An attempt at catching up:improv

So much has happened.




















This past weekend, we took Bradley with us to Oklahoma City for the comedy festivus weekend. He slept the whole way in the car, and we even stopped to see Santa Claus at the mall. Of course, the moment Bradley smiled, Santa coughed. Thanks, old man.

We taught a workshop, and I had Bradley in the moby for most of it. It was surreal to give notes with a baby giggling right on my belly. It reminded me of being pregnant.

Everyone was happy to see us, and it was wonderful to not be pregnant. The bartender had my red wine ready! We hung out backstage before the show, and Bradley was so popular. He thought he was so cool hanging out with all the performers. And believe me, he was.

8pm came and the first group went to perform. We were headlining, so we had another hour before our set began. I started nursing Bradley (if I hear ONE MORE GODDAMN JOKE about breastfeeding and how someone can "get in on it" or "where's the line?" I'm gonna slap a bitch) and got him ready for bed. We set him down in the pack-n-play, had a lady improviser ready to snag him if he cried and started warm ups. Which nowadays consist of us going, "Do you think we'll still be funny?" and "What suggestion do you want to get?"

After intermission, we stood behind the curtain and just danced. It was just like old times, and I don't think either of us remembered that we had a baby sleeping backstage. Bryan's challenge was to initiate the crap out of the show, and mine was to vary distances between characters. And then we heard, "RED LETTERS!" and we ran out.

We joked about being parents and got a non-baby related suggestion and did the show. It was my favorite show we've ever done. It was incredible. Laughs followed by applause. What? Are you sure we're not just boring old parents whose only joke is going "blubufhajsghdf" to Bradley. So much fun.

After the show, we made out talked about the show in a corner and I've never felt more in love with Bryan than when we're basking in our own comedy afterglow. Instantly, our marriage was better. We were so happy, so happy to have done a good show, so happy to still be funny, so h appy to do something together that we both love so much.

We finally made it backstage to see our baby was still sleeping. I grabbed the little dude and walked into the theatre so we could get seats for the next show. He slept through the first act, then woke for the second (I went backstage to nurse) and then he LOVED watching. It was incredible. He stood on my legs just staring at the performers. I looked to my right, saw my hilarious husband and on my lap was my future hilarious son. And probably, for the first time since Bradley was born, I felt like my life was complete, in that moment, it was everything I'd imagined - and better.

Also: we have been named Oklahoma's Best Comedy Duo.

Monday Mind Dump

I had the most incredible weekend. One of the best in awhile!

Friday evening, our students performed the last comedy show of the year with a fabulous improv mainstage show where our graduating senior guessed all 5 crazy things with nearly two minutes left. They performed their first sketch show, and it went beautifully (minus the awkward part where someone forgot the last line, but they improvised and recovered so I could black them out). We were so proud.

Saturday, we slept in, threw some clothes in a suitcase and ran away to Tulsa for a staycation. We had a delicious lunch at PF Changs (finally using our gift cards from Christmas), peeked at the overpriced adorable things at Pottery Barn Kids and bought gifts for each other at Banana Republic. I had my massage with Elisa, and it was glorious! She remembered me based on "how hot your back is" - apparently, my circulation is very good and because of me and the baby, the blood in my back makes me very hot to touch. Cool?

We walked around the mall, picked up a cute cardigan on sale for the baby, split a pretzel and just held hands as we window shopped. We've been doing this together for six years now. Weird. Then, Bryan got to pick the movie we saw: The Hunger Games in imax. He's read the book; I haven't. It was a great movie, but I'm not sure I love the story (kids killing kids: awful!) or the guy named Gale (what a lame name - not much better than Peeta).

We did our traditional Melting Pot anniversary dinner and they sat us in a corner booth, tucked far away from everyone else and we were hidden. It was so romantic. And for the first time, I wasn't too stuffed by dessert. In fact, I ate some of Bryan's entree! I was so hungry. It was the perfect pregnant dinner. And we ended with chocolate all over rice krispies, strawberries, cheesecake and brownies. We left the restaurant around 11:30 and drove to the aLoft hotel (which we love since staying there 3 years ago in Durham). It was so romantic!

We woke, had breakfast at Panera and then drove home to reality. Where our baby stroller/carseat was waiting for us and our house that needed cleaning.

On Sunday, we spent the evening at a local camp celebrating our improv team's success with awards, food and games. I played volleyball and probably shouldn't have. Where I dove (I know, I know, Bryan wanted to kill me) really hurts and where I hit the ball on my forearms is swollen and painful to the touch. Whoops. I guess I need to start acting pregnant. They had elections, and we're very pleased with the new board.



Today, I felt my first Who-Stole-My-Brain-and-Emotions feeling. I was angry and upset and nauseous and on the verge of tears over a series of things that wouldn't normally upset me. I hated it, and the more I felt like I wasn't myself, the more upset it made me. By the time lunch came, Bryan picked me up and he knew something was wrong with his crazy wife. Instead of doing peanut butter sandwiches at home, he took me to a panini place in town. He likes to remind me that I need to take it easy and remember that I'm pregnant and stop trying to do everything I used to do. After a panini and more than half a slice of cheesecake, I felt a lot better.

This week should be a relaxing week. And next week is my Florida vacation/baby shower which I have highlighted and circled on my calendar at work. I am counting down the days!! Lord knows I need some time with my sisters, my moms and away from Oklahoma. Also, can we talk about the baby nonstop? Then maybe I wouldn't forget that I'm pregnant.

Monday Brain Dump

Weekends go by too quickly. We spent Saturday morning seeing our friends while their three week old baby napped. Biggest advice they gave us: don't let parents stay in your house and the changing table was the best buy.

Saturday evening, we drove to OKC for some light shopping (Portlandia and Futurama on DVD, ftw) and dinner before our show.

Performing at the Ghostlight has been so much fun. We love the artistic directors and the producers, and they seem to really love our quirky, playful show. I'm always sick and nervous when I hear that we sold out there. And before shows, I like to hang out in the lobby to watch the first group perform and listen to the audience. Often, audience members will approach me and say, "We came just for you guys!" or "I brought my whole office because of your last show!"

Nothing like compliments before a completely unrehearsed show to make a gal even more nervous. Bryan is the perfect improv partner: he's always game for whatever weird character, relationship or senario I throw out, and he will often make me laugh (inside, of course). We talked on the way out how we've been performing together for seven years now, our duo show for five. And yet, each show is different, is the same.

No matter how many shows we do, this one is special. This one is the one we're performing tonight, for those people. There's such a trust with Bryan, and I am confident that even if we have an off night, it will still be a good show. I really feel like the last year has been an incredible performance year for us, definitely our peak.

I wonder how the baby will affect the show. I don't know how soon after the birth that we will be able to make the drive to OKC to perform. I plan on bringing the Pack-n-Play, but what if he cries during our set? I joked about doing a set with him in my Moby wrap, but that's definitely not going to happen.

If we weren't doing so well or having this much fun with improv, I wouldn't be so nervous about the fall. To be honest, I'm nervous that I'll lose my ability to improvise or my comedic instincts. What if having a baby kills all the most cool parts of me? What if I no longer am funny? What if he's a crying mess of a baby and we cannot even break for 30 minutes to perform? We'll just have to see.

Amendments to My Last Post about Improv and Pregnancy

After lunch with Bryan, I realized (shocker) that I was wrong.

I do know improvisers who married other improvisers: Josh & Tamra (the puppet improvisers), Jay Olsen & Melissa Cathcart (ComedySportz Chicago), and Dave & Rachel Buckman (Austin improvisers). But they are few are far between most other improvisers I know who are married.

And of those three, two already have babies. Adorable comedy babies.

I was also wrong about babies at parties. I don't know what I was thinking. As Bryan says, "Have you ever seen a baby at a party?" No. "Have you ever thought, man, you know what this party needs? A baby." No. Well, he got me there. Babysitter it is.

Thank the stars I have Bryan. This child is going to be lucky to have such a great, responsible, smart dad and such silly, comic relief for a mother.

Comedy and Us: A long-winded splatter of thoughts

One of the biggest connections Bryan and I share is our love for performing, coaching and watching live improvised comedy. We've been performing together for seven years now, and we've done thousands of scenes together, a little more than 100 shows, coached more than 50 students of improv.

What happens with a baby?

I don't know anyone else who married a scene partner. I can't actually think of any real comedy friends of mine who married someone else in comedy. Which is odd to me since I can't imagine being with anyone but a fellow improviser, someone to yes and me all the time, someone with a playful heart, someone to take on the road and perform improv while also enjoying a mini vacation where other people on your vacation say how funny you are.

People keep asking about our future plans. Will I continue to perform with my pregnancy? Will we perform with a baby? Will we do improv with our kids?

I don't know. If I could blow magic dust on the future, I'd give myself a reasonably sized belly which would make smoking characters extra funny; I'd make my baby come on my due date, so I can perform all the way up to the delivery; I'd have a baby that was awesome in the car and planes who was chill in the green room, easy for someone to hold during our set (laughing at all the best jokes) and great at afterparties.

And for the most part, my life has gone according to plan. I found love in college that was real and passionate. I graduated with honors in only three years. I married my college sweetheart at the most fabulous New Years wedding. I've had great jobs since graduation including where I was supported by my income at a comedy theatre and now where I get paid to travel around the world. I live in a cute house with my still sexy husband, and I'm pregnant with my first child after a whirlwind of a fun three years of marriage, traveling, performing and partying.

I just have no idea how a baby will change things. It has to: it's a whole new human being. Our relationship, our family dynamic is about to change. I just don't know what it will be like.

I do know that we want to continue performing comedy through my pregnancy. It's been good so far. The bartender at the Ghostlight Theatre pours me root beer since I can't have my cab sav. The audience calls our show a trio now. Other performers tell me that they can't wait for my belly, so we can do pregnany-prov.

I do know that after the baby is here, we may need to take a break from improv. I'm not really ready for this, and I think it will be a tough transition to be without something I love so much. I'm hoping the baby will be so adorable that I won't even miss it...for a little bit.

I do know that we plan to perform in Clemson's Homecoming like last year as it is MTS' 2nd Annual 10th Anniversary Show (I coined the name: how could I not go?). Bryan will definitely perform, and I'm hoping I feel up to it. If not, I'll be in the front row laughing with my baby. How could we not go? It'd be the perfect excuse to see our friends and family again, and to show off what I hope is a cute two month old baby.

I do know that we plan to perform even with our kid. I want our kid to grow up around live comedy, performance arts and jokes. This world can be so depressing when you read the news, read facebook updates and think about cancer.

If there's one thing I want for my child, it's the love of laughter. With two comedian parents, I know this is the one thing I know we can give our baby.

Improv Makes Me Happy

This week is the busiest week of the fall so far. My September and October are both incredibly full. I am not sure how I will survive. #JillianMichaelsworkoutsandDrPepper

Last night, the NSU comedy team had auditions. Last year, 11 people came and Bryan and I cast them all. This year, we had 19 come. The talent was suprising. It reminded me of MTS - not MTS of the early years (I wasn't there), but when I auditioned. Lots of guys, only three girls. We called back 11, and we'll see the talent on Thursday.


Tonight is my only night alone with Bryan this week. You can bet we'll be up in the gym, then making Bryan's spicy tortellini, then doing what we do best: watching tv and talking about comedy.

Tomorrow, callbacks will happen. It will be really tough to choose just 5-6 of the 11, but I know that whoever the team chooses, it will be a great cast. I'm happy with all of the ones we called back. I could've cast all of them.

Friday is the NSU comedy team's first show. The five all stars will be performing with Bryan hosting. Then at the late night show, I'm debuting a new team with two guys called Macaroni. Clearly, we're children improvisers.

Saturday night, Bryan and I are hosting and headlining the 8pm show in OKC at the Ghostlight Theatre. We're doing our short form show again (because Tahlequah was a weird audience) for a real improv audience. Also, I hope to get someone who can actually record the show (because people in Tahlequah can't, apparently).

Sunday, we're hosting the newbies and the allstars at our house for dinner, bonding and website pictures.


It's gonna be a hilarious week, and my heart is happy.

Comedy and Love

I love all sorts of things, but my absolute favorite things in this whole wide silly world are Bryan, improv and chocolate.

Two outta three aint bad. Only 10 more days until I can have chocolate again.

Comedy Weekend

My weekend in Oklahoma was lots of things. It was first and foremost hilarious. I performed with the college guys, and it was great. Bryan and I performed Friday night, and we had what was probably our best show yet. I took every single one of Zach Ward's workshops and one of Jill Bernard's. My college guys had thoughtful questions, improv breakthroughs and interesting commentary on the shows.

I'm lucky that my husband and I share such a love for such an odd hobby. Improv wouldn't be as fun without Bryan, and I wouldn't be an improviser without him. And those crazy college guys wouldn't be improvisers without him either. Life is still Oklahoma, but I'm feeling more and more happy with aspects of it. Improv is a very happy part of my life out here.

I had a blast in our show, and this one is definitely hitting the internet. It was so good, I was asked to sign autographs and take pictures with people. Happy happy happy.

Red Letters in Oklahoma City

We love Oklahoma City. We love the comedy scene, and we love the audience there.

This weekend is the Improv Festival Oklahoma, and we've got two shows. Tonight, we'll rock a Harold with a portion of our college team. Friday night at 10:30, Bryan and I will do our classic silly and fucking hilarious duo show.


And at my suggestion, the incredible and the aggressive Zach Ward will be there. The college kids are in all of his and Jill Bernard's workshops including his Harold workshop which changed me as an improviser. Needless to say, I'm pumped!

(And I'm going to have a great time in Oklahoma. What?)

Magical Movery Tour Stop #5

STOP #5: Carrboro, North Carolina
Friends: Jeff Brenman, Zannie Gunn, Molly Buckley, Colette Henderson, Joey Z, PT Scarborough, Tom Keller, John Reitz, Zach Ward, Greg Brainos, Kit Fitzsimons and everybody else!



This is one of my favorite places in the whole world. I love this place! I visited every February when I was in college, and each time had the best time. I moved right after graduating from college to perform and teach for DSI. And I lived there for a year living it up, performing it up and hanging out with some of the funniest people in the world.

I am PUMPED to be visiting on my birthday, for the third year in a row. When I knew we were road tripping, I planned this stop for June 6 first - and planned the rest of the trip around it. THAT's how much I love this place.



I can't wait to catch some shows, sneak into performing in one, grab drinks and laugh it up with my friends. Jeff Brenman, tech genius and improv hilarity, is hosting us again. I'm so excited to see my girl Zannie Gunn! and Molly Buckley! and Colette Henderson (and your new house)! Tom Keller! I'm excited to see all the boys on my old Harold team the 708. I'm excited to talk about Tahlequah Oklahoma with Joey Z who went to NSU! I'm excited to catch up with the man, the legend Zach Ward! I'm excited to eat some Asia Cafe, to smoke by the train tracks with PT, to get a million hugs and to laugh so hard I have to pee.


If you couldn't tell, I am excited!

North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival

This week I'm spending time in my old stomping grounds: The DSi Comedy Theater in Carrboro, North Carolina. Not just for DSI, but for the incredibly awesome improv festival that's the best in the country. It's been rebranded and is now four weeks of comedy under The North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival.

I love this festival, and this will be my fifth year of attendance. It's a great way to reconnect with other improvisers (which later proves useful if you move somewhere like Carrboro or Philadelphia, because you can instantly find your home). It's an awesome way to see what other improv is out there and to get a lot of quality comedy in a row. I've grown up as an improviser at this festival, and I've grown even more as a member of the DSI Comedy Theater company. I would not be as successful with my new group The N Crowd of Philadelphia if I had not trained my heart out with DSI.

Here's some memories in picture form:

DSIF 2008: before our Red Letters performance

DSIF 2007: Hanging out before a Death by Roo Roo Show

2008: the weekend I moved to NC

The summer of 2008: teaching improv to kids

NCCAF 2009: performing in ComedySportz

Here's to another great festival, with friends, my hilarious husband and new people!

How I Like My Improv

Having been a student, performer, instructor and audience of improvisation for five years, I have developed a taste for a certain sort of improv.

FUNNY It may seem obvious, but it isn't. Every once in awhile I'll see an improv show that is serious just for the sake of being serious. Much in the same way some troupes will have an improv character fart, just for the "joke" of bodily function. I don't want to see your character have an abortion, get raped, die of cancer or have an abusive, drunkard boyfriend. That's real life, and that horrible shit happens to people. I want my improv to be an escape from reality, a blip of hilarity, poking fun at how we humans are.

VARIED I want my improv to be a collection of short and long scenes, big hearty laughs and tiny giggles, two person scenes and group scenes, game intense and character-based scenes, innocent and sexual, realistic and silly, twisting common ideas and pushing the line, lots of mime and talking heads. Give it to me: all you've got, every tool you have.

ENJOYABLE My favorite moment (when I'm watching improv) is to see a player have a hilarious scene or monologue staightfaced, and then, as the player walks to the side line, crack an amused smile. Not a laugh, but a smile. Something that tells me she's enjoying the comedy she's creating. Because then I just love the show even more.

Improvisation is good for you. It frees your mind. It lets you imagine and play. It demands quick thinking. It provides an outlet for fears, desires and your inner crazy. Plus, it's a great way to meet your husband and ensure a playful, hilarious life.