and go into a field that actually had job security. This may sound stupid, but Kelly Clarkson songs will have me bouncing off the walls in about 0.3 seconds. I calm down by drinking beer and occasionally making out with a woman who is stupid enough to want to kiss me. I don't recommend that to anyone, but that's what I do.
Q. Why do you like/dislike performing with your partner for this performance, Tony Amatuzio?
A. Tony is this short Italian guy from Delaware, who pretends he's from "Philly." We're doing a show in KC because we're in town to eat and party with my friends at the American Royal BBQ and watch the Chiefs/Eagles football game at Arrowhead. He's an Eagles fan. I'm not sure what I like about him. I'm starting to regret doing this show.
Q. Explain the title of your current show?
A. The Kansas City Royals suck. Back when they were good, they used to wear powder blue uniforms. I have named the show "Powder Blue Uni's" in protest of Allard Baird and David Glass for ruining the Royals organization. I'm pretty sure they're going to resign after it and sell me the team for a penny and some Junior Mints. It's improv. I have no idea what the show is going to be about. I could have named it "Crimson Girls Forever" and it would make no difference. I do actually have a show idea called "Kirk Hinrich," but I won't bore you with the details.
Q. What can people expect from this show?
venue
A. We'll ask for a simple suggestion up top like a word or a household object. Tony and I will use that suggestion to inspire a 30-40 minute longform piece. We'll do several different scenes as different characters and try to tie them together or at least revisit them through out the show. Nothing is pre-planned. We do not plot out the scenes or pre-plan the characters. The great
A. One of the reasons I'm doing the show is that I wanted to connect with the Kansas City improv scene. There are a lot of people from Kansas in Chicago doing not only improv but also theatre. There is no reason why we can't take what we've learned in Chicago and bring it back to KC through shows, workshops or even starting an improv theatre. City 3 Improv is
Q. Why come back to Kansas City?
helping me produce this show and they and a few other groups are re-launching a Kansas City improv festival. There used to be a very popular one a few years ago. The fact that City 3 can rent out the Westport Coffee House for me on a Saturday night two weeks before the show speaks about how much room for growth there is for a KC/Lawrence theatre scene. Events like the new KC Fringe festival will only help build a dynamic theatre/improv community. Theatre is more than another Shaw production at the Missouri Rep or a touring production of "Cats." Those productions are fine but it could be so much more.
thing about improv is that it's all made up on stage. It will be the funniest thing to see in Kansas City and Lawrence on October 1st. If it isn't, I'm blaming Allard Baird.
Q. Where should KU theatre grads and people interested in improv go once they graduate?
A. First off, just because I'm a drop out, doesn't mean I advocate it. It's much easier to get a job to support your passion for theatre or music or art, if you have degree. Chicago is widely regarded as best theatre town in the country - greater than New York. This is because the wealth of talent and it's real' to form a theatre company and new work. It's definitely the most theatre scene in the country. E wants to go to New York or L.A. so it." Those cities just chew you up you out. Chicago allows you to go an artist and as an individual. It allows you to develop your chops. also make you a bad ass, if you want move back to KC to start your own the company. After a few years, you'll act
Random thoughts
- I'm the only person in the world who, as a college student at their respective institutions, has eaten in a cafeteria with both Allen Iverson and Kirk Hinrich.
- I think Kevin Wilmott teaches awesome film classes. And everyone should take a Chuck Berg film class on classic films. I learned about Billy Wilder films that way. One of my favorite films I saw was in Berg's class, "Five Graves to Cairo."
*The best job in comedy is working for The Daily Show.
ly know what you're doing from an artistic and business standpoint.
Q. Who inspires you?
A. The people that inspire me are the people I have seen perform in Chicago. John Lutz, who writes for SNL, taught me at Improv Olympic. Dan Bakkedahl, performed at I.O. and Second City, and is the newest correspondent on The Daily Show. There are so many talented people in Chicago that it's disgusting. They could replace the cast of
SNL, 20 times over with people from Chicago and it you wouldn't know the difference and they should probably do that.
Q. Who is that someone famous you aspire to be like or meet?
A. Bill Murray and Steve Martin. They are intelligent, good actors, understated and go a mile just by raising an eyebrow. Martin's a great writer. Pretty much 90% of all improvisers would love to have Bill Murray's career. He may not know it, but he's the unspoken icon in our field.
Lindsey Ramsey
09. 29.05 Jayplay | 9
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