improv

Magic Meathands Present Variety Comedy Night with stand-up and improv

This Saturday night, improv comedy troupe The Magic Meathands have a special all-new show! We’re teaming up with the improv group [this space left intentionally blank] and stand-up comics Jeff MacKinnon and Atul Singh for a full 2 hours of late-night comedy.

The show is at the Mary Pickford Studio, 8885 Venice Blvd., Suite 102, Los Angeles, CA 90034.

Tickets are only $5 for the entire night of entertainment! The show starts at 8:30 PM, Saturday, April 23, 2011.

I hope to see you there. The Meathands will be debuting a new late-night format focused on current events. We’ll be riffing on the big news items of the day. You give us the headline, and we’ll turn it into absolute silliness. (Of course in some instances, this may not be that much of a stretch.)

RSVP on Facebook

Comic Book Improvisation Part 2: Forest for the Trees

Forest for the Trees (page 1 by Kevin Mellon, click for bigness)

Last week, I talked about Kurt Busiek’s daunting task to improvise his way through a script for a lost comic book. In that case, Kurt was working with an intractable improv partner because the art he was working off had been drawn and finished a decade earlier. While not impossible, it’s an uphill battle to find something that clicks when dealing with something that can’t adjust to what you’re adding.

Improvisational theater and improvisation in comics works best when two (or more) partners are listening, embracing, responding and adding to what the other is doing. That fluidity and flexibility is fertile ground for creativity and a magical experience for the audience/readers.

Two comic book artists have partnered to create a fully improvised web-comic called Forest for the Trees. John Bivens (Comic Book Tattoo, Popgun) and Kevin Mellon (Comic Book Tattoo, Hack/Slash) take turns adding 1 page a week. As their site explains it, “Each page is done in response to the one before it, neither artist knowing what each will do in response until the finished page is turned in.”

In performance, Kevin Mellon would be considered the initiator of the scene, as his page is the first. He is the first to establish things about the world they’re creating, and it will be John Bivens’ job to not only not contradict or negate these things, but to wholeheartedly embrace and then explore them. John’s first page, page 2 for the story, should go up tomorrow.

I’m really excited to see how they do, and I’ll be checking in with them to see how they’re doing.

(Via Comics Alliance)

Comic Book Improvisation

The Defenders: From the Vault - improvised comic book making (Marvel Comics)

This is something I’d like to explore more. As you might’ve noticed, I do a lot of performing with an improv comedy group called the Magic Meathands. We do shows with no script. We just make it up as we go.

And it turns out, sometimes in creating comic books, creators also have to make it up without a script.

A little back story: Monthly comic books tend to have regular creative teams but sometimes those teams fall behind schedule and the book can’t come out every month. So comics publishers will occasionally hire other creators to produce an inventory story for just in case. It’s basically filler material, but they can be fun stories and it buys the regular creative team more time. It’s a bit of a gamble because sometimes they end up paying for a story that never gets used.

And that’s exactly what happened in 2001. Marvel Comics was publishing a superhero comic called The Defenders. It reunited the Incredible Hulk, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange and Namor the Sub-Mariner (right), misfits all who had originally assembled under that name in the early 1970s. This new comic book series was written by Kurt Busiek (Astro City, Avengers/JLA) and Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon, Amazing Spider-Man) and drawn by Larsen and Klaus Janson (Daredevil, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns). Their editor Tom Brevoort (now Senior Vice President of Publishing) hired writer Fabian Nicieza (X-Men, New Warriors) and artist Mark Bagley (Ultimate Spider-Man, New Warriors) to create an inventory story. The two did so, collected their checks, and went on with their lives. It turns out the story was never needed, so the finished art pages were filed away.

Flash forward to today where Marvel is going through old desk drawers and publishing whatever looks ready, and up pops this lost Defenders story. Only problem is it was never scripted, which means the pages have no words on them. And apparently no one saved a copy of Fabian’s original plot outline or script. Well, surely Fabian wouldn’t mind scripting the pages now. He would surely do it except he’s under an exclusive contract with DC Comics. So, Marvel decided to hire another writer to do the scripting.

(Re-)enter: Kurt Busiek. Since the two know each other, Kurt asked Fabian for his original files to help in scripting. Bad news: Fabian lost everything in a computer crash years ago and has no idea what the story was originally about. Kurt also checked with Mark to see if he could remember anything. No such luck.

So Kurt is left with 22 pages of characters silently running around, talking, fighting, flying, leaping, punching, surfing, magicking, swimming, and who knows what else with no idea of why.

What to do? What else? Improvise.

From Kurt’s website:

So I look over the art, and Mark Bagley did indeed do a very nice job. And he’s a good enough storyteller that I can piece together an outline of what the story must be, at least in the basics. But the bits where explanations happen, where the texture and detail go that make it more than just a simple structure?

Haven’t a clue.

So I have to come up with a story to fit the art. A new story. One that might bear some resemblance to what Fabian intended, at least at the big structural moments, but other than that, it’s wide open.

And as I keep looking through the art, I get an idea. A pretty demented idea, really, based on one cryptic panel late in the book (You’ll know it when you see it. The script for that panel is “HTNN–!”). But it’s an idea that, demented as it is, won’t go away. And actually, I’m thinking, it could be kinda fun…

I tell Fabian the idea, mostly as a joke. But he laughs, and says that it sounds like a hoot, and it might even be better than whatever his original story was.

Like with live improv theater, Kurt has to accept what has been presented to him by his “scene partner” Mark Bagley. He has to say “Yes, everything here is happening, and…”. Nothing can be ignored, dropped or explained away. Then he has to build up from there, filling out the world Mark has drawn, adding details like location, plot revelations, opinions and reactions from the characters, and more. And as he goes through the pages, he’ll find a rhythm with Mark’s artwork where his new plot will seem to set up what happens in the art and vice versa. Of course, what makes it even more tricky is that Kurt is working with a very stubborn scene partner. Mark’s art is already set in stone. It’s like a stubborn scene partner determined to get their idea and agenda on the stage regardless of what else is going on. And the only thing Kurt can do is to stay open, “listen” for the smallest clue, take everything as a gift, embrace each visual idea with gusto and see where that takes him. If Kurt stays open, all of the pieces should come together to create something brand new that would never have existed in any other situation.

I’m looking forward to seeing how it comes out. The Defenders: From the Marvel Vault #1 will be released by Marvel Comics this summer, July 13.

DEFENDERS: FROM THE MARVEL VAULT #1

Written by FABIAN NICIEZA & KURT BUSIEK
Pencils & Cover by MARK BAGLEY

A Marvel Masterpiece from deep inside the treasure vaults can now be told! The original team of Doctor Strange, The Hulk, Silver Surfer and Namor are together again for a hidden adventure! But why was this tale lost? What happens in other dimensions stays in other dimensions, so what unspeakable secrets of the The Defenders are to be revealed? Find out at last in these pages with the illustrious words of Kurt Busiek (THE DEFENDERS, MARVELS) and the incomparable artwork of artist Mark Bagley (ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN)!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

(Via Robot 6)

It’s Friday. We can stop pretending to be serious now.

Nothing would make me more happy than to get up on a stage and be a complete idiot in front of you. You can even yell out ideas of specifically how I will be a complete idiot, and I’ll do it! And I’ll have others with me to also be complete idiots – the Magic Meathands. We like to call it “improv comedy” to sound like some fancy theater thing but really we’re just a bunch of idiots being complete idiots. And I mean that in the best possible way.

If this sounds like fun, you should get yourself over to The Spot Cafe in Culver City on Friday and/or Saturday night at 8 PM. (That’s tonight and tomorrow night for those playing at home.)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

2 Chances to Laugh

This weekend you can see two live improv comedy shows with me and the Magic Meathands at The Spot Café, 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City 90230.

Friday night: 8 PM, $5!

Saturday night: 8 PM, $7, with Jump Start!

Come have fun with us!

See Me: Magic Meathands at Westside Comedy first Friday of every month

Yes, it’s time for the Magic Meathands to once again activate their funny generators!

The improv comedy group I perform with will be going onstage at 8 PM this Friday in Santa Monica’s Westside Comedy Theater. We’ll be followed by the wicked funny (to use my old Massachusetts lingo) group called The Waterbrains at 9, and then Westside Comedy Theater owners Mission: IMPROVable who have toured the country and now call LA home.

What? Live improv comedy show with the Magic Meathands, plus The Waterbrains and Mission: IMPROVable
When? Friday, February 4th, 8 PM
Where? Westside Comedy Theater, 1323-A Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica
How Much? $10 for all 3 shows

RSVP on Facebook

Funnies tonight and tomorrow

Reminder: live improvised comedy is happening tonight and tomorrow, as the Magic Meathands return to the stage for our first 2011 shows!

Come on out! You deserve to laugh!

Friday, January 7, 8 PM, $10: MI’s Westside Comedy Theater
Also featuring The Waterbrains and Mission IMPROVable!
1323-A Santa Monica Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401
(In the alley between 3rd and 4th Streets)

Saturday, January 8, 8 PM, $7: Family Friendly Comedy Night at The Spot
Also featuring Jump Start!
4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA 90230

First shows of 2011

The Magic Meathands have announced their first two shows of the New Year and I’ll be in both of them! These are live comedy shows, completely improvised (no script!) based off suggestions from you, the audience. We do a combination of games (short form) and long form scenarios that build unpredictable characters and worlds.

Friday, January 7, 8 PM, $10: MI’s Westside Comedy Theater
Also featuring The Waterbrains and Mission IMPROVable!
1323-A Santa Monica Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401
(In the alley between 3rd and 4th Streets)

Saturday, January 8, 8 PM, $7: Family Friendly Comedy Night at The Spot
Also featuring Jump Start!
4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA 90230

See you there!

Double dose of holiday meat

The holidays are here! If you’re going to survive all the fruit cake, you best stock up on some laughter. Fortunately, the Magic Meathands have you covered with a show-packed finale to 2010!

This weekend, we’re performing twice! Get out your daily planners and make your notes. Here are the details:

And then just like that, the Meathands’ 2010 shows will be over! So don’t miss your chance to see us live in person. (Sheesh, I’m only just now getting used to writing the year on my checks.)

We’ll also post a few more videos, so keep your eyes peeled!

Open Call for Laugh Makers, Joy Givers

The Magic Meathands Comedy Ensemble have really been picking up steam lately, which thrills me to no end.

Last night, as part of our expanding Comedy Outreach Project, we did an hour-long live show of improvised comedy for a group of women at the Alexandria House here in Los Angeles. We had tons of fun, and really look forward to our next show there in February. Tonight we’ll be returning to the Joy Center at the Hope for Homeless Youth in Echo Park. We perform there once a month and have made some great friends. It’s always a good time. The Meathands’ Comedy Outreach Project is a big part of the group’s mission, and our base of regular organizations that we visit is growing. We bring comedy to people who may not have the means to come to us. We bring laughter to the greater Los Angeles and Southern California community, instead of holing up in a theater somewhere expecting people to come to us. It is a tremendous gift for both us performers and our audience.

That’s not to say we don’t do the more traditional shows everyone can attend. Every first Friday of the month we perform at Mission IMPROVable’s Westside Comedy Theater in Santa Monica, opening for the hilarious Waterbrains. We also have regular appearances at The Spot Café & Lounge in Culver City, including our popular Family Friendly Night every second Saturday of the month with Jump Start Comedy Improv. I’m extraordinarily lucky to have this outlet where I get to perform to a live audience usually once a week, sometimes more. Seriously, this is like manna from heaven for someone like me. (No surprise I’ve done well over 100 shows with the Meathands.)

I’m also getting to stretch other creative muscles. Through our recently launched sketch videos program, I get to write, produce, direct, and edit comedy shorts. Hey, I’m actually using my college education! What a concept! This program is sure to grow in the future, and we’re already talking about doing a web-series.

OK, so you get it. I love the Meathands and I’m a big suck-up. Yay for me. Well, if you’re in the Los Angeles area and this sounds like something you would also enjoy, we just so happen (complete coincidence, I’m sure!) to be holding auditions for new members. If you’re interested and are a comedic actor/improviser 18 years or older with training in performance level improvisation, email your resume to our director Bill Johnson. Workshop-style auditions will be held on Monday, December 6 at 7 PM. Callbacks will follow the next evening, Tuesday, December 7. See here for more information about being a main company member of the Magic Meathands.