Shana Merlin's Improv Blog
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Monday, September 19, 2011
Aden Kirschner's Video Interview
Aden Kirschner opens up about how much she loves improv, just what her favorite improv topic to teach is, and what makes her classes at Merlin Works different.
Aden will be teaching Improv 601 with Shana Merlin in the Merlin Works Fall Class session. Learn more about Aden and sign up for her classes.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Video Interview with Lauren Zinn, Merlin Works Teacher
Get to know Lauren Zinn, Merlin Works teacher and YesAndYoga.com founder in this interview.
Then see what classes Lauren is teaching and learn more about her by reading her bio on the Merlin Works Website.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Out of Bounds Comedy Festival Recommendations
Here are some of my recommendations to make this OOB a sweet one.
Tuesday 8/30
This is simple because there's only one lineup for the night. I'd shoot for the 8pm show, but both should be fun.
The Hideout Theatre
Upstairs
8pm
You’re Not My Real Dad(ATX)
Magician vs. Clown(ATX)
iZARZAMORA!(ATX)
9:30pm
The 3$Bills(ATX)
The Asides(ATX)
The Dukes of Bedside Manor(ATX)
Wednesday 8/31
All the venues are kicking, so some decisions have to be made. For the early show I'd head to Coldtowne. These ensembles are young, but promising:
ColdTowne
8pm
Quayle(ATX)
Shades of Brown(ATX)
This should be a strong show, with some veteran local troupes:
Thursday 9/1
If you like musicals, come see GGG and Rango, a musical duo from Minneapolis.
The Hideout TheatreDownstairs
If you like musicals, come see GGG and Rango, a musical duo from Minneapolis.
The Hideout TheatreDownstairs
7:30pm
Girls Girls Girls Improvised Musicals(ATX)
Ringo(MIN)
Then head upstairs at 9:30pm for :
Girls Girls Girls Improvised Musicals(ATX)
Ringo(MIN)
Then head upstairs at 9:30pm for :
9:30pm
Final Foxtrot(CHI)
Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting(NYC)
710 Split(LA/ATX)
Skinny Bitch Jesus Meting are not to be missed, if you've never seen them.
Friday 9/2
Okay, this day is just impossible. Any of the shows this night will be stellar. You just gotta decide if you wanna see Sketch at the Hideout Upstairs, Improv mix of locals and visitors, narrative and short form at the Hideout Downstairs, or head to the State for some out-of-town headlining goodness. That being said, of course I gotta plug my show:
Okay, this day is just impossible. Any of the shows this night will be stellar. You just gotta decide if you wanna see Sketch at the Hideout Upstairs, Improv mix of locals and visitors, narrative and short form at the Hideout Downstairs, or head to the State for some out-of-town headlining goodness. That being said, of course I gotta plug my show:
The Hideout Theatre
Downstairs
7:30pm
Get Up(ATX)
TuskegeeXperiment(LA)
My must-see for the night is:
10:45pm
WeirDass(LA)
Saturday 9/3
So many good things on this night. Again. My can't be missed recommendation is the 10pm show at the State Theater.
The State Theater
10:00pm
Confidence Men: Improvised David Mamet(ATX)
FUCT(NYC)TICKETS
FUCT consistently performs some of the most talked about shows of the festivals. Warning: not safe for young audiences. Confidence men should help class up the set.
If you can't make it to The State, go see
The Hideout Theatre
Downstairs
10:30pm
The Frank Mills(ATX)
Switchboard(CHI)
Sunday 9/4
It gets a lot easier. Just camp out at The State Theater for the evening. I'll be playing in the 7pm show with Greg Proops (from Whose Line Is It Anyways?) in Gorilla Improv.
The State Theater
WeirDass(LA)
Saturday 9/3
So many good things on this night. Again. My can't be missed recommendation is the 10pm show at the State Theater.
The State Theater
10:00pm
Confidence Men: Improvised David Mamet(ATX)
FUCT(NYC)TICKETS
FUCT consistently performs some of the most talked about shows of the festivals. Warning: not safe for young audiences. Confidence men should help class up the set.
If you can't make it to The State, go see
The Hideout Theatre
Downstairs
10:30pm
The Frank Mills(ATX)
Switchboard(CHI)
Sunday 9/4
It gets a lot easier. Just camp out at The State Theater for the evening. I'll be playing in the 7pm show with Greg Proops (from Whose Line Is It Anyways?) in Gorilla Improv.
The State Theater
7pm
Switchboard(CHI)
Greg Proops in Gorilla Improv(LA)
9pm
Boom Chicago(AMST)Uncle’s Brother Feat. Tim Meadows(CHI)
Monday 9/5
And don't forget the fest is still going on on Monday night. Finish it off with a night with Tim Meadows from SNL. Maybe you can play in a show with him!
The State Theater
8pm
Uncle’s Brother Feat. Tim Meadows(CHI)The Lottery w/ Uncle’s Brother Feat. Tim Meadows
My other recommendations: Take Classes, Play Miniature Golf, Go to Parties, Get Some Sleep, and Drink Plenty of Water.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Merlin Works Teacher Spotlight: Shannon McCormick
When and how did you get in to improv?
I started doing improv at the Hideout at the end of 2000. I had just gotten done with grad school, where I had done no performance work at all, and was looking for a way to connect to people in Austin and to get back on stage.When did you know you were bitten by the bug?
I think I knew I was bitten pretty early on, like within weeks. I think the real turning point was a Six Degrees show at the Hideout called Dome Driver. I can still pretty much remember that whole show and thinking, "Wow, you can kind of do anything with improv."What do you love about improv?
Well, I'll be honest and say one of the things that I most love about improv is that I like the rehearsal/performance time ration a lot better for improv than for scripted work. As a family guy, that's really important for me. I think the other thing is coming from a fiction background, improv, at least the Johnstone-style improv I was first exposed to, has a deep understanding of what makes something a story and how human beings respond when watching other people doing something in time (aka a scene). I felt as a fiction writer I didn't have that deep understanding of how to hold an audience's interest, how to answer the questions 'what comes next." I feel like I've really gotten to explore those issues and themes through improv more than any other art form I've worked in.What are some highlights of your performance experience?
Without a doubt, playing with Get Up in the Amsterdam Improv Festival in 2010. That we could be recognized internationally at being good at what we do was most excellent, and it was great to see how similar improvisers are in other countries--slightly nerdy, very friendly and generous people.How would you describe your teaching style?
I am intense and enthusiastic. I also get so jazzed about this stuff that I sometimes don't make sense, so if you're taking my class you might need to warn me to take a deep breath and repeat what I'm saying S-L-O-W-L-Y!What advice would you give a new improviser?
You don't have to master all of improv right away. Find that one thing that works for you, that helps pull you into a place where you're not thinking about the improv and just doing it. If you can find that, other aspects of how to improvise will start coming to you.What's something you are passionate about that has nothing to do with improv?
I read a lot. I mean a lot. Fiction, history, the whole she-bang. I'm also a pretty ardent follower of politics and current events. Oh, and comics are cool, although I like indie and art comics a lot more than genre stuff.
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