GGG Presents STAGEDOOR! A Backstage Musical

[smerlin]

**GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS will perform every Friday and Saturday in April at 8:00pm**

What happens backstage, stays backstage? Not when Girls Girls Girls Improvised Musicals are running the show! This April, the girls will depict all of the ups and downs, glitz and glamour, dust and drama that go into creating a Broadway musical, reminiscent of the golden age of Broadway. Not only will these delightful dames improvise a full length musical extravaganza, but they’ll turn the whole production around to see this business called show from the backstage point of view too! Be prepared for musical magic and mayhem in a spectacle never before improvised or attempted in Austin TX. Stage Door! A Backstage Musical!



B. Iden Payne Award Winning Girls Girls Girls is Austin, Texas's longest running all-female improvisation troupe. Our specialty is creating long-form improvised musicals from a single audience suggestion. The cast includes Aden Kirschner, Amy Averett, Caitlin SweetLamb, Cynthia Oelkers, Kimberly Cox, Megan Flynn, Sarah Marie Curry and Shana Merlin with musicians Joel Love and Ammon Taylor.

Fridays and Saturdays in April at 8pm

Tickets: http://www.theinstitutiontheater.com/sh ... ge-musical

Facebooks: https://www.facebook.com/events/169018833254789/

[smerlin]

Tonight is opening night! We run all through April. Come check it out!

[AmyA]

Someone asked me to describe what the Stage Door format is and how this show came about, so I figured I'd post it here as well in case inquiring minds want to know.

Every year GGG does a retreat in December to plan for the upcoming year and to discuss ideas for our month-long spring run. Our regular GGG shows follow a fairly simple format: opening number, 2-3 unrelated scenes that weave into a narrative story, closing finale. Most of our songs emerge from traditional musical theater philosophy: sometimes emotion runs so high you have to burst into song. Spoken words just aren't powerful enough to convey what you're feeling.

Our spring run is a chance to challenge ourselves to find new ways to improvise songs and new ways to integrate improvised music and storytelling. In our GGGlee show two years ago, the challenge was to take songs that already existed (like "Don't Stop Believin" and incorporate them into the show as they were, or with newly improvised lyrics on the spot. We also did improvised mash-ups and brought in "rival" musical improv groups for competitions.

This year, we decided we wanted to explore a classic Hollywood musical format: the show within the show. Many of the golden era Hollywood musicals like "Singin' in the Rain" and "Funny Girl" follow the premise that the characters are show business people. The narrative is about the relationships and drama that go on behind the scenes. The backstage story is interspersed with the front stage show, which is usually a variety show around loosely connected themes. We wanted to also convey the glitz and glamour of big Hollywood productions so added set pieces (mylar!) and costumes to the show.

This has been an ambitious project and we're having a blast with it. Theater people make great characters and sparkly hats make everything more fun. We have the added bonus of having Sara Farr as our dedicated tech person and are taking full advantage of the awesome light board at the Institution. Tom Booker even installed a disco ball and bubble machine for the show. Hot damn!

So...if you want to see a improvised narrative longform show, and an improvised musical variety show, and a gajillion costume and set changes, we invite you to come on out. Tickets are available at http://www.theinstitutiontheater.com/

Now on with the show!

[sara farr]

In just a few hours, I get to do lights & effects for another GGG "Stage Door" show! "Girls Girls Girls Improvised Musicals" really brings it in this special run of improvised MMAADDness -- music & melodies, arpeggios & attitude, drama & divas.

Another ***SMASH** show at the TIT tonight!!

[Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell]

Another ***SMASH** show at the TIT tonight!!

careful...we don't want the Institution to get another cease and desist letter.

[sara farr]

Whoop! What a super fun show tonight!! I got to use EVERY SINGLE LIGHT on this board multiple times (19 unique sliders PLUS bubbles, discoball and a follow-spot) . On top of that, the show was sold out, with a warm audience.

The comedy was really smoking hot and I laughed out loud a bunch from the lighting booth. Not the best "tech-iquette" but I couldn't seem to help myself. This show is so rockin -- in a very musical (not rock-and-roll) kinda way.

Runs through April, folks! Plus -- if you haven't yet -- you should come out just to see the newly improved Institution Theater!!

[AmyA]

Hey gang!
This is the last weekend of Stage Door and we'd love to have you join us. Friday and Saturday night at 8 pm at the Institution. If you come on Friday, stay around after the show for the karaoke afterparty with the Girls. Last week's shows sold out, so grab your tickets early. Check with your favorite Girl if your need a discount ticket hook-up. La la la