Daxohol

Get My Prov On

Thursday August 18

I was cast in a show as part of the Toronto Improv Festival.  On my way to meet Superkev to head up to the festival, I stopped into Shoppers Drug Mart to pick up some...things...I left in a quite the hurry to be sure I would arrive to the place of pick up on time. Loaded up in the car and we talked of Superkev's adventures in England and developed the term "To Be Jetsgo-ed" which means, "to be diappointed to learn that what was supposed to happen, is no longer going to happen because someone is a giant asshole".

We finally arrive to our tech rehearsal, all goes splendidly and we all head off to kill a couple hours before showtime.  I choose to pamper myself a bit and the hair ripped off my face and get my nails done.  I find a little beauty shop ran by a european lady.  She sang as she applied the wax and remove my unibrow.  I was in heaven...She sang some more as she slathered wax liberally and tore off my mustache.  Bliss.  She continues to hum softly as she files and paints my nails.  When I thought my one hand was dry, I reached in my wallet to grab my bank card. You know the one I mean, the one that WASN'T ACTUALLY IN MY WALLET.  I think right away that I left it at the Shoppers Drug Mart when I left in such a hurry.  Fortunately the lady had mercy on my and didn't make me sweep up toe nail clippings.  She accepted 30 dollars of the 40 dollars I fortunately had on me.  Lady luck was certainly on my side. 

I met up with the rest of the gang for dinner (which Superkev was kind enough to cover until I had my sorry ass figured out).  Mmmmmm all-you-can-eat sushi...opps, watch your step, don't slip in the saliva puddle.

We get back to the theatre and start warming up.  We do a couple run-throughs of the show format.  Just as we were getting a groove, two wide eyed and obviously panic stricken ushers come flying through the door and nearly fall all over themselves "Ohmigod! Your on right now!! The host is stalling! The stage manager just took off and left!" Without even allowing the information to sink in, we ran backstage with our hearts pounding in our chest. This is what you would call, from the "frying pan into the fire". This is what we would call "Holy SH*T! What the f*ck just happened?! I can't feel my legs!"

So with our energy levels high and our adrenaline speeding through our veins, we pumped out a pretty good show that left the audience chanting our name.  As we exited the stage, our legs still numb, we gather to stand around and look at each other trying to catch our breath. This is what you would call "Post-Show High". This is what we call "Crack".

So this is all I had the chance to finish...I'm still working on the other entries...Soon my babies soon!

How We First Met - Post-Mortum

The show went pretty well.  There was a decent crowd, so that is always awesome. 

The first couple we interviewed were so cute, I actually started to tear up listening to their story and watching them react and answer the questions as they where interviewed. 

We had fun exaggerating and playing with various characteristics and relationship dynamics of all the couples.  As a performer, the most rewarding aspect is hearing their reactions after the show. Hearing how "bang on" we where about certain things is really cool.  Specifically, the second couple we did, the woman was very "take charge" and dreamt of living in a few different places in the world.  I thought perhaps I went a little too over the top with her, but as it turns out, she thought it was great.  I was relieved. 

The third couple was a young couple (both university students), dating about a year.  We had fun with this one because the girl did alot of dancing, and the guy was a rugby player.  There was so much fun physicallity to play with, which is my specialty.

After the show, the first couple tagged along with us to the pub for our post-show rituals.

I am glad I bought a new outfit!

It is a blast to perform and watch this show.  If it ever shows up in a city near you, GO!

How We First Met

I am excited because I have a show tommorow.  I even went out and bought something nice to wear! *gasp*

The show I will be doing is called "How We First Met".  Last year it was a sold out show and the audience freakin' loved it.  I only hope this year the promotion was done well enough to attract the crowd again.

Sweet Home Chicago

Chicago.  If there was an American city I'd ever live in, it would be Chicago.  Whenever I go, I honestly feel like I am home from a long trip away.  I honestly believe a large chunk of my heart is there.

Ironically, it is the city where my grandfather was hit by a car and killed, my uncle sliced his tongue and my other uncle lost a tire while driving on a highway nearly killing himself and others.  My family has not had good luck in Chicago.

I, on the other hand have had fantastic luck there.  Well, I haven't been injured or killed.  Yet. Hopefully not ever.

I go to Chicago for one main purpose.  Improv.  It is the mecca city for the art.  I could geek out about improv for pages and pages, but I'll spare you all.  For my improvisor readers, I'm sorry, but you know how it is.

Every year, the largest improv festival on the continent takes place in Chicago.  I missed last year because Daxon was only a month old and I couldn't take him on a plane yet.  However, this year I am going.  HR Division Gramma C will be taking over all matters Daxon.

I am very excited.  I know that when I am not busy laughing until my face hurts and starts to involuntarily twitch, I will be fighting off overwhelming feelings of "mommy going off and leaving her child for 3 days" guilt.  But between hugging dear friends from all around the U.S. and making out with hot female television stars...oppss....perhaps I've said too much...I will be telling myself that all this is for my son's benefit.  I have my reasons.  Trust me.

Over the next little while I will be sharing with you some stories about my adventures in Chicago.  Keep checking in!

Person Improv Crisis II

New information has made it clear that all is not completely lost. The elements that make any community growth neccessary are continuing to function. Which was my biggest concern anyway.

As for producing shows? It's all good. I have a lil' something brewing...more on that later. I have always agreed that improvisors who "love the craft" should produce their own shows. I think it is important. I was whining before because logistically speaking it's just more difficult now for me.

But, meh, I can do it. It's alright. I loves it!!

Personal Improv Crisis

The Staircase Theatre (where I do improv) has had a little change in the way that Improv is going to be handled. In other words, It isn't.

I won't go into the details of how and why (as it will take me weeks to write that), plus it is loaded with controversy based on personal interpretations of Improvisation and it's success and levels of personal commitment. Instead I will just tell you how this has affected me.

I have grown used to being able to attend a workshop every week if I so desired. I have also grown used to having a couple of shows that I can be cast in on a regular basis. These above privilages are just that, privilages. In other cities, both larger and smaller, improvisors do not have such convenience.

Well, reality has reared it's ugly head, and I now must produce, book and promote a show myself if I want to play. That, my friends, will be so EASY! Can you detect the sarcasm?

Now, don't get me wrong, I love to produce and promote shows, I really do. I have done it before! I've only done it once since having Daxon, and it proved to be near impossible.

So this leaves me...

With nothing.

I feel like my part of my soul has died. I love the stage. I love performing. I love my Improv. I live for it. Now my insides are mashed.

Unless someone takes pity on my ass, and casts me in their show, I have no other options to play for an audience.

This sucks. I am really having a hard time trying to write how this makes me feel.

But here's the thing. There is hope. Things may look up. Change is inevitable in life, and I, in the past have fought for changes to the theatre that alot of people resisted and doubted. I guess it's finally my turn to eat my words. Though this change seems counter productive to growth, it just may in the end, cause growth. Who knows. I sure as hell don't.