!”). The lessons I bring from my work and my writing helped shape Stumped’s unique point of view.
Working with Chris has been fantastic! We meet weekly and jive together because we share a clear vision. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t find us joking around with each other, talking about work, board games, life, travel, and improv. I couldn’t ask for a better partner!
Chris: Sam and I first met at an improv class at DC improv a few years ago and performed on a Harold Team for one cycle. When we started working together on Stumped we quickly found that we had common goals for the show: poking fun at the system and avoiding an us vs. them attitude that seems to be so common in politics today. I’ve found our working styles are pretty similar as well; we are both pretty easygoing and focused on the outcome and we both want to have fun.
Our different skills and life experiences bring a broader perspective to the project. You may have noticed from the answers to the previous questions that Sam is a huge comedy nerd, while I have many years of experience working in the federal government. Sam has had to sit through several of my “I remember when…” stories; to his credit he has never said “OK, Boomer”! I love Sam’s sense of adventure and hearing about his travels. We can get distracted during our weekly Zoom meetings talking about family, upcoming trips, and our mutual love of board games. We are waiting until after Stumped to schedule a game night!
With the midterms happening in real time this fall, does current news end up shaping what happens on stage, or do you try to keep some distance from it?
Sam: While it is easy to get caught up in our fast-paced, headline-and-click-driven media environment, we are more interested in the macro issues that affect our electoral process. These universal truths of a broken system are far more interesting, far richer, and offer a unifying opportunity to make political comedy that is funnier and more relatable, regardless of the audience’s background.
Chris: It is hard to keep up with the news cycle, and sometimes there are news stories that seem too ridiculous for an improv stage. I pay close attention to stories about challenges to the process and ideas to improve them.
National news feels like local news when you live in the DMV. Every time I go to an improv show I see the White House from Meridian Hill coming down 16th street. I used to drive by the Lincoln Memorial every day when going to work. It’s easy to become enmeshed in government minutiae, congressional trivia, etc., so I think it is helpful to occasionally check out media in other markets and understand their concerns.
What’s the funniest or most memorable moment that’s come out of rehearsals or a live show so far?
Sam: Our photoshoot night was a blast! I’ll let the pictures do the talking 😛.
Chris: We had a rehearsal where the wife replaced her husband as one of the candidates and ended up winning. The cast is so creative – they will take a suggestion of an object or memory and turn it into a campaign slogan. I love how they follow the fun. I’m also learning a lot from the cast; did you know that the term ‘gerrymandering’ is named after Elbridge Gerry, the only Vice President buried in Washington, DC?
How much does the audience actually control?
Sam: A LOT! If you come to our show, your vote will determine who wins our midterm election! (You will also control many more surprises we have planned!)
Chris: Our wonderful cast will have many opportunities to play with audience suggestions. You will definitely enjoy how they take the ideas in unexpected ways.
What do you hope people who are burnt out on real political news get out of watching Stumped?
Sam: Politics can feel lonely. It can be scary to share your views with others, and the news can feel extremely doomerish regardless of your news source.
Our show is designed to create an environment that fosters silliness and fun and was built with a lot of heart! It’s meant to bring you in and help you connect with those close to you.
Chris: A break from partisan politics, a fun evening. And plenty of laughs. Just be sure to allow plenty of time for parking!!
Stumped runs from Sept. 25 to Oct. 24 at WIT. Get your tickets.