Back To Where It All Began
Next weekend ImprovBoston is wrapping up their shows at their old space in Inman Square (before they move to their much biggest space in Central Square) by having some special events that I am coming back into the fold for. After more than 10 years hanging out in the place, I felt it wouldn't have been right to not return and tip my hat to them on the way out.
Friday night the 18th there is a special TheaterSports "Current Members vs Alumni" show at 10pm that I will be playing in. I'm very curious as to who will be joining me on the Alumni side, as I was with the group for 8 years so who knows how far back they have found other members to play? Especially since for many of the folks who might appear... they perhaps played a very different TS format than what is currently being used. It'll be interesting and fun to see what develops.
Then on Sunday the 20th they are holding a special event entitled "The Complete Works Of ImprovBoston (Abridged)". Never mind the fact that I'm sure the Reduced Shakespeare Company could stomp their use of that title into the ground if they knew about it or cared enough... but the show itself should be very, very interesting. Basically over three shows (at 5pm, 7pm, and 9pm), they will present snipits of every single Showcase Show, speciality show, and yearly event that they have ever done... starting with the first ever show outside of the regular mainstage format "Sitcom"... all the way to the current showcase show "Laugh Track". Plus of course every show in between.
I'm in charge of organizing and running the two shows that I handled during their regular runs (Election! and the Comedy Beanpot), as well as appearing in most (if not all) of the snipits of the Showcase Shows that I was originally involved in (Quest, Action Comix!, Luv Boat, Pirate Lives, In The Garage, Groaners & Boners). Now the fact that I haven't heard from the original directors of most of these shows (nor any other potential person in charge) leads me to believe that for many of these we'll just "wing it" when our slots come up. Which will be very interesting in of themselves. Especially since one show in particular (Action Comix!) will not have it's original director there that night. So what exactly we'll do for this, I have no idea (we'll probably just go up in the storage closest and pull out the box with the old costumes... then whomever is there at the Action Comix! slot who wants to do something can just grab a costume and go onstage and simulate a superhero fight or something).
It doesn't seem like this event has had the best planning to say the least. Especially considering I had to actually ask to get a schedule of events to find out when our snipits were (instead of a schedule being sent to everyone trying to organize their bits, or more importantly posted on the website so potential customers could see what we were doing)... but then again this is par for the course with a lot of what IB does.
But then again... as I was present for pretty much every single show that we'll be seeing, the trip down memory lane will be a great one for me personally. Plus, it is physically impossible for me or any other member of the Quest gang to NOT get pumped and start jumping around backstage once the pounding drums of our opening music start playing. So all I needed to hear was "we're doing the Quest opening again"... and I was there. Of course, I now need to try and find bits and bobs of clothing to try and recreate "Jarrith Bronns"... but that'll be half the fun I think.
Friday night the 18th there is a special TheaterSports "Current Members vs Alumni" show at 10pm that I will be playing in. I'm very curious as to who will be joining me on the Alumni side, as I was with the group for 8 years so who knows how far back they have found other members to play? Especially since for many of the folks who might appear... they perhaps played a very different TS format than what is currently being used. It'll be interesting and fun to see what develops.
Then on Sunday the 20th they are holding a special event entitled "The Complete Works Of ImprovBoston (Abridged)". Never mind the fact that I'm sure the Reduced Shakespeare Company could stomp their use of that title into the ground if they knew about it or cared enough... but the show itself should be very, very interesting. Basically over three shows (at 5pm, 7pm, and 9pm), they will present snipits of every single Showcase Show, speciality show, and yearly event that they have ever done... starting with the first ever show outside of the regular mainstage format "Sitcom"... all the way to the current showcase show "Laugh Track". Plus of course every show in between.
I'm in charge of organizing and running the two shows that I handled during their regular runs (Election! and the Comedy Beanpot), as well as appearing in most (if not all) of the snipits of the Showcase Shows that I was originally involved in (Quest, Action Comix!, Luv Boat, Pirate Lives, In The Garage, Groaners & Boners). Now the fact that I haven't heard from the original directors of most of these shows (nor any other potential person in charge) leads me to believe that for many of these we'll just "wing it" when our slots come up. Which will be very interesting in of themselves. Especially since one show in particular (Action Comix!) will not have it's original director there that night. So what exactly we'll do for this, I have no idea (we'll probably just go up in the storage closest and pull out the box with the old costumes... then whomever is there at the Action Comix! slot who wants to do something can just grab a costume and go onstage and simulate a superhero fight or something).
It doesn't seem like this event has had the best planning to say the least. Especially considering I had to actually ask to get a schedule of events to find out when our snipits were (instead of a schedule being sent to everyone trying to organize their bits, or more importantly posted on the website so potential customers could see what we were doing)... but then again this is par for the course with a lot of what IB does.
But then again... as I was present for pretty much every single show that we'll be seeing, the trip down memory lane will be a great one for me personally. Plus, it is physically impossible for me or any other member of the Quest gang to NOT get pumped and start jumping around backstage once the pounding drums of our opening music start playing. So all I needed to hear was "we're doing the Quest opening again"... and I was there. Of course, I now need to try and find bits and bobs of clothing to try and recreate "Jarrith Bronns"... but that'll be half the fun I think.