Chapter One: Early Times
Sometime in the early 1990's, there was a group of Kansas University students who liked to play improv games, and perform them in front of audiences. They called themselves Waiters-to-Be. Some went their separate ways, presumably to better futures than food service. The remaining players renamed themselves Single White Males (which was largely the case).
Well before "Whose Line" hit the air, SWM had gained a following in Lawrence, performing at intimate venues like the Renegade Theater and Liberty Hall, and making appearances in larger productions like Rock Chalk Revue. The troupe combined ironic, off-the-beaten-path sketches with the traditional short-form improv games. In contrast to the spontaneity of improv, the sketches were acutely rehearsed and often technically ambitious. They poked fun at the dark arts of aerobics and Centipede, and never missed a shot at the current University Theater production.
Next: What's With the Name Change?
July 14, 2008
A History: Hype 7
July 9, 2008
A History: Roving Imp
"In most respects, the creation story of the Roving Imp is unspectacular and unimportant. Boiled down, the whole story is “I was tired of scrounging for space and being hassled by the man, so I bought a theater.” As with most things, however, if you dig down, there’s more just beneath the surface story.
I’ve written before about the community theater group I created just out of high school, the Better Than Fair Players. This group was together for eight years, performing all over Bonner Springs, Basehor, and Shawnee, in churches, schools, rec centers, and even outside. Toward the middle and end, we were doing five shows a year without an official permanent home. Each show was another negotiation for space. Each rehearsal represented another day of completely setting up the stage from scratch, rehearsing, and then completely breaking everything down and loading props back in cars and stowing sets in an out-of-the-way place. It was during this four-or-more-times weekly exercise in frustration that the seeds were planted. Yes, like 50% of all actors, I got the completely original idea, “We should have a theater of our own.”
Unlike most, however, I began to do some research, and I began to look for an appropriate space. After about a year of looking, I found a place I really liked. I put an offer on the building… and it fell through for various reasons which may or may not have to do with the fact that the seller had just emerged from prison. After another six weeks, I found another place. It wasn’t as ideal, but I thought I could probably make it work. I put in an offer, but the deal fell through, as it had problems with sewers… mainly the fact that it wasn’t connected to any.
At that point, my personal life sort of imploded for awhile, and to say that the theater search took a backseat would be a gross understatement. My main focus in life at that point was to try to save my marriage (which didn’t work, by the way). After that little disintegration occurred, I decided to expand my horizons by doing some shows in the big city of Kansas City for awhile. It had been eight years, after all, since I had done a show for someone else… I’d been directing my own shows since I was 19 years old, and I thought it might be a good idea to go learn from other directors.
I did a couple shows, and quickly found out that those other directors should really be learning from ME. The directors I worked with were great people, but did not live up to my own standards. I wanted specific feedback and a consistent, coherent vision for a show. This is not too much to ask, but I didn’t get it. (This is not uncommon, from what I have heard, unless you work with certain specific directors.)
Though this foray into “big city theater” was disappointing in certain ways, it really opened up my world in other ways. First, it got me known as a person that knew what he was doing. I quickly got hired to direct shows in town, and found that my directing skills transferred very well from the small town to the big(ger). Second, it introduced me to the world of improv.
I had done improv before. I had even taught improv before. However, I had never before been plugged in to the “world” of improv. I had always before been the one that had known the most about improv in the room (which was not much, FYI). But when Full Frontal Comedy took a chance on me (due completely, I think, to a funky made up dance I came up with in a show), I found a group of really talented, funny people that I didn’t teach and that I wasn’t responsible for. I learned a lot from that group, and made a lot of great friends that I have to this day.
At about the same time I found FFC, I also went back to school to get my master’s degree. The combination of FFC, a very special moment in an entrepreneurship class, and a pivotal conversation with my (new) wife’s sister resparked this idea in my head: I can open a theater now. Not only that: I MUST open a theater.
I quickly mapped out the pros, cons, and things I would need to do before it would be possible. The main thing I needed: a true pedigree from a respected place of improv. So I signed up for classes at i.o. in Chicago. i.o. has the style of improv that is most like the style I like best. Yes, Second City is better known, but has the philosophy that improv should be used as a tool, whereas i.o. founder Del Close always maintained that improv is an artform by itself.
Chicago was fantastic. It helped me in ways that I could never have imagined. I am now a completely different kind of improviser than before I went: a good one. I consider the majority of scenes I do now to be successful… because now I have the experience to recognize why things go awry. Maybe that’s a different post.
Anyway… now I had the experience, knowhow, and the credentials. Now for the hard part… making the theater happen.
To be continued…"
Stay tuned for next part soon to come.
July 8, 2008
Spotlight: Kansas City Fringe Festival
Groups:
Makeshift Militia
Spite-the ladies of Tantrum
Improv-Abilities
Loaded Dice-Thunderdome Season 1 winners
Trivial-Provsuit-John Robison and James Nelson of Roving Imp
Full Frontal Comedy
Roving Imp
The Trip Fives
The Hypothetical Seven
Click on the picture to see a better view of the schedule. Hope to see you there!
July 7, 2008
July 3, 2008
What's in a name?
That was the question that many Kansas City Improvisers tried to answer. Click through the blog list on the right to see how important an improv troupes name is to them.
Parents should also think before they name their child, or at least sound it out a few times.
1. John Koffman - His friends and enemies call him Jack
2. Sharonda Cox - It might be pronounced ShaRONda, but it sure looks like "sharin
da" to me.3. Justin Butts - Good luck with life Justin.
4. Harry Ball - Really, is this real? His parents are stupid.
5. Amanda Buttram - These are getting worse.
6. Richard Large - This is a good name right...why is it in the worst list?
7. Mai Butt - This one makes us laugh the longest.
8. Ben Dover - There is more than one, go ahead, google it.
9. Gayford Buttram - Must be Amanda's brother.
10. Michael Huntsucker - Last and certainly not least, pray he doesn't go by Mike.
July 2, 2008
Improv Thunderdome: Season 2: Round 1 Winner
This band of youngsters from the infamous Exit 16 Liberty High School improv troupe kicked ass Saturday night and are headed to the championships on September 27th.
Congrats STD's!
The man in white is their director, Exit 16 alumnus Andrew Brant. Fresh from Improv Rebellion at Improv Olympic in Chicago.
A History: Full Frontal Comedy
Straight from their website:
When did all this craziness start?
In the fall of 1998. Our director and owner, Tina Morrison, was supposed to direct "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" for the Northland Actors Ensemble (NAE). Some stuff happened and the show didn't, but NAE still had dates to fill on the calendar. Tina took those in the cast willing to learn improv and, based on her 7 years of improv with the groups Laughing Stock and Caught In The Act, she started our group to fill those spots. The group has been performing ever since.
Were you drinking when you came up with your name?
The short answer is: Yes.
Now for the long answer. Some of the original members of the group met over some beers at
Luckily, Bill Case came up with Full Frontal Comedy. The stars aligned and the children sang and people around the world settled long standing disputes in celebration. Well, maybe. In all actuality, the group probably just ordered another round of beer and each scarfed down a Baja Biggie Basket. For those taking notes, this is the official food of all FFC members except Dave Martin. He prefers the Hearty 12 oz. Bowl of Idaho Baked Potato Soup (order it by name.)
