#improvutopia

[ashleyhamel]

The sounds of improv-speak floating around my ears as I sunbathe and feel the lake breeze muss my hair....what bliss. What bliss... 😌 #improvlife #ImprovUtopia #ciueast

[jessampersand]

Improv Utopia East

I can't believe I was able to do both west and east this year. So amazing. The instructors were fabulous! Simply amazing. 

Paul Valliancourt - still on my mind's Mount Olympus and the highest pedestal, ruling over all. His workshop on the triangle of a scene was great. Super meta and theological. As if some equation is going to bad scenes from happening. Also had a great conversation with him at the local bar, Dimmick's Inn, about the types of radishes. He even wiki'ed to see how many species of them there are. We high fived about that and not eating meat!

Craig Cackowski - living legend. During the picture of all of camp, I plopped next to him in the 3rd row and asked about where I was living now in Chicago, I told him and he proceeded to let me know that that might be Tina Fey's old apartment building. I was to send him a map of it for him to double check - I did and it is. WHA.. Also his workshop on selling it, improved with time.

Rick Andrews - Magnet theatre. Calls scene like a game show host. Amazing funny and allowed all of us to be vulnerable. Fucking scary. I confessed that although I live in Chicago I'm having a hard time saying that's where I'm from. I know it's only been a month, but I think it's more along the lines of me not wanting to let go of Detroit and CSz and DIF, then me being part of this awesome community in a huge setting. I also confessed that I just want to be the best at improv. And I do. If I could make a living creating random stories and having a great time doing it, that'd be the dream. I also said I wanted to win at improv. Everyone laughed. There's my book title.

Will Luera - his workshop broke down a scene and made each part a subscene. It was interesting to take giant breaks in between and then to pick up emotionally charged where you left off. I think this is what acting is all about.

Comparatively to Improv Utopia West, the amenities were not pretty. Showering was scary. None of the toilets had doors. My bunkmates were overwhelmingly selfish and rude. I was sleep deprived from the moment I arrived and was never allowed to actually get a some rest. 

And I'm still in that plateau/rut.

[jessampersand]

IMPROV UTOPIA 14

If you need a community to call your own, look no further than Improv Utopia.

At Camp Ocean Pines, in Cambria, California, over Memorial Day is Improv Utopia. I've never felt like more of a community then being at this camp. The people are my friends. They catered to my palate. The staff, crew, performers and other attendees just want you to be happy and you are because they give out buttons and let you fail in a safe safe place. Which any improviser would be happy to do. 

This year, as a back to back Madame Curie cabin go-er with fellow mates, Nathan and Charles, we welcomed in the newbies and even declared Mortzart as our rival. Where we then walked around yelling "hashtag science" as if that was a thing. 

The classes are bar none. I was instantly amazed at Paul Valliancourt and not knowing him or his resume was super fortunate to be taking classes with him during the day. His improvised movie format is something I brought back to my long-form troupe, Super Inhaler. Josh DuBose was also another amazing surprise. Not being in Chicago and learning the Harold the way many people do - it was an awesome class to refresh the format and ultimately get a new perspective. Amanda Blake Davis (ABD) was super awesome too. Her ability to just be in a character was awesome. I hope those tricks and thoughts stick with me. And then Karen Gruci. Such an amazing performer. And the techniques she has about coaching and just starting the scene with emotion and not funny dialog was a great new thing. And later at Mozzi's she even came up to me to strike up a conversation. So down to Earth.

What wonderful people though. I look forward to Improv Utopia East so much.

[jessampersand]

Last year at Camp...

So last year, over Memorial Day I went to Improv Utopia 2013. It was pure bliss. Improv Gods taught by day, scrumptious vegetarian food was available, the views were crazy with all them elephant seals, and the night was just as wild around Mozzi's or the campfire. 

In fact, last year I met James. From California. He was a econ professor who when standing around listening to the local band, and asked if he would cut in on the cute old dancing couple, he took another sip of beer and then said yeah. So when he declared he and his fiancee were moving from California to upstate New York and he would be driving back the following year, how could I not say no. 

Push came to shove, and before you knew it I'm driving cross-country for camp.

Before we headed out, I made t-shirts. Because how can you honestly not make road trip t-shirts so this epic adventure. I stole an image of his head from Facebook, and made us both coming out the window while we drove down a rainbow road of improv suggestions (including bus stop, dildo and unicorn). 

Upon giving it to him, Monday at 6am he said "crazy.." I'll take crazy over creepy. About 5 hours later he said something along the lines of "we should change so we can wear these when we show up on Friday." So we did.

I have to admit I didn't do too much of the driving. But in my defense, it was windy and the Pruis that James has feels like it's being pulled in every direction.

We made it from Detroit, MI to Omaha, NE in Day 1.  (or at least, my day 1). We didn't really do too much in Omaha. Ate at some authentic Mexican restaurant. Watched the Tigers on TV and had a Detroit Improv Collective Board meeting.

From Omaha, NE to Denver in Day 2. In Denver we stopped at a brewery and had a couple specials. Then we solicited about buying pot because it is legal here. So the waitress tells us where to go, across the street where the glass doors with gold handles are - there is classical music playing. We went and bought some edibles. Also, edibles taste gross. Then I left James with his cousin and made it over to the Bovine Metro Theatre where I was one of 4 audience members. On the flip, Third Curd was amazing. Then I booked it over to Voodoo Theatre where the owner Steve was waiting for me. We drank lots, improvised, karaoked and closed another bar before I wondered across Denver back to James' cousins place.

Day 3 came really quick and we went from Devner to Las Vegas, NV. We attempted to check into the incorrect hotel. I found this hilarious. James was mortified. We ended up at El Cortez and then changed/showered and went down to the casino floor. We grabbed a bite to eat over at the Container Park since it was legit right across from the hotel, the wandered around Fremont St. 

Day 4 we stayed in Vegas. We took the bus to the strip and stopped at MGM to play the oldest machine that has never hit a jackpot. I stuck in $20 and cashed out at $100. Was up to $300 at one point, but alas... Made it back to El Cortex ate those edibles and then laughed at the keno numbers. . 

Day 5 got out of Vegas and headed to Cambria, CA. We really did drive over like every bit of terrain. Snowy mountains, dry grasses, rolling hills, flat land, but the California coast drive was my favorite. It was amazing. Beautiful bluffs overlooking the blue ocean. The sky had light puffy clouds way up there. It was just amazing. And then we rolled up to camp. In our freaking matching t-shirts. So much fun!

[jessampersand]

ImprovUtopia

A 4-day, 3-night camp wrapped up in one blog post.

How do I even explain how amazing this camp was? From the sunsets:

to the food from Chef Rick:

To the warm-ups at 7am (THUNDERDOME):

to the daylight scenes:

This was the most put-together and amazing all improv holiday weekend one could ask for.

It was over memorial day weekend, 2013, that I traveled up the Pacific Coast Highway to Cambria, CA to Camp Ocean Pines and the 3rd annual Improv Utopia!

We arrived on Friday afternoon where we got a overview of the upcoming weekend, an introduction to the facility's staff and a fabulous dinner. Afterwards, we broke out into groups that was termed The Summit. I represented on behalf of the Detroit Improv Fest and met people who put on festivals in Phoenix, Cedar City (UT), and San Fran. 

I took two workshops on Saturday and two more on Sunday. All with fabulous instructors. 

Sell It with Craig Cackowski

Starting a Scene with Rich Talarico

Genres with Nick Armstrong

Characters with Dave Hill

So many wonderful insights into improv! So many fun times playing with people I never had before/didn't know anything about. The best part about ImprovUtopia was the range of people that came from the range of places. There was a college student who knew nothing of improv and the seasoned veteran who was in his 60s, and the aspiring golden child of many teams.

And the best part about it was, no cliques. There were not many inside joke-y jokes even though there were quite a bit of 3rd timers. It was very welcoming and I can not wait for next year. 

[improvutopia-blog]

Planes, Trains and Automobiles Part 5: Family

I drove my car with my fellow King Ten mate Josh DuBose to The 3rd Annual Red Rocks Improv Festival in Cedar City, Utah (Southern Utah). This is my third year at the festival, I've been there since its inception. It's one of the most remote festivals I've ever been to. The community is small and the town is even smaller. But I'll tell you what, that doesn't stop TJ and Wendy Penrod of Off The Cuff Improvisation.

Sold out crowds during the weekend and fantastic shows. We often think that LA, Chicago and New York have the best improv. Piggy backing of my good pal and IU board member Brian O' Connell (iO/Dr. God) and Bill Binder (Torch Theatre AZ) there is great work being done underneath our noses that the mainstream improv communities can't see. It's refreshing to see how these communities are advancing improv. Why? Because they're not worried about filling seats, even though most do, or selling booze. They are doing it for the love of the art of improvisation and that inspires me every time I see it. Sometimes LA, Chicago or New York start to get too big and forget their humble beginnings. I wish OTC could be in LA! I really do. I would be in that troupe in a heartbeat. I try to bring that spirit back with me and I guess Camp Improv Utopia is a part of that. That's were I can unleash that spirit to the greater community. But that's all thanks to places like SF, Utah, Ventura, Detroit etc.

FAMILY:

I learned a lot about myself, camp and family while driving the 7 hours through desert and red rocks. I learned that these people were not just friends or campers that they are a part of my big family. TJ and Wendy would do anything for you. Let you sleep in there house, cook you a nice dinner whatever it takes and they are most humble about it all. I've known them around four years now meeting them at the LA improv Fest and I'm so happy I did because now I feel like I have a cool brother and sister that live in Utah! They are pretty much the nicest people you'll ever meet and really freakin' talented. I can go on and on but I know if they read this there faces would be red.

OTC Comedy:

Led by Wendy and TJ this group is amazing. They do amazing work that could challenge any team in LA or Chicago. Especially Tj, Wendy and Ryan "Rev" McLean in Pawn Takes Queen! A highlight of the fest for me. The three did a monoscene. Not an easy thing to do, but they did it with ease. This group of people have great group mind and are just really funny.

Things I learned in Utah:

1. Improvisers are like family

2. OTC Comedy is doing the good work!

3. Zion National Park is amazing

4. Just because you're in a smaller town doesn't mean you can't advance improv to its next level whatever that may be.

5. Josh DuBose secretly did want to be on Facebook! He won't admit it but I know he does. 

6. Beer has less alcohol in it in Utah. (Bring some from out of state next time.)

7. There are only two bars in town. One has a dog named "Bear" that guards the door. He was cute!