ImprovBoston's Bachelor and Bachelorette Auction
Sunday, 8 pm (7 pm doors)
VENU, 100 Warrenton Street
Tickets $7 advance, $10 door, $25 VIP reception
Website

ImprovBoston moved from its former Inman Square haunt into its new and bright digs on Central Square's Propsect Street back in February, but the performance group has been continuing its efforts to raise $185,000 in a capital campaign. On Sunday evening, 19 IB performers will put themselves up on the auction block as part of the group's first bachelor and bachelorette auction, scheduled to unfold at VENU in Boston.

The event will officially kick off at 8 pm, but prospective buyers have the opportunity to meet and mingle with would-be dates during a VIP reception prior to the auction. A $25 VIP ticket can officially break down that fourth wall (not that there's much of one in improv, but we digress) and give guests face time with performers.

Bostonist recently spoke with John Serpico, one of the men who will be working hard to charm over the crowd come Sunday.

Meet John Serpico after the jump.

Name: John Serpico
Age: 25
Location: Somerville, MA
Years with IB: Three
Favorite color: Bubbalicious Orange
Astrological sign: Leo
Favorite member of the Scooby Gang: The Baroness... yes, she wasn't in Scooby Doo, but she replaced Daphne in my mind.

How does one prepare for going up on the auction block? Extra pushups? Post-Its around the apartment telling yourself how dashing and amazing you are? How does John Serpico get ready to dazzle and amaze?

I wish I knew the best way to prepare, since I'd be doing that instead of what I'm doing now - which is obsessing over what to wear. I'm trying to decide between the "nicest suit I own," the "tightest shirt I own" or a terrifying mix of the two. I'm also pre-planning all my excuses in case no one bids on me. Some of them are fairly intricate and involve traffic jams and international investment fraud.

What will a date with you involve?

That part is up to chance, really. Folks have donated all sorts of dates to the cause, so the date could range from dinner at the Hungry Mother to a Boston Movie Tour to a night at Flat Top Johnny's. I keep hearing rumors about other date night plans that are being put together, and they all sound awesome. But one thing that is certain is I'll be wearing a nice pair of pants and will smell pleasant. Oh, and I'll get my hair done up nice.

Improvers are known for not only not saying no during a scene, but for saying "yes, and..." Any worries that improv's rep (thus a little more Rizzo than, say, Sandra Dee) might give propsective dates the wrong idea?

Well, I suppose that depends on what "the wrong idea" is. Improvisers do make their living by picking something up and running with it, but I think most of us are able to keep our insane "You like bowling? Watch me throw myself down the lane!!!" energy under control. That said, if injuring myself at Sacco's Bowl Haven would turn someone's night into a Dream Date, consider it done. One of the coolest things about improv is that doing it makes folks more attuned to the ebb and flow of a conversation. So even if I don't end up in a sling and a protective boot, I'd like to think I'd still be able to entertain with my magic words.

What's your idea of a perfect date? We ask first for itinerary, then take it in a different step and inquire about your ideal celebrity date.

I love going out and enjoying a date with a lot of components to it. Like, a walk and then dinner and then dancing, or cooking and then going to see a show. I really love treating a date, particularly a first date, as an event, and doing a couple of different fun things creates that "night on the town" vibe that's so fun. It's old-fashioned, but the best dates I've ever been on have that element of courtship to them. As far as an ideal celebrity date goes, that would be Queen Latifah. Hands down and without a close second. She's got the confidence and wit that would melt me into a puddle.

IB's come a long way recently, particularly with the move over to Central Square. Can you tell us a bit about what the growth of the company means for you as a performer and member of the Boston improv scene?

Even over the three short years that I've been a part of it, the theatre has evolved so much. When I started out, I knew everyone in the family and was able to keep up with all of the shows. But it has grown to the point where I can't see from one end of it to the other. ImprovBoston is downright huge now, and the family has gotten so big that it's tough to keep track of. Everytime I'm there it feels like I'm going to a reunion; there are just so many people there having a good time at any given moment. Performers and fans and students and visiting comedians are all hanging out and getting to know each other. The growth of IB has meant so much for me and for the comedy community in Boston.

In three words, please tell potential bidders - and audience members on Sunday - what they should expect from the auction.

Me. Flexing. Often.