Whose Live troupe bringing improv to Cedar Rapids

Who knows what the audience will receive when Greg Proops and his friends take the stage?

The inspired Whose Live Anyway improv comedy group, which will perform Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids, is always pushing the envelope.

“We have so much fun with each other,” Proops said by phone from Phoenix. “We follow each other’s lead and just go with it.”

The improv troupe can become anything from barnyard animals to aliens to bridges when under the lights.

“It’s a journey into the unpredictable,” Proops said. “It’s an alternative to how most people’s lives are, which is predictable.”

Proops, Ryan Stiles, Joel Murray and Jeff Davis will take the crowd to another place.

“It’s so enjoyable, not knowing exactly what will happen,” Proops said. “I always enjoyed it. I just never thought I would be part of anything ‘Whose Line’ all these years later.”

Proops, now 63, was one of the original “Whose Line Is It Anyway” improv players. He earned acclaim after the show debuted on ABC in 1998. Proops, host Drew Carey, Wayne Brady, Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie found a niche with the surprising success of “Whose Line,” which still airs on The CW.

“I wasn’t a kid by the time I got on ‘Whose Line,’ ” Proops said. “It happened quite late for all of us. A number of us were born in 1959. Who would ever guess? Then I took the next step and went on the road with ‘Whose Line’ when I was about 40. I have other projects, but I always come back to ‘Whose Line.’ Why wouldn't I come back to something as stimulating and amazing as this?”

Eclectic interests

Proops has worn many hats.

The quirky humorist is the voice of the protagonist of “Bob the Builder.“

He also hosts a terrific podcast with his wife, Jennifer Canoga, ”The Smartest Man in the World,“ which focuses on current events, celebrity culture and his personal life. Much like his improv, the podcast is refreshingly unpredictable.

“There are some not-so-great podcasts hosted by comics,” he said. “It’s not uncommon to hear a comic talk about what sandwich he just ate, on his podcast. That's so boring. Who cares?”

The die-hard San Francisco Giants fan, who is a sports junkie, also wrote the entertaining “The Smartest Book in the World,” which sprang from his podcast. The project includes arcane baseball facts, poetry recommendations and strange, misconstrued facts.

And Proops is a stand-up comedian, who just released his ninth comedy album, “In the City.”

“I love stand-up,” he said. “I have so much to say, and it’s a great outlet for me. I like doing my own thing. I like stand-up and I like doing my own podcast. When my wife joined right around the time of the plague, we were stuck together, and that was a fascinating time. I had to learn to deal with a very different situation. The good thing is that we’re very close, and I think we have a good show.”

But it all comes back to Proops onstage, particularly with the Whose Live troupe.

“I love being up in front of an audience,” he said. “What’s funny is that I’m never nervous on stage. I couldn’t be more calm. I’m in control and I aim to educate the audience, and just have a good time.

“When I do improv, it’s about saying yes. I give myself up to the group for the greater good,” he said. “I love being in a group. Going out on the road with these guys is like being in a band. I absolutely love this.”

His good friends, Carey and Brady, are enjoying high-profile success as game show hosts. The former is the emcee of “The Price is Right” and the latter is the face of “Let’s Make a Deal.”

“I’m so happy for Drew and Wayne,” Proops said. “They have great gigs. The cool thing is that Drew has joined us for a few shows on the road. If they ever want to drop in and be part of Whose Live, well, I’m all for it.”