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April 29, 2005

CIF

I've been in Chicago all week. I got here Sunday morning and have been downtown (77 West Wacker) all week.

I haven't seen on minute of improvisation.

You see, I'm here on work and it is the first week of an engagement with a major company. I'm contracted through Microsoft to be the Lead Application Architect and guide to migrating Lotus Notes applications to the Microsoft Platform. It's been a week of very long days, and the thought of going up town to do anything other than eat and maybe have a beer isn't even an option.

So basically, it's right down the street, and I don't get to go. Cliff just got into town (he called me), and I probably won't get to see him. If I wasn't in Phoenix two weeks ago, it probably wouldn't be a big deal if I stayed, but I would like to spend some time with my wife, and she wins over improv.

So, I hope you all had a good time, were safe and just a little bit wild. Sorry I missed all fun.

Posted by Chuck Charbeneau at 1:11 PM

April 21, 2005

PIF Recap

So I sit. A hot girl walks in, mocks me for a minute, and I sit. I think about the festival, but I get easily distracted. Watch a movie. Do some laundry. Ear kisses by a hot girl. Easy distractions, easy to forget about tomorrow’s trip. There’s a lot to think about too; job loss, college, closing out a hot Saturday night at the fest. So I sit. Grab the closest wireless internet, find some porn, and distract myself again. Comments from a hot girl, but no more ear kisses, I guess her interest is only temporary. My mind is racing 100mph, like a metaphor that I can’t come up with right now. Tomorrow is the trip. Improv is the winner. I hope I live up to expectations. I will, because I’m lucky. I’m a rock star, surrounded by rock stars. Why else would you be reading this, for the hot girl?

The agenda for a festival is simple. No death. No incarceration. If those two things have to happen do them after the show. This time the agenda has some family thrown in, and some teaching….yeah teaching improv, ladies & gents it can be done, and anyone can learn, so seek out a little education (www.improvolympic.com) (www.improvinferno.com). Not sure how much drinking is going to fit in, but I’m sure I’ll squeeze it in somewhere. Tic….tok…7pm in Phoenix, 18 hrs, I’ll be there too.

Traveling to Phoenix has been a treat in the past. Once I got stuck in Denver overnight going to Phoenix, and Chicago overnight, coming back. That was the last time I flew stand-bye without a previously purchased ticket.

Since, I’ve always flown America West (www.americawest.com) good price, good service, on-time, overall an excellent airline, I was surprised when I waited in line for 45 minutes to actually speak to a ticket agent. I got off easy though, the person behind me, just wanted to pay cash for her previously reserved tickets. She also stood for 45 minutes, I heard the agent as I was walking away tell her.

”I’m sorry, you can’t arrive an hour before flight time and expect to get on a flight, your going to have to go stand-bye on later flight.”

Damn….competition for the flight. Stop. Get some airport food, a coffee. Smoke.

I’m excited, this is my 3rd trip to PIF, and I miss those catz. Tonight is the premiere of Hemi and the Buzz, an idea that was born in Phoenix, hit puberty in Chicago, and had its first beer in Miami.

Ocean’s Twelve is the in-flight movie, on the 11 am flight. Woot! I’ll arrive in Phoenix a full 7 hours earlier than I originally booked. Unfortunately, the lady who was behind me in line missed her 8am flight, did not get on this one either. Well, at least she can have my flight, at 7pm.

Things will go by quickly after I arrive. I’ll write more later.

Tommy Cannon – our den mother, picks me up right on time, a quick picture with him with a puppet, and we are on our way to the hotel. No baggage, no waiting, the only delay is me stopping to enjoy a smoke after the plane ride. Tommy is the coolest, he writes for some Chinese cartoon (in English, they translate for him), and he just finished a screenplay for the same folks. He does this all while puppeteering, which is like racketeering only with puppets.

Theatre – The theatre is in walking distance from the hotel, rock. Tommy points it out on the way to the hotel. It looks like a skateboard, and is imprinted glow-in-the-dark style on my fancy new PIF t-shirt.

Walk through the doors, quick hello’s, acquire my room key, and settle in. Where’s Chuck? He’s 15 minutes from his next class, and hungry. I am too. Burger King, Joe Bills class, not much is better than eating & learning at the same time.

I struggled through class, but it was sooo true. Quick bits of genius, followed by simple and excellent excersizes. This class was my second introduction into the “cross-fade” style edits, I struggled, but it was different, and great.

Spend time with family. Eat. Shower. Walk to theatre. See shows. I missed COG twice. Fuck. Cool. Neutrino is just beginning. It’s been a long time, I’m excited. Rock. They’ve started. Damn. Every time I see them, I’m amazed. The whole concept blows me away. This time was no different. From the skinny naked man in the bathroom, to the gimp crossing the street, to actually chewing smokeless tobacco for the better of the show, it was extremely cool. My favorite moment....Park. PARK! Hiiiiliarious.

Baby was outstanding as usual. It was during their show that I started watching the audience, it was filled with old ladies, some improvisors, and the occasional "hipster". The reactions throughout the fest were mixed, but during Baby Wants Candy everyone was stuck eyes forward. It was quite amusing.

To Circle K for some Red Bull. God love ya Tommy.

The Hemi show was fun. I love Jokyr & Jesster, and it was great to be able to work with them. I hope we do it again soon. There were so many fun moments. Thanks guys.

Lose at poker, drink tequila, drink whiskey, sleep. Wake. Continental breakfast with the fam. Discuss the lesson plan. Time to get to class.

The class was great. I think we had 18 students. We spilled a little into a tech rehearsal, but only 5 minutes, and they were very understanding. Then we stood outside and answered some questions and ran a discussion. Everybody was so good, some stars shone for sure, but overall they all committed the entire class. They were tired and trying and working and it was tits.

There were many friendly faces. Hung out with old friends (you know who you are) and made new ones to hang with (far to briefly). Got to see my original teachers from what seems so long ago. Lectured and got lectured, and rightfully so.

Hotel. Nap. Dinner. Red Bull. Warm-up. Show. I love working with Chuck. Nuff said.

Pam, it was nice to put a face to the name, and I hope to see you sometime on your home turf. Speaking of Seattle, I must mention The Election Show catz. Those fellas crack me up, and are always a blast to hang with. I’ll see you catz soon, that’s for sure.

Beers. Bullshit. Continental breakfast with the fam. School planning. Plane ride home.

The in-flight movie was “National Treasure”. Home, sleep. Hot girl.

I am so proud of all of those Phoenix folks. This year boasted biggest crowds to date, quality shows, and excellent workshops, and that doesn’t even begin to touch on all the amazing staff. You guys kick ass. Stacy, chin-up. Jose, you rule. Mark lights & sound = good, thank you. Shane, poker shark fucker ass. All those I didn’t mention, I’m sorry, so much in 3 days. Tommy, I have you to thank for every where I got to on time, and I couldn’t ask for better company on the tour. Bill – Remember “Nothing much” You are the best. Thanks for a great time for the third time. Next year should be even better.

Hatz off PIF catz.

Posted by Clifton at 6:28 PM

April 18, 2005

PIF

I'm home, I'm tired and I've never been happier with a festival trip. The folks down in Phoenix were just awesome. The theatre was gorgeous, the classes overwhelming and the fact that I had a den mother...priceless.

Now please, allow me to gush.

Special thanks to Bill and Jose for working up to (but not including) the edge of blindness, Tommy for providing the care that only Boron can provide, Stacy (and little Noah - who knows what sounds monkies make), Amy (I hope the ulcer subsides), Daren, Jon, Nate and Michelle and all the others from the Phoenix area improv scene that accepted us into their house for the weekend.

Jokyr and Jesster were fantabulous to work with on stage, and I'd really like to work something out for a reunion of Hemi and the Buzz at a festival or show sometime in the immediate future.

The groups came from miles around to perform, and every show was loaded for bear this year. With teams from Chicago, LA, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Detroit and other places I'm sure I've forgotten, the mix of styles, shows and mayhem was almost overwhelming.

The classes were great. Bob Dassie and Joe Bill shook things up for me a bit, and having the classes right in the hotel was pretty damn smart - we didn't have to stumble that far, and the coffee was right out the door.

I have a lot more to say and over 300 pictures and a dozen or so video clips to go through, but I wanted to post at least a gushing thank you to everyone in Phoenix and to the groups and people from around the country that we were able to eat, drink and be merry with, theorize with, improvize with and for and generally be at another great festival with...so,

Thank you.

Posted by Chuck Charbeneau at 11:51 PM

April 6, 2005

Improv

It is a pulse, a rythm a reflection of life. It is my hammer, my quadratic equation, my arcane formulae. It listens, it answers it solves and explores.

You are my love, my other woman. You plug me in, you are the part of me that doesn't have to be linear or binary. You enjoy me as much as I enjoy you. You force me to think, force me to extend and force me to explore my ideas, explore my emotions and explore all the things that I'm afraid of.

Thou art the scent and hue of life and the scintillating color of thought. Thou art the laughter of every intelligent mind enjoying being twisted around a new idea. How I love thee, profess thee, adore thee and beg thee to let me understand thy mystery.

I.

I am your mirror. I am your true sight, your oversight and your misstep. I give no quarter, ask no respite and take no prisoners.

I am improv.

I am you.

Posted by Chuck Charbeneau at 3:02 PM

What Improv means to me...today

Improv.

It is a word that makes my mouth water, my pulse jump, and my teeth grit all at the same time. It's the best and worst theatre anyone can ever have a chance to witness. It smells like sweat and smoke and spilt beer. It's taste is bitter to the unacquainted, sweet to the appreciative, and wild to the average theatre nerd. It's unscripted, it's unbridled, it is improv. It's theatre. Raw.

You are my sanity. You are the spontaneous combustion of hope, passion, and comedy. You piss people off, you make people laugh, and you push farther than the actors themselves. You are my lover. You are my mistress. You steal my time, my money, my friendships, but I can't keep away. You are a child. You are wise. You are the future of modern day theatre.

Thou hast no compassion for those left in the divine wake. Thy temptress speaks to only those whom desire enlightenment. Ensnared? Beware; thy grip is tight as a virgin, thy passion as fiery as dragons’ breath, thy reward a fools treasure.

I am theatre. Raw.


Posted by Clifton at 3:01 PM

April 1, 2005

The All-Star Show @ Improv Inferno

Well, I was given the honour of representing Men in Shirts at the MIMI All-Star show last night. During the show I committed to making physical choices and spoke very little. I got a "little" stage bite on my lower back, and the show was extremely fun. Sometimes you gotta sacrifice the body for the better of the show, and by "little" I mean a 6" x 12" right triangle bruise that is changing color as I type. Woot.

Another Note: The winner of MIMI was "Eye Candy" (the team who beat us in round 1), and they had an excellent show. The runner up was "The People's Republic of Funny" (whom traded wins with us in the first Catfights EVER). As the Michigan State Spartans have proven this year in the NCAA tourney, if you want to compete with the best, you have to play the best. Sometimes you'll win those, sometimes you won't, but it'll always be an entertaining battle when the best in the business go at it! Cheers to the MIMI tourney champs! We'll see you again next year. ;)

Posted by Clifton at 8:39 AM