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.

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!

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.

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.

Dude, there was a Kid in our Hall...

part 1: i love you at the baggage carosel

nobody looks cool waiting at an airport... and looking cool was squarely on my mind.
that was the landscape, the detail was not seeming crazy.

i didnt think id be going along for the pick up from the airport trip. you see, i am a real wiz when it comes to delegation and avoiding lookin crazy. the arrangement made was to have dorian, sweet, calm, loveable and not crazy dorian pick kevin mcdonald of the kids in the hall up from the airport and usher him to his destination, maybe dinner- who knows, we will just see how it goes...

i did end up waiting, awkwardly early, with dorian outside the gate for kevin mcdonald of the kids in the hall present brain candy's flight from winnepeg by way of miniapolis. and i did manage to play it totally cool and professional and not at all crazy... because i didnt say anything.
anything besides, "its so nice to finally meet you, Kevin." to which he replied, "youre much younger than your emails"

as we rode the escilator to baggage claim kevin mentioned that he didnt want to be rude, being canadian, but he wanted to look at a text he just recieved. "its probably from me." dorian offered, wanting to seem polite and canadian... "we're outside the gate, look for pink hair" kevin read aloud, "i dont mean to be rude i just have to respond to this quickly or i might miss my ride to the hotel-- ok, i will see you there. oh look, we are on the escilator. i love you. your friend, kevin"

we DID go to dinner, as it turned out. a dinner at which i DID talk and still remained professional and cool even when he described the alternate ending to brain candy and almost texted dave foley... right there at the table... (i freaked out a bit, but i kept it all inside) and he DID get recognized, albeit for a guest spot on That 70s show.

we rode high that night on the satisfaction that Kevin McDonald of That 70s Show is polite, canadian, very funny, completely willing to talk about anything you like and might even text dave foley at the drop of a hat.

Part 2: My name is Kevin McDonald, I had a TV show in the 90s

saturday was an exhausting whirlwind. my delegation was spot on as dorian fetched kevin and i set up NCT for our arriving workshoppers, 18 of us to make comfortable at National COmedy Theatre for the coming weekends events.

the workshop was exhilarating, fun and worth while. our host and teacher ended each session and anecdote, of which there were many, by standing on stage and proclaiming, "my name is Kevin McDonald and I had a TV show in the 90s" with a polite, Canadian bow. lunch was exciting and fun, kevin got recognized again at the local sandwich shop and was totally kind, polite, Canadian and gracious with everyone who wanted to ask him anything. we ended the day almost half an hour past due... which was fine and pretty amazing when you consider that 9 plus hours zipped by like a heartbeat of fun and laughter, thrilling learning opportunities and really interesting dialogue.

for many of us, the day was far from over. no rest for the wicked. or... the not at all wicked but also not canadian who own theatres and have to put on a show every saturday night. Myself (my name is Krissy Lenz and I watched a lot of TV in the 90s), dorian, laura holloway, bob caplan and andre bryant- all of the NCT Phx cast, as well as our friend Greg Rojceweicz from NCT San Diego were all sticking around for that evenings short form competitive comedy shows at NCT phx.

the 7:30 show was brilliant. the cast- many of whom were not able to partake of the workshop but were fans of Kevin none the less and excited by his presence in our home- was obviously abuzz with excitement, enjoyment, inspiration and appreciation for the awesomeness we had going on this weekend.

Part 3: suprise, i hope you werent planning on wearing that shirt for long...

we had a bit of debate and kerfuffle, as the owners and plan makers of NCT, and we had a little bit of a happy dilemma over whoma to cast in our evening of stand up and improv comedy show with Kevin McDonald of Lilo and Stich. everyone wanteed to play, of course, but how to decide who would or would not share the evening and the stage with a comedy legend? we decided early on that the improv cast would be made up of those taking the workshop. they would have grown a report with kevin, allaying any awkwardness, and they would have- literally- paid their dues.
that made it a pretty small cast, myself and dorian, allison and greg were all available and ready to go.
still, ones heart does ache for those not able to drink the same delicious canadian kool aide.

luckily, kevin AMAZINGLY decided to swing by and play with us at the late show.

now, please keep in mind that he never actually said that he would definitely be doing this... he would say things like "maybe i'll swing by and do a short set with you guys at the end of the show." and then we would all flutter around like idiots and then kevin would follow it up by saying "although i am really bad at improv and im probably way to nervous" so... i litterally didnt know, until the moment that he stepped on stage with us, that it would happen.
but it did.
and, yowza.

he was hilarious, unpredictible, hilarious, full of energy, completely willing to do anything, hilarious, gracious and kind and hilarious and.... just yowza. there was a scene in which i was NOT at ALL professional or cool, but just giggled my way through a scene in which i could not stop laughing and kevin (in character) kept insisting that i look into his eyes (of his character) as he wriggled around on the floor beneath the feet of dorian and greg (in character) and i simply could not do it.
i was looking down into the eyes (of his character) and seeing the face of a comedian whom i have idolized since childhood and hearing the voice i associate with so much of my comedy cannon, and looking down on him on NCT's stage, literally- lying face up on the stage, between the (in-character) feet of my improviser husband and best friend, dorian, and my dear friend greg who came from my alternate home in san diego... and there he was. and there we were. and in not believing it could be real but still living in the moment of having to talk and act and proceed, (in character), my gigglefits took me over and i had my moment of unrestrained joy. unprofessional. uncool. unrestrained. joy.



afterwards kevin hung around and took about ten million pictures with the cast, the audience, the friends and family whom had gathered. he was wonderful, it was awesome and- i assure you- a piece of shrapnel from international space station mir could have taken me out at that moment and i would have gone to my great reward professionally satisfied.

but there was more on the horizon.
a whole entire other and more overwhelming day.

more on that when my arm loosens up a bit from the vice like grip i kept on it thourough my Q & A with Kevin McDonald of Saturday Night Live guest writing fame....



k.




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