Showing posts with label Kansas City Native. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kansas City Native. Show all posts

July 16, 2008

‘SNL’ star Jason Sudeikis returns home to preview his film ‘The Rocker’


By TOM FUCOLORO

The Kansas City Star

“Saturday Night Live” star Jason Sudeikis, who grew up in Overland Park, returned to the area Tuesday night for a screening of his new film “The Rocker.” After the film ended, he took questions from the audience.

Next stop for Jason Sudeikis is the Foo Fighters’ concert with some friends. For the “Saturday Night Live” star from Overland Park, being back in the Kansas City area feels good, he said as he addressed fans at a preview screening of “The Rocker”.

So what does he like about home?

“It’s great. You get to eat Gates and Bryants,” he said. “Oh, and beers are cheap here.”

The seats at the Olathe AMC 30 were full for the screening of the film, which stars Rainn Wilson (Dwight from NBC’s “The Office”). The film centers on a washed-up drummer who almost made it big in the ’80s who finds fame playing in his nephew’s high school band.

Applause and laughter were fairly subdued until Sudeikis’ David Marshall, the band’s major-label manager, appeared on screen. Either the audience recognized Sudeikis as a local star, or his crude, slimy, two-faced role delivered many of the comedic highlights of the film.

“I think the movie would have been PG without me,” Sudeikis joked to the crowd, most of whom stayed after the movie to hear him speak and answer questions.

One questioner asked where Sudeikis got the idea for the popular “Two A-holes” characters on “SNL.” They were created late at night, with no particular inspiration in mind, he said.

“I guess you could say they are like Blue Valley kids,” said Sudeikis. The audience burst into either support or dissent at this point, and he went on to mention that other schools — including his alma mater, Shawnee Mission West — had some “turkeys,” too.

But Sudeikis’ academic life was not necessarily impressive after graduating high school. He dropped out of Fort Scott Community College after getting kicked off the basketball team for having bad grades. Oddly enough, the soon-to-be writer for “SNL” even failed English.

But Sudeikis started focusing on comedy. His troupe, Der Monkenpickle, performed around Lawrence before he moved to Chicago to become part of the Second City improv company. He was brought onto “SNL” first as a writer, then a performer.

And Sudeikisimprov history is clear when he speaks to an audience. When asked whether he would concentrate more on making films than “SNL,” like former cast member Will Ferrell, Sudeikis was quick.

“Yeah, do the Will Ferrell thing and make $20 million a film, buying houses for my boats?” Sudeikis said. He would like that, but he has a long way to go.

After all, he is only working on “low-budget” movies with around $15 million to spend. Well, low-budget for Fox, anyway.

June 16, 2008

Kansas City Native: Paul Rudd

That's right, he grew up here people. In fact, he went to the same school as Saturday Night Live's Jason Sudeikis. He was raised in Overland Park, Kansas. He attended high school at Shawnee Mission West, and college at the University of Kansas, where he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity. He may not be known for being an improviser, but, he sure does get to work with a lot of them.

May 23, 2008

Kansas City Native: Rob Riggle

You may have seen him on SNL during the 2004-2005 season, or maybe on The Office, heck, you might have even seen him on Arrested Development. However, right now, you know him from his anchorman persona on The Daily Show. Rob Riggle is flat out funny. But here is some great trivia. Rob Riggle was raised right here in Kansas City, he attended Shawnee Mission South High School and The University of Kansas.

May 7, 2008

Kansas City Native: Ryan Dolan

Ryan Dolan is another in a long list of local Kansas Citians who have gone on to bigger and better venues than Kansas City has to offer. First it was Chicago, where he was the box office manager at Second City , then it was off to Boston, where he wrote and performed for Improv Asylum. Now, he is back in Chicago, and he is playing on one of the best improv teams at Improv Olympic called, Revolver. Not only that, but Revolver has been selected to participate in this years ChicagoImprov Festival on the mainstage. Congratulations Ryan.



Last year Ryan came and taught some fabulous workshops by himself, and with a few of his Revolver teammates. If and when he comes back to teach, we will definitely let you know.

April 16, 2008

Kansas City Native: Jason Sudeikis

That's right, Saturday Night Live star Jason Sudeikis grew up and got his first taste of improv here in Kansas City. He did an interview with the apiary and talked about his time here, his move to Chicago, his audition for SNL, and his hiring.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

You can also listen to an interview podcast hosted by Second City's Musical Director Ruby Streak featuring Jason.

Podcast

Jason worked at Comedy Sportz which is now Comedy City and will be headlining Kansas City Improv Festival 8 with his old Kansas City sketch comedy team, Der Monkenpickle, seen below.

April 4, 2008

Kansas City Native: Tim Mason

Tim Mason is featured in a video interview on the Second City website. He talks about his beginnings in improv in Kansas City as well as some other cool things, like his experience with improv teacher Susan Messing. Congrats on the E.T.C. stage Tim!


Tim Mason (center) pictured at Kansas City Improv Festival 7


-Tim Mason's video interview
-Tim Mason on Ruby Streaks We'll Be Right Back
-Tim's old high school improv coach was none other than Trish Berrong