Goodbye 3541

I started taking classes at iO in 2007. I didn't go to a show for my first term there because I was too scared to use my student ID and I was too broke to pay for a show. During level 2 I mustered up enough courage to go see the Sunday 10:30 show which turned out to be GhettoBlaster and 3033. The first show I didn't care for much but when 3033 took the stage I was enthralled. They took a suggestion and for thirty minutes danced and interpretively moved to a soundtrack, no dialogue. I remember it being funny but it struck me more as an engaging piece of theater, even more impressive given these five men were big, big but graceful. From then on I was hooked.

The following week I went back on Sunday this time for the whole evening. That was the first time I saw Deep Schwa. I fell in love. They were so fast, so smart, so wickedly playful. I don't remember much about the show but after it my face hurt from laughing. The team at the time was Jeff Griggs, Brett Lyons, Dan Antonucci, Kevin Fleming, Meagan Flanigan, Brian Jack and Colleen Murray. Craig Uhlir got back from Vegas a month or so after I started watching Schwa and at first I didn't like him- too sharp, too mean, too aggressive. As a teacher Craig won me over and that roster of Schwa became my signpost and my inspiration for what improv was and could be. Subsequent additions and returning members like Rob Janas, Brian Wilson, Kate Duffy, Joe Canale, Danny Mora, and Neil McNamara were also incredible to watch. Since that first show back in 2007 I've only missed a handful of Sunday nights at iO, less than ten.

                             

I didn't got on a team after classes, I was crushed and angry. I did some work, auditioned, and made it in. My first team at iO was FireCup, it was a great first team, we really cared about each other and most of the time it showed on stage. It was a huge accomplishment when we started playing downstairs in the Cab, in my mind that was always the stage to play on, the goal, where the real work was being done. My second team was Rick where I think I did some of my best work with the Harold. My third team The Hague was great in its atonal weirdness. My independent team The Album and Julia and I's two person show Salute Jive both got runs in the Cabaret, both were unexpected and I couldn't have been more grateful for the opportunities. Ted and I put up our two person sketch show "A Year Of Saturdays" in the DCT, it was the first thing I did that I felt was in my voice. I found that voice at iO.

I had some great teachers and some bad teachers who talked too much. I had some boring teachers and some creepy teachers and some inspiring teachers. I learned some great lessons, some of them because of how angry and biting they were delivered. Some people were mean to me, I was mean to some people, I embarrassed myself a number of times, sometimes I was too proud. Occasionally I talked too much shit.

I had the pleasure of coaching JaJaJa, Echo my first Harold team the members of which will always be near and dear to me and currently coach Attica. I made a lot of friends, was involved with many interesting projects, got inspired, got motivated, got beaten down and picked myself up. I had a place to go whenever I wanted. I found a home and an art form that excited me. 

I don't have much attachment to the building itself, it's the people that are important, but I'll miss the Cabaret stage, the low ceiling, the simple lights, the way the laughs and indifference sounded. I'll miss watching a great show and getting pumped up to go on after or watching a terrible show and getting pumped up to get the crowd back. I'll miss doing a great set coming off and feeling sorry for the team that has to follow it. I'll miss the challenges and the energy, the heat and the camaraderie. It was such a unique space, part bar part theater, compact and intimate. I'll miss sneaking in the back and watching shows from the hall way and then disappearing during freeze.

It wasn't a flawless place. It could be dangerous both interpersonally and in regards to performance. It could be a place of judgement but also kindness and acceptance. Of contradictions. It was a place where you could seek and find some clarity of purpose. Hone your comedic chops in a classroom or on a stage.

It was a magical place and after tonight it's gone.

Rick Tonight!

Rick took the stage for the last time tonight after performing for two and a half years. We had a great run with many memorable shows. Recently we'd been having some numbers problems. People advancing in their careers, people having kids, and people getting married. It felt like the team had run its course, the majority of the team was moving onward in their personal and professional lives. It was a good time to end, closing the chapter on Rick with a great track record.

I love all the members of Rick, past and present. I learned so much from everyone, I was supported by everyone, I was elevated and propelled by everyone. I took more risks, played more characters, played faster and with more abandon because of Rick. There are so many great shows and great moments that I will remember forever. Moments that a unique group of incredibly talented people cultivated in a spontaneous flash of inspiration. I've documented many of them in this blog which you can browse by clicking the tag Rick at the bottom of this post.

I became a better performer because of the time I spent with the members of Rick on stage.

I became a better person because of the friendship and support I received from the members of Rick off stage.

I love you Rick. I always will.

Inciting Incident 14

I ask friends "When did you first feel the need to perform?" This comes from Chicago's resident tall skinny funnyman and twin: John Pantlind.

Lobotomy

Rick had a full cast for the first time in months tonight. It was nice to have everyone onstage together but it was a little crowded. Our suggestion was lobotomy and this was the opening.

Give Them What They Want

Tonight Rick had a great show. It was a 1030 slot which we haven't always done well in. Weekend late night crowds are usually rowdy, drunk, and crass. Not something really conducive to good improv but tonight we did it. We had a fast fun show with goblin scenes and relationship scenes.

I've heard coaches say that the audience will tell you what's fun, will tell you what to follow and what to call back. I always kind of rejected the idea after seeing shows where audiences responded to performers going blue and then the show turning into one long protracted dick joke. I don't want the audience to lead me, I lead them. The stuff they find funny might be obvious. I want to do what I think is fun. During the show I had a realization that kind of put things in perspective and made some things fall into place.

When you're improvising by the very nature of it you don't really know what's coming, you don't have a clear idea of what a scene is or where it's going. While you're doing a scene the audience may react to something that comes up and that is an indication to you where the interest is. Audiences will generally laugh at blue material but not always. More often than not when you're improvising you don't know what's going to work and their reaction will tell you "ah I've found something" and that guides you, it doesn't lead you it simply points you in a direction.

Energy from a crowd can guide a show. If it's a rowdy crowd they may respond to more energetic faster scenes. If it's an older crowd they may respond to more patient scenes. The content of those scenes probably doesn't matter but the energy, movement, and pace in them does.

Tonight was a late night young crowd and they wanted energy and speed. We gave it to them. We did a Rumpelstilskin scene with over the top characters and lots of movement. We did scenes with a teenage couple and two men with an unknown father that were more grounded but always keeping in mind the pace. We gave them what they wanted, energy and speed, and still maintained the integrity of the show.

Audiences don't dictate a show but they are there to be entertained. You're not only collaborating with teammates but the audience as well to produce a night that makes everyone happy.

Don't be a snob. Give 'em what they want.

Inciting Incident 6

I ask friends "When did you first feel the need to perform?" this comes from my Rick teammate and voracious reader Ms. Laura Wilkinson.

The Zone

Tonight Rick had a great show. It was one of those shows where everything was crisp, streamlined, andpunchy. There were 9 of us which can usually make for an imbalanced show but it was one of the rare times that we pulled it off. All nine of us participated, all nine of us were funny, everyone did their share of the show. Andel was back for one night only which contributed to our excitement and cohesion. She left Rick in the winter to do a boat and when she got back she got cast in the Second City e.t.c. show. The show is great and Punam just got added to the cast. If you haven't seen it you should 'We're All In This Room Together.'

The opening was real fast, all the scenes were clear and concise, one of them a blackout. We had two songs one really successful the second not as successful. The show was short by our standards 23 minutes but we were cooking from lights up. It was one of those shows where I think we were in 'the zone'. There wasn't a lot of thinking going on: what comes next, whats my scene idea, how do I call this back etc. We were just playing and we were all on the same wavelength at the same pace. We were attuned. Ted and Ellen our new additions have been integrated and a show like tonight just shows what a great fit they are. When you have shows like this you wonder why they can't all be this way. What was different, what made it click? I don't know.

You can try to find the zone all you want. Sometimes it just happens. Sometimes you can't look for it in order to find it. It's not just with improv its with anything running, writing, riding motorcycles, whatever. Sometimes you hit this point when you're not thinking just enough to be totally present in the moment.

And then anything is possible.

Goodbye Katie

Last night was Katie's last Rick Show. She left for LA today. I had seen her around but never really talked to her until we got on Rick together about two years ago. Since then she's been a wonderful teammate: full of energy and surprises as well as a large variety of characters. Whenever we did scenes together I knew I would have fun and most of the time I knew what she was going for or she knew what I was going for. I don't think we ever really struggled with finding a scene. We just knew and that's rare. This is our scene from her last show.

Katie also became a great friend. Always outgoing and positive and up for hanging out, talking shit, or having a heart to heart. I'll miss her very much. Both on the team and as a friend. But I know she'll do great out in LA. My first friend who has moved out there I have a lot of hope and confidence in. She'll be back periodically to visit and to play with Rick so its not good bye.

Just good bye for now.

Second Beats

Rick had a show tonight that was real fun. What makes for a good harold are second beats that are not a repeat of the first beat, with the same characters coming back a second time a couple minutes after the first scene has taken place. The second beat should be for characters referred to in the first beat or a totally different idea or concept mentioned or inspired by the content of the first beat. This is more effective because were seeing more of a variety of people and characters. We are further exploring the ideas that we have brought up. Expanding them. Creating a wider base from which we can tie it all together.

In the show tonight Pants and John had a scene as neighbors in the first beat. John was complaining that Pants's son(played by me off stage) was pooping all over his lawn. The scene was really fun and high energy. In the second beat Katie played my mom and I was onstage this time as the son. The scene wasn't about me pooping everywhere it was about my mom being unsatisfied in the marriage and having a crush on John the neighbor guy. The scene was connected but wasn't about what the first scene was about. I was eating a bunch of high fiber food while we were talking but we didn't really discuss me pooping everywhere. Two parts of one whole that broaden the spectrum of this little world. It set up a lot of opportunities in the third beat for all four of us or any combo of the four to do scenes in the third beat.

The show was also great because I got to do a couple scenes with Katie. She's leaving next week for LA where I'm sure she'll be very successful. I never had as confident a feeling about a friend moving to LA as I do her. She will be missed dearly.

Come see Katie's last show Saturday 8/25 1030 at iO. It's sure to be something special.

Do Your Part

The Rick show tonight wasn't great. It wasn't good, it was just ok. There are probably many reasons why that is. There were all ten of us which there never are. The show was fun but lacked rhythm. There was no subtlety, no finesse. And that's ok I think. We're not a team to play with ten. I would aledge no team is meant to play with ten. Ten is a bad number, a sad number, an inflated number. A number that is meant to be deminished.

I love everyone on Rick I always want to play with all of them but it's a lot. The Cabaret is a small stage and things can be missed if there's too many people crowding the stage trying to create. I'm proud of our opening and some of our scenes. But I think with a large group, all scenes will devolve into group scenes, which are great, but they can only sustain you for so long. Great shows are group pieces puntucated by grounded two person scenes, we didn't achieve that tonight.

That's ok. Be aware, that's my thing. We have to be aware of our potential and our abilities. We always strive for the perfect show, a seamless show, but that's not always possible. And when the time comes we have a wonky show, which Rick did tonight, that has got to be ok, we can't harp on it.

The reasons are obvious. Too many chefs, one small kitchen. I feel like this was successful. I love to play animals.

Missing Out

Rick had a BBQ today which George hosted which I couldn't be a part of. I had to work. I work Thursday through Monday which for a while there felt like a great schedule. I've been thinking about changing it for a while but for whatever reason this put me into action.

All my friends and fellow performers, who I've been doing next level work with, hanging out on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Honestly it hurt. I was so jealous and quite frankly mad at myself. I was stuck at work answering emails and watching 'Dexter'.

I don't want to miss moments, I want to be a part of moments. I love you Rick.

I'll be talking to my manager tomorrow.

Next Level Moments

Rick shows recently I've been really proud of. I feel like we're on the cusp of some kind of big discovery. Last Friday we had this moment that was inspired by something Katie said. In an early scene she said something like "My only friend Tyler committed suicide." Later in the show I tagged in to be Tyler killing himself. This got a groan from the audience as it should. James, Pants and Ryan played into it and I tagged in again to be Tyler after he shot himself, then again to be Tyler calling for help and getting a wrong number, and again as Tyler failing to ask someone out. The whole time the other guys were setting me up. Katie felt bad about dropping suicide but we brought it around by exploring that kids life and bringing some levity to it. During notes George said we could have done it longer. At first the audience was put off, then we turned them, by the end they were loving it. George advised us to recognize these moments, to capitalize on them.

We had another great show last night. The show took off during a scene with Ryan and James. John came on and said James was a kid on top of a kid in a trench coat. Pants came on to be that kid then John got on Katie's shoulders to be another kid, eventually I came on for Ryan to make it a scene at a bar where everyone involved were kids on kids shoulders. It sounds dumb maybe but it was fun and funny. To be honest it felt perfect. And the audience knew it. Later we called the idea back and I was a giraffe with John on my back with Katie under me chasing Ryan with Pants on his back and James on Pant's back. It was absurd and incredibly fun.

You'll have moments where you don't know what to do. Make a strong move. Follow the pattern. Keep it simple. You will make the most amazing discoveries.

Be Bold.

Dance Off

From the Rick show on St. Patrick's day. The audience was kind of rowdy so Katie and I gave them what they wanted. Dancing.

Bus Trap

From the Rick show Friday. Pants gets caught on a bus. A dangerous bus.

The Elusive Brian Damage

How to 'Ace the ACT' with the worlds only test-prep magician- Brian Damage!

Ace The ACT

Andel and I taking a standardized test from a Rick show.

Recently Rick has been going really well. I've been having a lot of fun and I'm proud of the work we've been doing. Come see us next Thursday at iO.

Happy Holidays!

Middle School Dance

A group scene from the last Rick show. This is one of my favorite group scenes I've ever done. I don't know if the clip does it justice but watching it and then participating it was like...pieces of a puzzle fitting together.

First Pants and Ryan set up the scene.
John and Katie dance on the side creating an enviorment.
Pants mentions his son b-ball dancing which I start doing off stage.
Kate enters and dirty dances alone.

It was a simple premise built patiently one step at a time.

Rick has our one year anniversary show tomorrow at iO. It's been a good year.

Dino Life

Pants and I in a scene from last nights Rick show. Pants is a young brontosaurus and I'm a grizzled brontosaurus trying to teach him the ropes.

The Waltz

Last week Rick investigated dance and sexuality. For you Harold fans, this was our first game.