San Antonio Improv?

JLOgan · Post by **JLOgan** » March 3rd, 2012, 1:27 am

The sad fact is I don't think I'm going to be living close enough to Austin much longer to continue performing with the people that I love performing with in the Austin Improv Community. I am already living in New Braunfels with my wife, who works at Sea World, and commuting every day to my soul-sucking job as a middle school band director 50 minutes to an hour to and from work. I'm already gone so much at night that it really sucks sometimes not getting to see her that much. This has led me to seriously start looking at jobs in San Antonio. I know for a fact that I will not be happy living there if there isn't somewhere to practice the art form that I have fallen in love with over the past year and half (I don't really want to move there anyway as Austin as a city is perfect for my personality). So my question is...Whats the improv scene like in San Antonio?

I have tried to do some research but I've only found two troupes that perform with any regularity in the city and one seems to be so established that they are set in membership. I haven't found any training centers or conservatories, or even just straight up improv classes taught at a regular theater to take and it's really making me nauseous thinking about not being able to continue performing in this capacity.

So I throw the question to you, the Austin Improv Community, because I know many of you have traveled the country teaching and learning improv and you have most likely made connections every where. Where is the improv in SA?

sandray · Post by **sandray** » March 3rd, 2012, 3:53 pm

Talk to Chuy or Lampe. They got history with SA improv people.

jillybee72 · Post by **jillybee72** » March 4th, 2012, 1:35 am

ComedySportz is a really nice group of people. You can talk to them, they're great!

Chuy! · Post by **Chuy!** » March 4th, 2012, 2:46 am

Oxy is also a nice group of peoplebut it seems like you don't want to do short form. ,

JLOgan · Post by **JLOgan** » March 4th, 2012, 10:31 am

I'm not a real big short form game guy (like comedysportz). I have fallen in love with long form and I really want to keep doing that in some way, shape or form. I don't hate short form and I'm not saying I don't want to do it ever, I just have a more vested interest in piecing stories and narratives together through long form.

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell · March 4th, 2012, 10:59 am

JLOgan wrote:I'm not a real big short form game guy (like comedysportz). I have fallen in love with long form and I really want to keep doing that in some way, shape or form. I don't hate short form and I'm not saying I don't want to do it ever, I just have a more vested interest in piecing stories and narratives together through long form.

best hit the pavement and start your own troupe, then.

Chuy! · Post by **Chuy!** » March 4th, 2012, 11:16 am

I hate to be a dick, but there is no audience for longform improv in SA... Get your fix where you can. I would also venture to say that proper shortform should be played the same way you would play a narrative, but faster... Kind of like speed chess...

JLOgan · Post by **JLOgan** » March 4th, 2012, 11:36 am

That's the bad thing, I've never really been a fast player, I've never been good at getting a quick joke or riff out.

JLOgan · Post by **JLOgan** » March 4th, 2012, 11:40 am

Also I think part of it is just how close I've become with the community here. The improv community in Austin is so large and welcoming that I've felt at home here with tons of opportunities to play and perform. But like you said, there are 2 troupes in San Antonio, probably about 15 people (I'm guessing) as opposed to the 100s here. I'm really going to miss that. Hell, I've stopped hanging out with friends from college that live in Austin because I've become so close with friends from improv.

Post by **happywaffle** » March 4th, 2012, 11:59 am

You're not the first to attempt the arduous SA-to-ATX commute just for improv. It's hard to maintain for sure. But everyone's right, the market for improv in San Antonio isn't a tenth what it is in Austin. That could certainly change—SA is the *seventh-largest city in the country* for fuck's sake—but you'd need to be a part of that growth, since current opportunities are limited.

I'd say get involved in TheatreSportz just so you know those people, see if anybody wants to try out some long-form, make an occasional visit back to Austin to get your fix, and (if you're up to it) build some ambition for giving SA a proper improv scene.

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell · March 4th, 2012, 1:36 pm

yeah, there wasn't much of an audience for longform in Austin back in the day either. usually, it's only because the vast populace doesn't know what the hell that is. but you find some likeminded individuals who want to develop and build with you, you'd be surprised how people respond. it is very much an "if you build it, they will come" kind of situation.

they just might not come for a while.

Chuy! · Post by **Chuy!** » March 4th, 2012, 5:21 pm

Not to be a "Negative Nate", but The Oxymorons have been together for over 20 years... They have tried the longform thing several times... The hardcore Oxy fans did not respond well... If there is an audience to be cultivated, they would've found it by now. SA doesn't even have a very developed theatre community. If you are into dance or visual arts, that's your city, otherwise, I35 North awaits...

JLOgan · Post by **JLOgan** » March 4th, 2012, 11:13 pm

Dammit Sea World...why can't you be in Austin?

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell · March 5th, 2012, 9:00 am

Chuy! wrote:Not to be a "Negative Nate", but The Oxymorons have been together for over 20 years... They have tried the longform thing several times... The hardcore Oxy fans did not respond well... If there is an audience to be cultivated, they would've found it by now. SA doesn't even have a very developed theatre community. If you are into dance or visual arts, that's your city, otherwise, I35 North awaits...

well, to argue the other side, if they already have an established fanbase then perhaps they weren't responding to them in particular doing it.

Chuy! · Post by **Chuy!** » March 5th, 2012, 11:45 am

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell wrote:
well, to argue the other side, if they already have an established fanbase then perhaps they weren't responding to them in particular doing it.

Isn't that what I said?