IA has thinned out a little bit lately. We are down from 14 at the beginning of the year to only 10 at the moment. Which in all reality, is making rehearsal better. (No offense to the people who are on temporary, or permanent hiatus.) Everyone is getting more rehearsal time to work, and I think it is really going to help our upcoming shows. Previously, with our larger cast, people would sometimes never play with certain performers. How can you get comfortable with someone when you never perform with them? Now, everyone is in a scene with everyone in the cast during rehearsal, and will be playing with everyone in the next few shows. Trust and comfort are already starting to show even in the past few weeks. Everyone has been in the group for at least a year now, and I really think that levels and experience are out the window. Strengths are starting to form for each person, and we are really becoming a nice cast of improv geeks.
More importantly, our long form piece last night went really well. We can actually hold scenes together with relationships, while still playing and heightening the game. It only took 8 years, but IA is finally getting great at scene work.
1/30/2008
1/29/2008
Catching up on improv venting
I love Tuesdays. IA rehearsal tonight. There is a lot going on for IA at the moment. We have our regular scheduled shows going on monthly at The Lucky Brewgrille, and now it looks like we will be adding Wednesday nights at Famous Johnny's. (Where Stanfords used to be at 435 & Metcalf) On top of that it seems that the Kansas City Improv Festival may need better financial backing than City 3 can offer at the moment and the discussion is pointing towards IA possibly backing the festival this year. Good things, good things.
Our shows coming up are a new part to our "seasons." Which means that Tim is directing for the first 4 months, he is not in any show, so now he can actually direct and critique in rehearsals without worrying about being in the shows. So far, I am really liking it. His directing is coming along nicely.
I mentioned the Kansas City Improv Festival earlier. We have actual dates and confirmed artists. I might as well post them here right. That way you know to make reservations as soon as you can, because last year sold out ridiculously fast. (local weekend may sell out this year as well!) Just keep in mind that the National weekend was PG-13 and up last year, and the local weekend is PG to PG-13. You have been warned.
National weekend:
Shows Friday and Saturday, Sept. 5-6
Workshops Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 6-7
Featuring...
- Der Monkenpickel, with SNL's Jason Sudekis, Jeremy Carter, Ed Goodman, Corey Rittmaster, and Eric Davis.
- Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show, with 30 Rock writer Kay Cannon, Jeff Drake, Tim and Erin Mason, Wendy Molyneux and Dan Walsh.
- AND Jill Bernard's DRUM MACHINE.
Local weekend:
Shows Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12-14
Performing troupes to be announced.
Our shows coming up are a new part to our "seasons." Which means that Tim is directing for the first 4 months, he is not in any show, so now he can actually direct and critique in rehearsals without worrying about being in the shows. So far, I am really liking it. His directing is coming along nicely.
I mentioned the Kansas City Improv Festival earlier. We have actual dates and confirmed artists. I might as well post them here right. That way you know to make reservations as soon as you can, because last year sold out ridiculously fast. (local weekend may sell out this year as well!) Just keep in mind that the National weekend was PG-13 and up last year, and the local weekend is PG to PG-13. You have been warned.
National weekend:
Shows Friday and Saturday, Sept. 5-6
Workshops Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 6-7
Featuring...
- Der Monkenpickel, with SNL's Jason Sudekis, Jeremy Carter, Ed Goodman, Corey Rittmaster, and Eric Davis.
- Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show, with 30 Rock writer Kay Cannon, Jeff Drake, Tim and Erin Mason, Wendy Molyneux and Dan Walsh.
- AND Jill Bernard's DRUM MACHINE.
Local weekend:
Shows Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12-14
Performing troupes to be announced.
1/25/2008
New Second City Show Links
The Director and Stars of the new Revue at Second City have each started a journal. The Director's Journal can be found HERE. There are only a few entries, but so far I am loving it. It is great to see the inside of how a show is put on from the get go. Especially since most of it comes from improvised scenes.
The Star's journals are HERE, They are actually quick video interviews of each cast member so far. I am sure that once they get done with the introductory videos, they will move on to how the show is coming about.
This stuff is exciting to me, if you don't share in the excitement, I don't care. To each their own right. I have a friend who is in love with the Geico Gecko...weird right, but it's his thing, so who are we to judge him.
1/22/2008
Tuesday is improv day
Tonight IA has a political themed private show in Westport. Ah political humor, made even more funny every 4 years. Following the show we head back to rehearsal. Following the show I will come home and continue work on editing together the recordings Tommy and I did this weekend. One is ready now. Two will be ready in a few weeks. Hooray!
Not a kissing up post
Pete Calderone's last show was Saturday at Comedy City. What a way to go out. Pete, sadly, had to ref the show. He had the task of handling 15 drunk bachelors, that's right, bachelors. It was a tough task, but Pete was great at maintaining their level of enjoyment, along with the other dozen (quiet) audience members. Well done Pete, glad I could be a part of it. As for the Monkey's show. Sold out, lots of improvisers in attendance, and a great show all around. I can't wait to see Pete in better shows such as Tantrum, On The Spot, or heck, even coaching more. (and whatever else he has up his sleeve) At least now he never has to worry about being able to do what he wants without answering to anyone. Congrats on the 14 years at Comedy City Pete. I wish you nothing but the best in the years to come. (You have my vote for hosting the upcoming festival!)
1/19/2008
3 seperate posts all rolled into one
Well poop. I may have to put Roving Imp on another hiatus. IA has received an offer to perform at a stand-up venue called Famous Johnny's. It used to be Stanford and Son's located near 435 and Metcalf. We would perform weekly on Wednesday nights for an hour and a half. They average about 50 people on Wednesday nights, so this is a great opportunity to grow some awareness of improv here in KC. Not to mention a great gig for IA. I will definitely keep you all up to date about this opportunity when we learn more about it.
It seems that the improv Gods are keeping me from performing with Roving Imp, but you never know what may happen in the future.
It was very hard for Tommy and I to get together over the holidays, what with Thunderdome rehearsal and all the other holiday events. We are finally getting together today to try and record up to 3 new video ideas. Then it will all depend on the editing process to see when another one will be uploaded. As soon as they are ready, I will definitely post them here.
Meetings for the Kansas City Improv Festival are going to be starting up soon. I am taking a much more responsible role when it comes to the workshops this year. Last year, they were a little unorganized from the the standpoint of signing in. Also, I think this year I will print out a class list for all of the teachers so they have a list of the names of their students. (Corey this is where you could make any suggestions to help me make it better for you as a teacher) We may even try to have classes split up into beginner, intermediate, and advanced this year...we'll see.
It seems that the improv Gods are keeping me from performing with Roving Imp, but you never know what may happen in the future.
It was very hard for Tommy and I to get together over the holidays, what with Thunderdome rehearsal and all the other holiday events. We are finally getting together today to try and record up to 3 new video ideas. Then it will all depend on the editing process to see when another one will be uploaded. As soon as they are ready, I will definitely post them here.
Meetings for the Kansas City Improv Festival are going to be starting up soon. I am taking a much more responsible role when it comes to the workshops this year. Last year, they were a little unorganized from the the standpoint of signing in. Also, I think this year I will print out a class list for all of the teachers so they have a list of the names of their students. (Corey this is where you could make any suggestions to help me make it better for you as a teacher) We may even try to have classes split up into beginner, intermediate, and advanced this year...we'll see.
1/17/2008
Time for some Chicago style improv
I have never seen a Chicago improv show. Whether it is at Second City, Annoyance, or IO. I have not seen one in Chicago. Sure, I saw Second City when they came to town, but it was a "best of" show, with some improv at the end. Not a revue. We had the festival last year, and I took some workshops from some Chicago veterans, but it just isn't the same. I want to immerse myself in the Chicago scene at some point and take some classes in Chicago, maybe a summer intensive will do the trick. I have been telling myself for awhile now that there is nothing in Kansas City to help me learn more of what I crave. Don't get me wrong, playing here in KC teaches me a lot everyday, but I feel as if I need some personal attention from a professional, to tell me what the next step might be to up my improv game. Maybe a trip to Chicago this summer will help...I'll look into it and while I do, I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter as well.
Tuesday IA had a great private show for Commerce Bank at the Mission Hills Country Club. It was Tim, Nathan, John, and myself. Great show, great energy, they loved it, and we had a blast. Then came rehearsal. Again, I feel like I have hit a wall at rehearsal, I find myself concentrating on making the group look better as a whole, but what about myself as a performer? At thunderdome I challenged myself to do different characters than I have ever done, I think I will work on that some more.
Wednesday night it started to snow, and I am sure it wasn't a lot, but I just didn't want to deal with it, so I stayed home from Roving Imp rehearsal. I am ready for some warmer weather, I hate winter.
I am excited and sad about Saturday. Pete's last night at Comedy City is Saturday. Luckily, I get to perform with him in the 7:30pm show, I hope and pray that he is a player and not a ref or in the booth. Then at 10:00, the sure to sell out Monkeys show will be the "best of," and of course, Pete's last Monkeys. He has had an amazing 14 year run with Comedy City, I am sure it is bittersweet. (by the way, I love the above picture. I promise that is Pete. I am pretty sure he would be a great host for a certain big event coming in September.)
Tuesday IA had a great private show for Commerce Bank at the Mission Hills Country Club. It was Tim, Nathan, John, and myself. Great show, great energy, they loved it, and we had a blast. Then came rehearsal. Again, I feel like I have hit a wall at rehearsal, I find myself concentrating on making the group look better as a whole, but what about myself as a performer? At thunderdome I challenged myself to do different characters than I have ever done, I think I will work on that some more.
Wednesday night it started to snow, and I am sure it wasn't a lot, but I just didn't want to deal with it, so I stayed home from Roving Imp rehearsal. I am ready for some warmer weather, I hate winter.
I am excited and sad about Saturday. Pete's last night at Comedy City is Saturday. Luckily, I get to perform with him in the 7:30pm show, I hope and pray that he is a player and not a ref or in the booth. Then at 10:00, the sure to sell out Monkeys show will be the "best of," and of course, Pete's last Monkeys. He has had an amazing 14 year run with Comedy City, I am sure it is bittersweet. (by the way, I love the above picture. I promise that is Pete. I am pretty sure he would be a great host for a certain big event coming in September.)
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