WEBCCAM was forced to cancel its first semester show after scheduling conflicts following adviser Amy Rieckelman’s departure from Marlborough.
WEBCCAM is the Marlborough Upper School improv troupe, which was created in 2020 by members of the then-freshman Class of 2023. The troupe meets on Tuesdays to prepare for their shows. They write, read through sketches and determine the show’s theme. Once the details are decided, the group begins filming, editing and planning for the performance itself.
The troupe was not aware of Rieckelman’s departure until she left Marlborough in October of the 2025-26 school year to pursue a career elsewhere. Her loss greatly impacted them both logistically and emotionally.
“It’s definitely been more difficult with Ms. Rieckelman gone, as she was a huge contributor to our troupe and was always on top of planning,” Piper ’27 said. “She was a spectacular improv adviser.”
Rieckelman’s absence has also led the Upper School students to develop leadership skills. As Rieckelman also advised the Middle School troupe, AHA, Upper School members of WEBCCAM have stepped in to help their younger peers. WEBCCAM leader Arlo ’26 and member India ’28 have been leading AHA through games and lessons.
“Being part of WEBCCAM leadership has been more about communicating things and making sure things get done on time, whereas with AHA it’s more teaching,” Arlo said.
Nonetheless, they still needed an adviser to stay on schedule and ensure the clubs could continue, as Marlborough clubs cannot run without a staculty advisor. Members of WEBCCAM met with Dean of Students Kendall Beeman to discuss whether they would receive a new adviser in time to put on their first semester show. The search took longer than expected and the troupe spent a large portion of the first semester seeking a suitable candidate.
“Shawn [Olmstead] used to do improv and was a candidate I suggested, but with his schedule and responsibilities, it didn’t work out,” Arlo said. “The administration also had a couple candidates, but we weren’t told about them.”
With no adviser, the first semester show had to be canceled. It was not until near Pumpkin Day that Mathematics Instructor Deepender Singh was chosen as the club’s adviser. Singh did improv in high school and college and was happy to lead the club.
“There was a lengthy meeting to know what the students were looking for, making sure they had time and resources to get the show together,” Singh said. “It was a very descriptive process, and I think it was a good learning experience to know what the students really need.”
The club met towards the end of October for their first session with Singh, and then in the second semester, Singh officially assumed the role of adviser. Singh tries to balance giving the students constructive feedback while also letting them take the lead in their games and productions.
“All the structure is important, but having too much structure is not good in improv because it needs to be in the moment,” Singh said. “For now, I sometimes give them suggestions on how to run an activity, or how to practice, but mostly the students are so self-aware of what’s going on; I love being in the audience. Behind the scenes, I’m mostly trying to just get them organized.”
Singh is responsible for finding practice spaces for the club, helping them run games and letting the students take the lead during meetings. He mostly just wants to support the students in any way possible, whether that’s getting them Starbucks, bringing in props they request or giving them constructive criticism on their games. At the moment, Singh’s main goal is to help WEBCCAM as they prepare for their second semester show.
“Right before spring break is the tentative show date,” Singh said. “If they get it in earlier that would be even better.”
