Monday, October 21, 2013

She Said "Yes!"

This past Sunday we hosted a show that included an elaborate ruse, see... Laura thought she was there to watch a comedy show for her boyfriends company. Slowly it was revealed that the show was all about HER and, in the end, her boyfriend Mike proposed!

Mike & Laura - Proposal Trailer // Something New Media Wedding Videography // Phoenix, Arizona // (602) 730-0478 from Something New Media on Vimeo.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Labyrinth! As the World Falls Down...

Behold, the music video for David Bowie's "As the World Falls Down" from Labyrinth...



Im reasonably certain that David Bowie is making up for the tight pants he wears in the film with the extra wide and fluffy ones he has donned for this video. Although, an arguement could be made that he is wearing at least as much make up, if not more.

And who doesnt want a xerox machine that only prints pictures of David Bowie, am I right?

Come see Labyrinth this Thursday the 17th! Prizes and Trivia sponsored and provide by Bookmans Entertainment Exchange.

Get tickets online for only $8 from National Comedy Theatre

and plan to stick around afterwards for a discussion with our First Timers!

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Hi 5! The 5 year Anniversary... What Have We Learned? (if anything)

I thought it might be nice to do some reflecting at a milestone type occasion such as this.
Here are 5 things I think I may have learned in the last 5 years, accidentally or otherwise...

1. Wishes come true, not free. (into the woods)

5 years with open doors and shows every weekend at National Comedy Theatre Phoenix is ACTUALLY more representative of 7 years of hard work and 18 years of practice.

Yikes. Stuff takes work. And work is hard. Is it worth it? I say yes. And that thing that you do, whatever it is, that weird thing that you love so much that you WISH could be the thing you spend your life doing? It CAN BE. And it absolutely SHOULD be... just be aware that at least 18 years of practice and 7 years of hard work will most certainly be involved in the process.

2. Be Excellent to Each Other. (the great ones, Bill S. Preston Esq. and Ted Theodore Logan. Whom together are known as Wyld Stalynz)

Be nice to everyone. Never burn bridges.... bridges are great for gettin' around. And, in our experience, people rarely leave your life for good. Yes, folks come and go. But most of the time people come back to you again in some way or another. One will find many occasions in life to look back and wish they had done things differently, I have not yet found an occasion to look back on life and regret how nice I was... even to people who were not nice back.
I can not recommend being excellent to each other highly enough. With a side of party on, dudes.

3. Say Yes. Add Something. (every improviser ever on earth and possibly other universes or parallell words where improvisation is popular)

People will want to help you, let them. Say yes, and let them add. You almost never get to choose your family, and sometimes you might end up with an uncle or a cousin with whom you don't see eye to eye. Improv teams are like that. Just like your family, find the good in everyone. Everyone adds something to a family... usually. I mean, at least like 80/20- right?
Furthermore, along the lines a lot of projects have come our way and we have said yes, and done the best we could with them. And some were not great and some were kind of disasters, but each thing always led to the next thing. And that's how we ended up with MashTerpiece Theatre, which became Spoof N Cinema and First Time Film Club and brought us into a great relationship with Bookmans Entertainment Exchange. So, I also highly recommend saying YES to life and always ADD the best of yourself to whatever you do. And, party on.

4. Dream Improbable Dreams... Nothing is Unpossible.... The only possible mistake is to do nothing.... (the Doctor, a tee shirt I got online, again- the improvisers)

In workshops and rehearsals we always say, "don't be afraid to fail." Failure is opportunity. Mistakes are opportunity. And, really, if you are GOING to fail, which we all know is inevitable anyway and, really, failure is REALLY just an opportunity, after all- as we discussed... well- knowing all of that... if you ARE going to fail, fail HUGE. Do not merely crash, CRASH and BURN. Blaze of glory... give yourself a really nice BIG opportunity. Right?
We have everything, because we have nothing! The Only regrets we have are the risks we didn't take! Fortune favors the bold! And so on!

In workshops and rehearsals we always say, and I highly recommend applying this idea elsewise in one's life... the only REAL mistake is to do NOTHING.

5. Goonies never say Die... Just Keep Swimming... (the Goonies, the ones never saying die, and Dory, whose quest was to find Nemo)

Of course its hard. Its supposed to be hard. If it was easy everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great. (a league of their own)

The likely hood that, if we go for the above discussed ideas and put something of ourselves out there in the world, you will be- at one time or another- punched in the face by life... is pretty good. The likely hood that life will punch you in the face occasionally is pretty high. Here is the thing though, if you really believe in what you do and whom you do it with and for... getting up again is easy. Working hard is easy. With a basic understanding of leverage and physics, anyone can accomplish anything.

And, party on. Dudes.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

For the Feasting of the Eyes: Pictures from Kevin McDonald Workshop & Show

the workshop with Kevin McDonald was amazingly fun and here are some behind the scenes peeks...

...its like he is watching himself give notes... to himself...

And then An Evening of Stand Up and Improv Comedy with Kevin McDonald
our friends Anthony Thornton and Travis Thurman kicked off the stand up comedy
after which Kevin took the stage for some stand up. Fun fact: I sent some of these photos to him and he said, "I look like a college professor whose students told him he was funny so he tried out stand up comedy at an open mic" and we told him we knew a few college professors like that.
and then Kevin joined the cast of NCT and their friends (Dorian Lenz, Krissy Lenz, all the way from San Diego- Greg Rojceweicz, recent winner of Del Close Student of the Year award at I.O. West in Los Angeles- Allsion Reese and the Torch Theatre's Mack Duncan)
we finished off the evening with some Q & A.
A great time had by all!

and, just to cap it all off, we leave you with a treat... you can not avoid the puppies of purgatory!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rADdKqPNdaM

The Biggest Round of Applause Goes TO.... YOU (The Audience!)

Look at all those shiny, happy mugs.
Thank YOU for gettin on stage with us!

Last Workshops of 2013 and Upcoming 2014 Workshop Dates

Level 1 Improv Comedy Workshop
$175 6 weeks Tuesdays 7:00- 9:00pm


Begins Tuesday 2/4 and meets every Tuesday night for 6 weeks at National Comedy Theatre

The National Comedy Theatre improv classes are an exciting and fun approach for people from all walks of life: actors, writers, lawyers or plumbers, beginners to experienced performers, the skills we teach can be applied to all areas.

In National Comedy Theatre’s Level 1 Improv Comedy Workshop you will get up on stage and participate in some of the same improv games you see on stage at NCT’s weekly professional performances in a fun, no pressure atmostphere.

Class size is limited. Level 1 is intended for participants 18 years.
Total class fee is $175. $50 deposit is non-refundable and due at registration. Balance is paid prior to beginning of first class session.
For more information or registration please email workshops@nctphoenix.com
or call 602-374-5638

Additional 6 week Level 1 sessions begin June 3, September 23 and November 4.
Dates are subject to change. Check online at www.nctphoenix.com/classes.html and www.nctphoenix.com/events.html for most current listings.


Level 2 Improv Comedy Workshop and Performance
$175, 6 weeks, Tuesdays 7:00- 9:00pm


Begins Tuesday 11/26 and meets every Tuesday night for 6 weeks at National Comedy Theatre (November session meets 11/26, 12/3, 12/10 and 12/17 with a break for the holidays- resuming on Tuesday 1/7 and 1/14)

Building upon the skills learned in Level 1, this class places a stronger emphasis on advanced improvisational technique and individual performance.
With instruction from dedicated, professional improvisers, this class will culminate in a FREE performance for family and friends on the National Comedy Theatre main stage.

Class size is limited. Level 2 is intended for participants 18 years and older who have completed Level 1 at National Comedy Theatre.
Total class fee is $175. $50 deposit is non-refundable and due at registration. Balance is paid prior to beginning of first class session.
For more information or registration please email workshops@nctphoenix.com
or call 602-374-5638

Additional 6 week Level 2 sessions begin April 1 and July 29.
Dates are subject to change. Check online at www.nctphoenix.com/classes.html and www.nctphoenix.com/events.html for most current listings.