Austin Improv

Hey, guys,
I teach at a high school in Austin, and I want to arrange a small field trip for my students to experience improv. I know that there are lot of great shows, so I thought I might solicit some help in which show(s) would be a great choice for us to see. Some parameters:
1) Friday shows are easier to manage, but weekends are not impossible. Weekdays other than Fridays are not an option.
2) We can't do the After School Improv show this Friday, so don't suggest that one. :~(
3) 8pm or earlier shows are preferred.
4) The students have great senses of humor, but they are not theater-goers and so very meta or genre specific shows will only work if they are familiar with the topics.
5) Shows that are happening in April and May are best as school gets out in June.
6) Any theater is an option, but free or cheap shows are best!


Thanks so much for any help you can give!

Hey Mia,
I'd recommend The Professor, as it meets many of your criteria.

(full disclosure - I'm in it).

Although they might not be familiar with Dr. Who - they can enjoy the show anyway, and it won't really matter whether they are familiar with Dr. Who or not. The shows are accessible to anyone, and generally fun, funny, adventurous-y type shows.

$5 student tickets, Shows Friday and Saturday this weekend (8PM), and Friday and Saturday next weekend (also 8PM) (all at SVT). (Last show of the run is April 21st).

The shows are kept at the same level of appropriateness as a Dr. Who episode (no cussing, clean content overall etc.)

Gee - I'd think I Maestro would be perfect. It's what I usually take non-improv-exposed friends to first. It's more game oriented, quite a bit of variety, not terribly meta and usually hysterical.

Drawback? 1000P start time.

Thanks for these suggestions! I think Professor sounds good too... Plus it's on 4/20 so they can have a nice high-school appropriate activity for their Friday night.

Maestro's time is just too late for the age of the students. They would be on Congress Ave at 11:30 or midnight on a Saturday night, and that just wouldn't fly with most parents. Plus it's more expensive...

Thank you so much for your suggestions!

ColdTowne's CageMatch finals are also next week if you're still looking for possibilities. If they're the type of teenagers who like it when people want their approval, they can do worse than being the nonpartisan coalition of a Cagematch audience.

The improvised Rock Opera show starts up in May and it will be an 8pm, Saturday show at the Hideout Theater.

For students you probably want a $5 show. So I'd say either The Professor, or Cage Match at Coldtowne (8:30 Fridays).

There's Waldo at Institution is freaking hilarious but it's sketch, not improv. Not sure what's happening Fridays there in May.

Aden wrote:The improvised Rock Opera show starts up in May and it will be an 8pm, Saturday show at the Hideout Theater.

Yes. This. I'm not biased at all either.

This might work, too:

http://www.hideouttheatre.com/shows/the ... antsmashup

Cagematch at ColdTowne would be perfect: 8:30 on Fri, $5, and very very funny.

Process! It's a play about a play! Totally theatrical. 8pm on a Saturday!

Ruby W. wrote:Process! It's a play about a play! Totally theatrical. 8pm on a Saturday!

Seconded! Awesome show.

Hey, Mia! I sent you a PM. You should check it out.

Jeremy Sweetlamb