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Upcoming Events
- February 7, 2012
FREE Open Mic
8:00 pm - February 8, 2012
FREE Improv Jam Session
8:30 pm - February 9, 2012
$5 Comedy
8:00 pm - February 10, 2012
Roadside Couch $10
9:00 pm - February 10, 2012
Late Night Improv $10
10:30 pm
- February 7, 2012
Un-Scripted’s “Act One, Scene Two”
Dear writers, here’s a production you should consider submitting work to. It’s called “Act One, Scene Two,” and it’s organized by San Francisco’s Un-Scripted Theater Company. What you do is…well, they say it best:
For every performance, we will feature one playwright, and the first scene of a play in any genre (comedy, tragedy, drama, tragicomedy, absurdist, postmodern existentialist feminism, etc.) that hasn’t been completed yet. We’ll interview them onstage, perform a cold reading of that first scene (Act One, Scene One), and then continue the play to its end–only now we’re improvising–from Act One, Scene Two.
Un-Scripted asks that you submit an opening scene that is 5-9 pages in length. That scene can be the entire first scene or just part of the scene. After the cold reading and author interview, they’ll continue the play for 90-120 minutes (with an intermission). Wow, that’s a lot of improv!
Submissions are open to anyone worldwide, and more information can be found in the submission guidelines.
Now, anyone up for doing something similar (maybe on a smaller scale) at DCH?
S&*T Humans Say!
Here’s some SH*T Humans Say, by DCH folks! Check it out and vote!
Shit Humans Say – watch more funny videos
Deep Ellum Branding Contest
We love our little home here in Deep Ellum. It’s a neighborhood that’s definitely seen its ups and downs. Currently, it’s in an upswing, and because of that, the Deep Ellum Community Association (DECA)–in partnership with the Deep Ellum Foundation (DEF)–is having a “‘Deep Ellum Texas’ Branding Contest.” Create the winning logo and you’ll be awarded $1500. Not too shabby, eh?
More info:
The winning logo for Deep Ellum Texas will be featured on [marketing materials] plus other traditional and non-traditional medias. Judging will be by a panel composed of creative design professionals along with representatives of DECA and DEF.
To obtain entry information, send an email to media@deepellumtexas.com.
DECA will host a question and answer session at Mokah Coffee Bar (2803 Taylor St.) on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, at 3 p.m., and then again at 7 p.m.
Deadline for Submission is midnight on Sunday, March 4, 2012.
(Photo via Flickr: Terry Shuck / Creative Commons)
Comedy Centerfold: Theresa Pegues
Each week, or maybe every other week if we’re lazy, we’ll feature a Dallas Comedy House performer and get to know him or her a little better by using questions that Playboy centerfolds are usually asked. If you’d like to volunteer to be a centerfold before we come for you, email us and let us know. The only requirement is that we need a full-length, CLOTHED, photo of yourself for, you know, the centerfold part.
This week: Theresa Pegues, who has been with DCH since 2009 (she’s an original gangster). You can catch her performing with Captain Donkeyface and Mr. Ponytail (who’s final show is Feb. 23) and Lil’ Mr. Dallas. Ask her to play some air piano for you the next time you see her.
Hometown?
Hollywood, CA–the hookers and junkies side of town. The glamorous part is a myth.
Guilty Pleasures?
Hoarders on A&E and Clean House on Style Network. I’m sensing a theme.
Ambitions?
I wanted to say marrying Stanley Tucci, but since he’s engaged to someone else now, (FOILED!) I’m going to just say going on an archaeological dig.
Best Concert?
Not really into his music, but Bruce Springsteen. The guy knows how to put on a show.
Favorite Book?
To Kill a Mockingbird
Favorite Movie?
Too many to count, but anything with Gene Kelly in it makes me happy.
Favorite TV Show?
Most everything I like gets cancelled immediately, but right now I kind of like Once Upon a Time. Should that be a guilty pleasure?
Pets?
One cat, Zoe Alexis, and one dog, Harper Lee (see favorite book).
Foods I Crave?
Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and grilled salmon, not necessarily together.
People I Admire?
Mother Teresa, Keith Stewart and Carol Burnett.
Dream Role?
Evita.
Favorite Song to Sing?
“My Baby Just Cares for Me” by Nina Simone. I play a mean air piano.
Good First Date Idea?
Since laughter eases tension, anything that would make me giggle–maybe a show at Dallas Comedy House?
Stayin’ Alive
How many times have you been in a scene and you just know it’s over, but no one is editing it? Or maybe you’re in a scene, and you can feel that your partner is having trouble saying or doing anything. What do you do?
As Graham Nash would say, “Make sure that the things you do keep us alive.” And one of the best ways to do that is to go back to the top of the scene. Revisit what brought you to the place you’ve ended up. More often than not, that will get you back on track. For those in the wings, it’s also a good clue that the performers are looking for an edit or help in the scene.
We see people struggle with scene progress a lot of the time. The performers get frustrated and immediately start adding elements that are unnecessary. Admit it, we’ve all done it. This is where, though, another strategy for keeping a scene alive comes in: Focus on the emotion. It’s much easier to concentrate on one emotion than juggle 17 elements that you’ve just pulled out of the air.
So, there you go, two ways to keep a scene alive: Start at the beginning again and focus on emotion.
What are some other ways to keep scenes alive? Please let us know in the comments.
(Photo via Flickr: Lamerie / Creative Commons)
No Limit to Success
I thought I’d take in some lunchtime reading while eating my buffalo chicken meatballs from Central Market. Have you had these meatballs yet? They’re delicious. Almost as good as the steak-and-bacon meatballs. Central Market is really bringing its meatball A-game. Whole Foods, you’re on notice.
Back to the top of the scene: There’s a really good article on The Rumpus by Elissa Bassist. It’s called “FUNNY WOMEN #73: How to Write Like a Funny Woman,” and it’s an article about writing lessons learned from improv.
One part of the article really stood out to me:
…it may very well be true that another person is succeeding and you are not experiencing success, but one has nothing to do with the other. There’s not a limited amount of success going around. In what world does it make sense that if I am funny, you are not funny? NO WORLD. We need to believe in, encourage, support, and massage each other’s egos. I believe in you. I believe in what you’re doing. Please keep doing it, and maybe do a little of it near me.
I love that line: “There’s not a limited amount of success going around.” It’s easy to fall into a low self-esteem rut where you feel sorry for yourself because you’re not as funny as someone else. However, it’s not about being funny; it’s about being supportive.
Maybe your role in a scene is to play the non-absurd character. Maybe that’s the role you always play, and that’s okay. If your scene partners are truly supportive, they’ll help build your non-absurd character, they’ll make sure what you do is pure genius, just like you will make sure their character choices are genius. And then you’ll all be successful.
The improv we teach here at DCH is not about competition; it’s about community. If you keep that always on your mind, we’ll all be successful.
(Photo via Flickr: Susan Renee / Creative Commons)
Be A Part Of The Legend
Here we are again with another project to support: Improv Legends. The project is a series of documentary shorts from some of the greatest and most influential improv minds over time.
The filmmakers created a Kickstarter page to help raise money to cover post-production work. In fact, let’s let them explain the project.
Check out their Kickstarter page to see a list of all the people they’ve interviewed, and then seriously consider donating to the project. Then you can say, “I am Legend!”
Comedians Survey
If you work in comedy and you want to help shape its future, please pause a moment and take the Comedians Survey. Deadline to take it is today!
What’s this survey? It’s this:
In the spring of 2011, Comedy Central, in partnership with the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) initiated The American Comedy Fund, establishing the first-ever fund dedicated exclusively to supporting the comedy community. Administered by The Actors Fund and the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF), the American Comedy Fund will privide much-needed social services, emergency assistance, health care, insurance, housing and employment and training services for those comedic performers who qualify during times of need, crisis or transition.
In order to better serve the community and to help shape the services The American Comedy Fund intends to provide, The Actors Fund is conducting a survey of comedians to better understand the life and challenges of those working in the field. So far, almost 400 comedians have taken this survey, so if you haven’t we’d love to have you participate, and encourage you to spread the word. Your responses will help shape the future of the fund!
Don’t you want to be a future-shaper? I thought so. The survey awaits you.
Big Brother Is Watching Us
Uh oh. Are we in trouble? Is our funny a national security threat? The DCH metal detector line forms to the left. Thank you.
Betty White Loves Frosting
Congratulations to DCH training center graduate Jackson Marshall. He appeared last night on Betty White’s Off Their Rockers, a show where elderly people prank whippersnappers.
Jackson appeared with Betty in a scene where she’s frosting a cake, but decides to frost something else. A screenshot is above; the episode is below. Jackson’s scene starts at the 6:50 mark.