Austin Improv - History

History

In 1990, the main comedy venues—which also hosted improv—were the Laff Stop and the Velveeta Room. The Laff Stop was home to the Laff Staff, which was under the direction of Chris Bonno, while the Velveeta Room featured the Cheese Pistols under the direction of Amos Ewing. Les McGehee and Erik Christianson revived ComedySportz Austin, which performed at Olive's Pizza Place. The Cheese Pistols, who performed on Wednesday nights, were made up of a blend of local stand-ups, members of Esther's Follies, a few members of ComedySportz, and a random guy named Charlie Stites. It is also worth noting that the Velveeta was still in its original location. Deb Downing and Martin Garcia were both members of ComedySportz and the Cheese Pistols. They later went on to Second City Chicago's mainstage troupe. Les McGehee also produced a regional improv festival known as the SouthWest Improv Festival of Texas (SWIFT).

In 1996, the main improv venues were The Velveeta Room, featuring Marc Pruter’s Monk’s Night Out and The ComedySportz Playhouse, featuring Les McGehee’s ComedySportz Players who were under the direction of Tyler Bryce. There was also a University of Texas troupe called Only 90% Effective directed by Victoria Osborne and Amy Blackard (now Castner). The Velveeta Room was also producing other troupes like Code Blue and Los Paranoias, directed by Pamela Ribon and David Lampe. David Lampe was a member of Monk’s Night Out and a founding member of The Oxymorons in San Antonio. Ribon was also a member of Monks' Night Out.

That same year, 1996, Austin was put on the national improv and sketch map with the first annual Big Stinkin’ Improv Comedy Festival, which was founded by Marc Pruter and Jon Wiley. The Big Stinkin' brought troupes, teachers, and talent scouts from around the nation to Austin for several days of performances and workshops. The festival was renamed the Big Stinkin' International Improv and Sketch Comedy Festival (BS2) in 1997. Big Stinkin' played some of the biggest venues in town over the years, from the Paramount to Palmer Auditorium. Marc Pruter and Jon Wiley handed the festival over to Ed Carter after BS2, and they later created the Bad Dog Comedy Theater with Anna Bartkowski, Matt Sadler, and Matt Bearden.

In 1998, Sean Hill and David Lampe hosted auditions for “Austin Theatresports,” In late 1998, Sean started work on a new improv venue, theater, and coffeehouse called The Hideout.

Around this time, The Hideout, The Velveeta Room, The Bad Dog Comedy Theater, The ComedySportz Playhouse, and even Capital City Comedy Club and Esther’s Follies would host improv from time to time. Improv troupes of this era include “Austin Theatresports,” “ComedySportz,” “Monk’s Night Out,” “Well Hung Jury,” "The Blah Blah Train," "Squid Royale," “Code Blue,” “The Cheese Pistols,” "The Murky Doors," “Ray Prewitt’s 4th Grade Class,” “Fatbuckle,” “The Skinnies,” “The Inflatable Egos,” “Only 90% Effective,” and more. Big Stinkin’ Improv and Sketch Comedy Festival was on the rise and in its final year included big-name headliners.

In 2000, the Hideout officially opened at 617 Congress Avenue. Sean Hill and Shana Merlin directed the house troupe, called We Could Be Heroes, and opened the We Could Be Heroes School of Improvisational Theatre, whose curriculum is based on the teachings of Keith Johnstone.

The Big Stinkin' Improv Festival folded in 2000 due to financial mismanagement. The early 2000s also saw the closing of the Bad Dog Comedy Theater (posthumously named Best Comedy Club in the Austin Chronicle Readers' Poll) and Les McGehee's ComedySportz space at the Northcross Mall. During this time, We Could Be Heroes changed its name to The Heroes of Comedy.

In 2002, Jeremy Lamb and his troupe Well Hung Jury founded the Out of Bounds Improv Festival and Mini-Golf Tournament. Every year since the festival has grown. The Out of Bounds Festival happens every Labor Day weekend and is a full week of improv, sketch, parties, and workshops.

Since 2005, the Austin Improv scene has moved to an independent troupe-based performance paradigm. That year, Andy Crouch created the Austin Improv Collective with the goal of facilitating more improv in Austin and growing the local community. The year 2005 also marked the arrival of members of the troupe The Frank Mills (formerly Tight), who brought the training style of Improv Olympic to Austin. In October 2006, New Orleans improv troupe ColdTowne opened the ColdTowne Theater and Conservatory on Airport Blvd, creating a new local venue for comedy as well as a conservatory in improv and sketch comedy writing. In March 2008 the Merlin Works Institute for Improvisation and Gnap! Theater Projects began teaching classes and performing shows at the Salvage Vanguard Theater. In 2009 The New Movement opened and began teaching all disciplines of comedy including improv, sketch comedy, stand-up comedy and pro comedy writing. As of 2009, the Austin Improv Collective roster includes over thirty troupes and counting.

In 2009 three improvisers; Roy Janik, Kareem Badr, and Jessica Arjet took over management of the Hideout Theatre. Arjet brought her children's improv program, The Flying Theater Machine, to the Hideout program. The Hideout is known for offering high concept, format driven improv with a strong emphasis on visual aesthetics. In addition, the Hideout has spots for troupes from any theater in Austin to play on Thursday and Sunday nights. The Flying Theater Machine also offers children's shows on Sundays and children's classes.

Austin improv is notable for its convergence of many different improvisational schools and styles. Improvisers can choose to study in the style of Keith Johnstone through the Hideout and Merlin Works, or the Chicago style at the ColdTowne Conservatory or The New Movement. Les McGehee continues to offer ComedySportz at Cafe Caffeine.