Yup - I'm determined to get my posts in on a regular basis. Even if they essentially say nothing.
Sorry folks! Better luck next week...
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
PHIF 2008 and the growth of improv in Philly
So this weekend is the Philadelphia Improv Festival, which isn't in anyway officially associated with the theater. I know, it's strange, but the festival took shape before the theater did - in fact the creation of PHIT was announced at PHIF 2005 - and they've remained more or less seperate since that time.
But this year's festival - wow. Get out and see that stuff. There are a lot of returning favorites (both locally and from past festivals) and there has been a ton of press.
The press is probably what I am happiest about. It's always nice to see improv getting its due, and the festival has been helping with that in a million ways by ending up in every published news-y, Philadelphia-y piece of paper I can find the last two weeks. The scene here in town is really getting its due from the improv side of things. And whether or not PHIT is involved that means more people are going to know about and try to see improv, which is ultimately good for PHIT and good for everyone else too!
Before I go, a couple of PHIF 2008 recommendations: Tybrus, Dr. Fantastic, Rare Bird Show. If you've only got time for 3 shows... those is the ones.
But this year's festival - wow. Get out and see that stuff. There are a lot of returning favorites (both locally and from past festivals) and there has been a ton of press.
The press is probably what I am happiest about. It's always nice to see improv getting its due, and the festival has been helping with that in a million ways by ending up in every published news-y, Philadelphia-y piece of paper I can find the last two weeks. The scene here in town is really getting its due from the improv side of things. And whether or not PHIT is involved that means more people are going to know about and try to see improv, which is ultimately good for PHIT and good for everyone else too!
Before I go, a couple of PHIF 2008 recommendations: Tybrus, Dr. Fantastic, Rare Bird Show. If you've only got time for 3 shows... those is the ones.
Friday, November 7, 2008
The first improv literate President?
Let's talk about a reason the election of Barack Obama is historic for a very small community of people: improvisers.
Did you know that Obama has held fundraisers at The Second City in the past? I'm guessing he saw a show as well when he was there. This is exciting. People pay a lot of attention to the President, what he likes and dislikes, what he says. If Obama mentions improv, even more or less in passing, a lot of people will hear about it (whether they're watching CNN or reading a newspaper article about him visiting his hometown and catching a show). It's exciting to think that in some small way, improv may get a shoutout during the next 4 or 8 years from the leader of the free world.
Am I crazy? Do people agree with me?
Did you know that Obama has held fundraisers at The Second City in the past? I'm guessing he saw a show as well when he was there. This is exciting. People pay a lot of attention to the President, what he likes and dislikes, what he says. If Obama mentions improv, even more or less in passing, a lot of people will hear about it (whether they're watching CNN or reading a newspaper article about him visiting his hometown and catching a show). It's exciting to think that in some small way, improv may get a shoutout during the next 4 or 8 years from the leader of the free world.
Am I crazy? Do people agree with me?
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Live every week like it's shark week*
The New York Times website has up a profile of Tracy Morgan (click the link to go there) that is just an interesting the story I put up a week or so ago about impressions.
I knew that Morgan was crazy and often wondered how much it was a persona he adopted and how much of it was really him - and this article sheds some light on it. After I read it, it made me think about the way all the performers at PHIT carry themselves on stage and off.
Personally, I like to leave a lot on the stage. If I ever catch myself making 2 or 3 wisecracks in a row I tend to think "stop it" in my head. Others really enjoy being uproarious at every turn. Where do other people think they fall in the spectrum of persona? Do you think you've got one? Do you think it's better to live funny or keep the funny on stage... I'm curious.
*telling me who said this should be really freaking easy if you read the post.
I knew that Morgan was crazy and often wondered how much it was a persona he adopted and how much of it was really him - and this article sheds some light on it. After I read it, it made me think about the way all the performers at PHIT carry themselves on stage and off.
Personally, I like to leave a lot on the stage. If I ever catch myself making 2 or 3 wisecracks in a row I tend to think "stop it" in my head. Others really enjoy being uproarious at every turn. Where do other people think they fall in the spectrum of persona? Do you think you've got one? Do you think it's better to live funny or keep the funny on stage... I'm curious.
*telling me who said this should be really freaking easy if you read the post.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Activity Book Report
World Series fever ran high this week in the world of Activity Book. However, we managed to resist the siren call of Game 1 just long enough to meet for a pre-game rehearsal.
Joining us this week was that prodigal Activity Book member, Kelly Jo Little, who recently returned from an extended vacation in Colorado. Kelly Jo was in the Centennial State ostensibly to attend a wedding and her 25th high school reunion. However, you can bet that she was also conducting discreet field observations in search of inspiration for characters to portray in future Activity Book shows. Are there bitter bridesmaids and faded pom-pom girls in AB's future? Only Kelly Jo knows for sure!
With Kelly Jo back on board, our work featured fresh moods and colors. Strong physical offers dominated the proceedings, not only in our scene work, but also in our group games and warm-ups. In addition, we learned that a silent offer can be every bit as effective as a verbal offer -- and sometimes even more effective. (This is a lesson I definitely needed to learn!) And, to top it all off, the Phillies enjoyed a Game 1 victory.
From the Department of Shameless Plugs: Activity Book will be performing at the Shubin Theater on Friday, November 7 at 8:00 PM and on Saturday, November 8 at 10:00 PM. On Friday, we will be joined by Bethany Asplundh and the Moops, and on Saturday, we will be sharing the bill with The Gentlemen's Rotary Auxiliary. Tickets for both shows are only $10. (Swing on over to http://phillyimprovtheater.com/shows.html for more information.)
Joining us this week was that prodigal Activity Book member, Kelly Jo Little, who recently returned from an extended vacation in Colorado. Kelly Jo was in the Centennial State ostensibly to attend a wedding and her 25th high school reunion. However, you can bet that she was also conducting discreet field observations in search of inspiration for characters to portray in future Activity Book shows. Are there bitter bridesmaids and faded pom-pom girls in AB's future? Only Kelly Jo knows for sure!
With Kelly Jo back on board, our work featured fresh moods and colors. Strong physical offers dominated the proceedings, not only in our scene work, but also in our group games and warm-ups. In addition, we learned that a silent offer can be every bit as effective as a verbal offer -- and sometimes even more effective. (This is a lesson I definitely needed to learn!) And, to top it all off, the Phillies enjoyed a Game 1 victory.
From the Department of Shameless Plugs: Activity Book will be performing at the Shubin Theater on Friday, November 7 at 8:00 PM and on Saturday, November 8 at 10:00 PM. On Friday, we will be joined by Bethany Asplundh and the Moops, and on Saturday, we will be sharing the bill with The Gentlemen's Rotary Auxiliary. Tickets for both shows are only $10. (Swing on over to http://phillyimprovtheater.com/shows.html for more information.)
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
We're so sorry, he's from Barcelona*
So I've been working on The State of PHIT 2008 this week (save the date: December 2, 2008 @ 8pm, The Shubin) after deciding to hold another meeting this year and feeling very good about it.
Originally I hadn't thought to hold a meeting this year - time is kind of precious for me at the moment, since I've just started a new job - but few different circumstances convinced me it was needed and could be fun.
First, I'd had a nagging feeling for several months that some people felt like PHIT wasn't giving them a fair shake. I couldn't put my finger on exactly where some of the dissatisfaction was coming from until Meg Favreau pointed it out to me at a lunch we had a few weeks ago: the people who weren't quite as happy did not come to The State of PHIT last year. Meg said that her and Rob attending had made them understand where the theater was going and what the goals were for 2008 - so they understood why certain decisions were made the way they were. Hopefully we'll be able to get out all the people who just started getting involved this year so they can see what the theater has accomplished in 2008 and where we want to go for 2009 and feel more invested in (or at least better understand our approach to) what we're trying to do.
The second reason I came around to having the meeting is that it turns out we've got a lot of stuff to talk about. Rest assured, very little of the meeting is going to be PHIT bragging about what we've done (a little, to be sure, at the start). It's been a good year, but we want next year to be great. So we're going to talk about how we can start benefitting performers more directly for being on stage, and what Alexis is planning artistically. We may have more surprise announcements, several different irons on the fire there.
I'll probably write more about some of this stuff as I keep working over the next several weeks, but I'm interested in input here as well - WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR DISCUSSED DURING THE STATE OF PHIT?
*I am again awarding a point to the person that recognizes this first. Come on folks, where's it from? The comments section awaits!
Originally I hadn't thought to hold a meeting this year - time is kind of precious for me at the moment, since I've just started a new job - but few different circumstances convinced me it was needed and could be fun.
First, I'd had a nagging feeling for several months that some people felt like PHIT wasn't giving them a fair shake. I couldn't put my finger on exactly where some of the dissatisfaction was coming from until Meg Favreau pointed it out to me at a lunch we had a few weeks ago: the people who weren't quite as happy did not come to The State of PHIT last year. Meg said that her and Rob attending had made them understand where the theater was going and what the goals were for 2008 - so they understood why certain decisions were made the way they were. Hopefully we'll be able to get out all the people who just started getting involved this year so they can see what the theater has accomplished in 2008 and where we want to go for 2009 and feel more invested in (or at least better understand our approach to) what we're trying to do.
The second reason I came around to having the meeting is that it turns out we've got a lot of stuff to talk about. Rest assured, very little of the meeting is going to be PHIT bragging about what we've done (a little, to be sure, at the start). It's been a good year, but we want next year to be great. So we're going to talk about how we can start benefitting performers more directly for being on stage, and what Alexis is planning artistically. We may have more surprise announcements, several different irons on the fire there.
I'll probably write more about some of this stuff as I keep working over the next several weeks, but I'm interested in input here as well - WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR DISCUSSED DURING THE STATE OF PHIT?
*I am again awarding a point to the person that recognizes this first. Come on folks, where's it from? The comments section awaits!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Great article on impressions in the Washington Post
You can read it yourself by clicking here. I really enjoyed reading it, and I'd love to see people's take on what's said in it. The article really does interview a number of great comedians and get them to explain how they break down the process of doing an impression.
I think it would be a cool personal exercise, if I had the time, to select someone and try to do the same thing. One great thing for anyone who wants to do an impression these days is that there is so much material that is so easily accessible - on places like YouTube - that you can watch and study to work on it.
I don't think Philly does a ton of impressions. I've seen Secret Pants do Bush once, and I know the Rick Horner went through a phase a while back where he was doing Bush well (and a lot). Brandon Libby also does a terrifyingly good Nixon. I'd like to see the community do more, but only if they do them well. One nice thing about an impression is that you don't have to write it like a sketch, you can just work it and then bust it out in an improv set if the timing seems appropriate. And it can really wow an audience.
Anyone reading this have any impressions they do?
I think it would be a cool personal exercise, if I had the time, to select someone and try to do the same thing. One great thing for anyone who wants to do an impression these days is that there is so much material that is so easily accessible - on places like YouTube - that you can watch and study to work on it.
I don't think Philly does a ton of impressions. I've seen Secret Pants do Bush once, and I know the Rick Horner went through a phase a while back where he was doing Bush well (and a lot). Brandon Libby also does a terrifyingly good Nixon. I'd like to see the community do more, but only if they do them well. One nice thing about an impression is that you don't have to write it like a sketch, you can just work it and then bust it out in an improv set if the timing seems appropriate. And it can really wow an audience.
Anyone reading this have any impressions they do?
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