Young Performers Set for Fun at Mile No. 4 of L.A. Marathon

Spectators at the 1992 Los Angeles Marathon waiting to applaud all those sweaty folks in running shorts are in for “A Mile of Smiles” with Taiko drummers, tap dancers and improv artists.

The California Youth Theatre, an official charity of the marathon, is turning the race’s fourth mile into “a milelong, family-oriented block party to promote and display the positive achievements of young people,” according to Jack Nakano, the company’s artistic director.

Nakano’s 30-year-old, nonprofit arts organization plans to “decorate the entire mile with balloons, festoons and banners,” and set up stages at each intersection along Spring Street between 2nd and 6th. Eighteen youth groups, three to a stage, will strut their stuff, beginning at 8 a.m. Each 20-minute show will repeat three times, until 11 a.m.

Nakano also plans what he calls “the world’s longest improv.”

“It’s in two parts,” coordinator Bunnie Strassner said. “One part is an improvised, mechanized caterpillar--a long line of people, improvising machinery all up the route.” Made up of performers from several of the area’s professional improv groups, the “caterpillar” is being directed by actor and former Warbaby Jed Mills.

“We’ll start at Main and Second and travel west on Second to Spring Street,” Strassner said, “then travel up Spring to 6th.” Spectators who feel the urge are welcome to get into the act. The aim is “lots of spontaneous fun.”

As the “caterpillar” reaches each Youth Theatre stage, waiting improv members from Sudden Theatre, the Magic Mirror Players, L.A. Connection Theatre, Warbabies and Gary Austin’s Improv Workshop, will perform from audience suggestions.

“Then the caterpillar will continue on,” Strassner said, “connecting with the next stage.” Nakano said that the Guinness statistics keepers will record the effort, but because “longest improv” is a first, “they won’t put it in their record book until it’s challenged.”