New Puppet Improv Show in NYC

[mike short]

What would happen if you had to make up The Muppet Show on the spot? A group of talented improvisors asks that very question when they take to the stage with puppets in hand. From one audience suggestion an entire half-hour show is created on the spot. Featuring top New York improv-comedy talent from the Upright Citizen's Brigade and the Magnet Theater.

See us one night only!
Sunday, February 1st, at 8 PM
Magnet Theater
254 West 29th Street (b/w 7th & 8th Ave)
Tickets only $5

Follow this link to see the original pitch for the show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=010HdZgVUS0

Mods, when approving this message, please also move to the appropriate spot if this is not it. Thank you!

 

[mike short]

Despite the title, these aren't sock puppets. (Although admittedly, since none of us are puppet builders, they are store-bought puppets. I hope you'll forgive us.) Check out the video to get an idea of what we'll be doing.

 

[staceyrebecca]

Hey Mike, did you happen to do this at DCM at all?

(Some guys were doing something with sunny brand puppets from behind a table & I only caught a glimpse)

 

[mike short]

This is the first time we're doing this. Although I will be pitching it to DCM. You may be thinking of Felt (http://chicago.ioimprov.com/io/shows/10) another improv/puppet show running in Chicago. In fact, one of our cast members is a Chicago transplant who also was in Felt. Our cast has people who have done Avenue Q training and Story Pirates puppet training (http://storypirates.org/). Our first practice is Saturday evening and I'm so looking forward to it.

 

[staceyrebecca]

No, I don't think it was...I mean, this was definitely guys behind a table flipped on its side and some commercially made puppets... I don't think felt does that.

Josh & Tamra were also there...but I didn't get to see them. A few weeks later they moved to Los Angeles & played our theater along the way. That made me happy.

I'm glad to hear you guys have training.

<begin rant>
Just as improvisers despise watching bad improv, puppeteers despise watching bad puppetry.

Just as improvisers cringe when an audience is subjected to bad improv & that audience walks away thinking *that*'s what improv is, puppeteers do the same.

So....make sure you don't suck, kay?

</rant>

 

[mike short]

Don't worry, we have a very exacting director working with us. She's previously worked with Josh and Tamra (http://www.joshandtamra.com/) and she's calling out any less-than-stellar puppet-work. I've been practicing as much as I can in front of the mirror and watching as much on puppetry on YouTube as I can find. Check out my Tumblr for a few samples - I'm posting a cool puppet video every other day. New York, come check us OUT.

 

[staceyrebecca]

The comic book form was a hoot. And if you're working with other puppeteers, I'm sure you guys will be great. Heck, if you're posting here, there's more of a sign that you actually care about the art of puppetry & not just the gimmick of puppets.

next time I'm in New York I'll come by & see you guys. Let me know if you'll ever be out on the western-half.

 

[JandT]

whos the direct your working with?

hey guys.

miss NYC big time. whos the folks your working with in NYC. love to hear more about the show. Good luck with the show , it sounds great.

 

[mike short]

Amey Goerlich? Currently on Krompf! She said she worked with you for a little while. Here's me and her on the UCB stage from about a year and a half ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGNR10063Bc

I'm the tall dorky guy standing behind Amey. Couple of other people relatively new to the NY scene, so I don't know who'd you know.

Just wanted to say - Josh and Tamra is one of my inspirations for this. I never got a chance to see you do a puppet set when you were in NYC though.

 

[JandT]

amey no way!

oh amey, no way how cool .. well please tell her we say hello. best of luck with the show,. please try to tape it. love to see some of it on youtube. please let me know if i can lend help in any way, if you have questons on building puppets and the like.

go get em.

Josh

ps thank you for your kind words about our show very cool of you.