Austin Improv

York99 wrote:When I was there, there was somewhat of a sense of cliquishness within theaters. However, shows at iO were very different from Second City and from The Groundlings (I imagine; never actually saw one) and from a lot of smaller, independent theaters. UCB and Westside Ecclectic didn't exist then. How has the scene gotten so much bigger, yet the style so much less diverse? That sounds weird.

i would say there's some level of diversity, but that it's very segmented and most of the time fairly segregated. which gets a bit annoying when you're talking to someone who doesn't know much about improv and they ask you where you're studying. "Oh, Ultimate Improv." "Well, you SHOULD be studying at UCB." well, shut up and die, pompous jackhole who doesn't know what he's talking about and is only regurgitating what some actor friend of his said after going to a casting workshop.

even among friends...i had one friend who i've invited to multiple shows at Ultimate with no response suddenly perk up and want to come when i mentioned i was doing a show at IO West. admittedly, IO West DOES have the distinct advantage of having a full bar.

also, cocaine.

the_reverend wrote:"Oh, Ultimate Improv." "Well, you SHOULD be studying at UCB." well, shut up and die, pompous jackhole who doesn't know what he's talking about and is only regurgitating what some actor friend of his said after going to a casting workshop.

I love this bit of bile you spewed. It made me giddy with joy.

kaci_beeler wrote:

the_reverend wrote:"Oh, Ultimate Improv." "Well, you SHOULD be studying at UCB." well, shut up and die, pompous jackhole who doesn't know what he's talking about and is only regurgitating what some actor friend of his said after going to a casting workshop.

I love this bit of bile you spewed. It made me giddy with joy.

well, when it comes to bile spewage, i do aim to make others giddy. or to burn their faces off with my hepatic byproducts.

fortunately, there is no shortage of asshats in Los Angeles to aggravate the uncanny abilities of my humours.

the_reverend wrote:

York99 wrote:When I was there, there was somewhat of a sense of cliquishness within theaters. However, shows at iO were very different from Second City and from The Groundlings (I imagine; never actually saw one) and from a lot of smaller, independent theaters. UCB and Westside Ecclectic didn't exist then. How has the scene gotten so much bigger, yet the style so much less diverse? That sounds weird.

"Well, you SHOULD be studying at UCB."

Well, Jordan... clearly he's right. The name recognition means it's a better school and can meet and exceed your unique needs and connection with another, infinitely inferior theater. /sarcasm

Oh, you guys. You have no idea.

arthursimone wrote: It's my opinion that the group opening/games are intended to:
a) Build group mind & energy
b) Deconstruct the suggestion and generate ideas
c) Give a potentially uninformed audience insight into the creative process

A can be achieved easily in greenroom warmups, B&C not so much...

True, but like Jordan said I think I'm just more interested in seeing B&C done in a less "homogenized" way. I have nothing against the harold, just it's inflated stature. And that's just my opinion. I hate you all.

ChrisTrew.Com wrote:Oh, you guys. You have no idea.

I'm sure it has its merits. The comment itself was just pretty ignorant from what he provided.

DollarBill wrote:

arthursimone wrote: It's my opinion that the group opening/games are intended to:
a) Build group mind & energy
b) Deconstruct the suggestion and generate ideas
c) Give a potentially uninformed audience insight into the creative process

A can be achieved easily in greenroom warmups, B&C not so much...

I'm just more interested in seeing B&C done in a less "homogenized" way.

What do you mean by homogenized?

Let us never forget how open minded and accepting we Austinites are.

Jastroch wrote:Let us never forget how open minded and accepting we Austinites are.

I refuse to read anything you post that's not in ColdTowne typeface. Justin too.

Swee callback

Justin's 911th post changed everything!

ChrisTrew.Com wrote:Oh, you guys. You have no idea.

Is this sarcasm? A joke? Just a vague comment?
What's your deal?

York99 wrote:What do you mean by homogenized?

I guess I just mean, the way most of the group games are done here (chicago) feels so contrived and awkward. Sometimes they go well, but they almost never feel spontaneous or meld well with the show because I can see the form in the background. Looking back on shows I've done with the Cupholders, I can recall scenes that people here would call "group games", but they were just us effing around in the middle of a montage. I don't know... maybe I would feel differently if I didn't see a ton of harolds every week. Right now I just feel like I'm drowning in it.

kaci_beeler wrote:

ChrisTrew.Com wrote:Oh, you guys. You have no idea.

Is this sarcasm? A joke? Just a vague comment?
What's your deal?

Is this intentional irony?

And yes, I get the compounded irony of my post.