Austin Improv

Dear Friends,

There will be a Memorial Service and Remembrance of Alex Nixon Sunday October 19th at 7pm Upstairs at the Hideout, 617 Congress Ave.

It should be a time we can get together, celebrate his life, get support from each other, and start getting some closure. I think it will be a great help to me and others who are dealing with this loss.

Feel free to bring anything you would like to share to honor Alex: something you have written, a song, a poem, a story, a picture, anything else or just your presence. We will also welcome food, drink and/or flowers for a reception in the green room. Feel free to share information about this Memorial to anyone you think might be interested.

In honor of Alex's favorite wardrobe color, we invite you to wear black.

Currently, I'm not aware of how to direct any funds or donations to be made in his honor.

If you are interested in helping with the memorial, please contact me directly shana@merlin-works.com

Thanks,

Shana

wow. i'm sorry to have to miss this.
i directed alex in a couple hoover's blanket shows and i have to say that he was a brilliant writer, who understood the nuance of the english language. he could punch up a line by just switching two or three words around.
he was extremely kind and it will be a huge loss not to see him around the scene any more.
wish i was home.

I wish I were in town for this memorial service. I always liked Alex and he always seem passionate about the work which is something that I appreciated. He and I were talking about a project for the coming year that we were both excited about, him because he was going to be able to tap more into his theater side.

Perhaps we can continue our conversations as the month progresses, and find additional ways to honor him and help each other get through such a very difficult and shocking time.
Best to all of you.

This is tragic. I am very sad to hear this news. Alex was a great guy and always very warm and friendly. He will be missed. I am also sad I never had the chance to share the stage with him. He is a person that I always want to do a show with. I always thought he was very funny and quick...great timing.

Goodbye, Alex.

Words escape me. Alex was a great guy. He was in the 401 class I TA'd for Shana this year and was always a delight to talk to in class and outside as well. I will always remember his love for older films and his keen attention to the way they worked their magic.

Such a tragedy.

Ouch! Seriously!

This came out of nowhere, and I am suckerpunched. Alex was one of my bigger influences, and for him to do something like this out of the blue is absolutely unnerving. The world is now one genius shorter.

Oh well. Life here still goes on, and Alex should still be remembered as one of the most awesome longformers ever.

I, too, will miss the memorial service due to a prior commitment; but I'd like to say that I loved working with Alex in Shana's class and was looking forward to more opportunities to do so. I was always captivated by his beautiful eyes ... windows to the soul, you know ...

By way of eulogy, I'll offer up A.E. Housman's "To An Athlete Dying Young."

Some years ago, I read several stanzas of this poem at the memorial service for a person who was dear to me, who chose to leave this earth a little prematurely. That's when I learned not to judge for another person what is bearable and what is not.

Alex was a great person and he had a fantastic sense of humor. I remember talking to him while I was still in level one and he was a great inspiration for me at times. I loved his penchant for dark humor at times, and his passion for what he did. I loved his work in $10 Bourbon, and especially in Hoover's Blanket.

I have a few poems and writings for when a friend or loved one passes, and unfortunately, this one just doesn't sound good outside of the original Scandinavian. It's from an old Viking memorial ceremony celebrating the passing of a hero. The text may be a bit harsh on the eyes, but when recited it sounds far better.

Alex, you'll be missed.

La oss nå være joyous
For sjelen blossoms som en blomst
Den flyr som en hvit fugl
Vår venn har gått til et langt bedre sted
Vi skal møte ham igjen

Legenden sier at på den første natten skal vår kjære en være med Moder Frigga
Den andre med Allfather Odin
Og på den tredje natten i havner skinner
Fredens

I heard the news over the weekend, and I'm still speechless.

Fucker.

majcher wrote:I heard the news over the weekend, and I'm still speechless.

Fucker.

Anger understood, but depression is a weird and tricky beast - I'm more inclined to sadness with this than to anger.

Knew Alex peripherally for a while in the community and got to know him better through Shana's singing class. Improv skills aside - what great taste and understanding in and of traditional musical styles and forms.

Who's going to ask me for Tin Pan Alley and early swing grooves now? Oh yeah, probably you Mark...

Shock and sadness from this quarter, and a poignant reminder of how fragile we are (sorry, Sting). Nevertheless, life goes on.

This event makes us all feel a justifiably wide range of things, grief, anger, rage, confusion, guilt, denial. For me it is mostly a sense of sad helplessness.

Depression is a very tricky thing, Michael, you are right. Especially severe depression. I've got lots of history here both personally, with family members, and also I worked in Mental Health for time, but this isn't the place for it. Anyone that wants to talk PM or email me. Or not. But take care and talk to someone.

I don't know where he was. I only know it wasn't anywhere I understand and I feel really sad and helpless, for the most part.

Hello All -

We received the news last Friday and have been shocked and saddened ever since. Alex was a dear friend to me, Erin and Andy P. We cannot express how deeply sorry we are that Alex felt there was no other option; I cannot imagine that kind of feeling. I know that Alex was extremely intelligent, very funny and extremely thoughtful and kind. I am grateful for all of the laughs we shared together from ComedySportz, to NCT to Wooden Nickel and then $10 Bourbon. We wish we could be with you on Sunday, it would help us to be with all of you, but we send our love to all of you who are hurting now & are grateful that you will be celebrating Alex's life together Sunday.

Jules wrote:This event makes us all feel a justifiably wide range of things, grief, anger, rage, confusion, guilt, denial. For me it is mostly a sense of sad helplessness.

Indeed, Julie. Mark, just to clarify - I wasn't calling you out on a perfectly valid emotional response. I just meant to express my own.

Best to all.

I want people to live and love and overcome. I'm sorry there was so much pain, Alex.