The Megaphone Show

By Preston Zaya

AUSTIN-The New Movement puts on another installment of their most popular show, The Megaphone Show.

The Megaphone Show is comprised of the more experienced improv comics.  A guest speaker is featured on stage telling stories about their lives while the comics act them out.

John Simon was the special guest for The Megaphone Show Nov. 16^th.  He told stories about his life and the ‘80s as a group of various comics, including his daughter, interpreted them.

“He has been teaching for five years, but he has been a story-teller his whole life,” Megan Simon said.

Megan Simon, daughter of John Simon, is one of the main stage actors for The Megaphone Show.

Photo taken by Preston Zaya
The Megaphone Show

“I actually saw The Megaphone Show at The New Movement…,”Simon Said when talking about her journey into long-term improv.

Simon, also a Texas State theater major, said she always knew she wanted to act.

“I don’t really love dramatic acting that much, it’s not fun. Comedy was something that always came naturally to me, so I really wanted to pursue that,” Simon said. 

Simon does a form of improv comedy called long-term, specializing in longer skits and deeper character creation.

“I love forming a really fun character and a strong person that you believe could exist in real life,” Simon said.

Simon teaches a level two class currently and plans on teaching a level three class. She also coaches an improv troupe.

For more information on The New Movement, show times, and performers, visit www.newmovementtheater.com.

Classes for Comedians in Training

AUSTIN – The New Movement offers many classes for comedians in training to learn the art of improv and sketch comedy from those who know it best.

For those who don’t know, improv is performing a live and unscripted comedy with a group of people.

The classes range from different levels and are offered at both the Austin and New Orleans locations. 

Improv Zero, a free one-day class, can give anyone interested a feel of what the classes will be like and following that is a Shootaround where anyone can get on stage and interact with the cast members or alumni.

Megan Simon, who has been with The New Movement for three years, started out by taking the improv zero class because all she wanted to do was perform.

In Improv Zero “you learn ‘Yes, And,’ and you do a quick little scene and then get notes from a teacher,” Megan Simon said.

Photo by Homer Gonzalez.
The bloggers meeting G-Su Paek, a performer at TNM.

G-Su Paek, a performer and level two teacher at The New Movement, explains the five different levels of improv classes. 

“Level one is basic intro to improv, level two is character work, level three is patterns, level four is deep improv games, and level five is a masters improv class,” said Paek, who has been with The New Movement for three years now.

The New Movement gives many different people the chance to join together for their love of comedy and being able to perform, Paek said.

“We have people who do this professionally, people who want to meet funny people, or people who love getting over their fear of public speaking,” Paek said.

After taking classes, students can get many different opportunities such as going to festivals, putting on shows, and can become more involved with local activities.

The classes are usually eight weeks long and small in number to keep the instructor to student level on a personal level.

For more information about classes or to register, click here.

A "Fun-King" Good Time at Rucker Park

Photo taken by Rachel Vargas

by: Rachel Vargas

AUSTIN— Students and teachers of The New Movement joined together to deliver a priceless hour of ad-lib skits Friday evening.

The show, "Rucker Park," was a collaboration of seasoned comedians and comedians-in-the-making gathered for their first time on the same stage, making for a hell of a show.

At 9 p.m. a flashing of lights signaled the start of the program and the hosts entered the stage introducing the improv groups "The Grilled Cheeses" and "The Funking Comedians."

The Grilled Cheeses kicked off the show and stole the hearts of the audience with an awkward office scene involving margaritas, a Catholic confessional, and a mean girls slumber party, to name a few.  Actor and teacher at the New Movement, G-Su Paek, was a spectacle and had the crowd in tears.

The Fun King Comedians followed the entertaining company with amiable stalkers, jealous girlfriends and a quirky mafia.

Each skit was roughly under five minutes, leaving no idle time in between, with each group performing for half an hour.

The passion was evident in each actor, and skits were performed with utmost personality.

"We're all here because we love doing comedy and performing," said Paek.

A normal week at The New Movement holds nine shows, beginning Wednesday evening, sometimes performing until Sunday.  Performances can be caught most weekends, when troupes are not performing elsewhere across the nation at festivals and various special events.

New Movement Improviser Makes Her Debut At Hell Yes Fest

by Homer Gonzalez

"I Don't Know Words" promo image
Photo provided by www.hellyesfest.com

NEW ORLEANS — “I Don’t Know Words”, a solo sketch show written and produced by Vanessa Gonzalez, debuted at Hell Yes Fest on Saturday.  

Gonzalez, a comic from The New Movement Austin, spent the last three months preparing for “one of the biggest comedy festivals in the country,” said Chris Trew, co-founder of The New Movement (TNM).

“It’s not your typical one-woman show,” Gonzalez said.  “I play really absurd characters, sing songs, and had the chance to open for WOMEN, a well-known sketch comedy group from Los Angeles.”

Hell Yes Fest 2013 lineup
Photo provided by www.hellyesfest.com

Three improv troupes from TNM Austin, about 10 from TNM New Orleans, and countless comics from across the nation took the stage at Hell Yes Fest from Nov. 12 to Nov. 18.  

“What I loved about being a part of this festival is that there are so many different types of comedy: stand up, sketch, improv, and even podcasts,” Gonzalez said.  “This was the third and, hands down, most successful Hell Yes Fest yet.”

Gonzalez will perform “I Don’t Know Words” Dec. 21 at 9 p.m. at TNM Austin.  She also plans to tour the show and teach improv workshops across the East Coast beginning March 2014.

Visit the Hell Yes Fest website for more information regarding the schedule, performers, venues, and more!