Austin Improv

Asaf wrote:Some of my Wow moments came from watching the workshops. There was particularly some moments in Deanna Fleyscher's classes where everything in comedy was distilled into one perfect gesture.

Todd Hart and Todd Geldon particularly made me laugh in the most deeply real way possible. I was impressed at what they accomplished and impressed at how Deanna got them there.

What Asaf said.

Seeing how awesome the Austin troupes were. Some people have said that troupes have bad shows at festivals, but every Austin troupe I saw kicked ass.

Also when I realized that the platform I helped build WASN'T breaking when I was on it. WOW I THOUGHT I WAS DEAD IT WAS JUST A CHAIR

A few years ago, I saw Splendid Things during OOB and walked away with two words that drove my improv afterward: "Be deliberate." No one in their show actually said that, but it feels like a quote created from distilling their performance. I've since amended it to, "Be deliberate and confident."

Seeing 3 For All, Adsit and Lutz, and a few others really drove that home again this year. The trust displayed in not just the other performers on stage but in themselves was inspiring. Both 3 For All and Adsit and Lutz made it feel as if their characters existed before we were introduced to them and continued to do so long after the scene was over. Well, unless it was just a story one of them told to his dog.

The Process also really impressed me. Everyone in that show should be proud for being one of the standout performances of the festival.

Personally, I loved getting to play with Improv For Evil and act as their ominous voice from the side of the stage that tortured them by forcing them to do exactly the improv I wanted to see. Some stellar scenes came out of that.

And of course, I loved every minute of playing with Beer Shark Mice in the Lottery show. Those are some of the nicest performers who share the stage so well with others. If someone recorded that show, I'd love to see it because it felt like it flew by in a matter of minutes.

Justin D. wrote:The Process also really impressed me. Everyone in that show should be proud for being one of the standout performances of the festival.

...well, for those of us who COULD stand at the end.