HAPPY AUGUST!  With July showers comes August…comedy…for real. And why not start August off with extra Comedy Karma points?

USS Rock n Roll has partnered with a documentary team to make a movie about long form improvisation.  It will explore the occurrence of Group Mind, the benefits of improvisation on the human body and will follow members of the team as they continue to explore the wonderful art form that is improvisation.  They have a kickstarter page where they are raising money to get started and would really appreciate any support you could send them.  

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stephaniehubbard/the-improv-movie-a-documentary

You see them every Tuesday on our very own iO West Main Stage at 10:3o0pm, “USS Rock N Roll was formed in the year of our lord 2007. The members of this crackteam were brought together under the direct order of the Commander in Chief of the United States of America. The mission was this: to set sail abroad a comedy vessel that would bring funny to the sad, indigenous peoples of the world. The budget would be small as all defense monies were already being driven into the battle over foreign oil. So the crack team’s only tools would be imagination, “yes,” and some kick-butt jokes.” Starring: 

Annie Kouris, Riki Kalil, Dave Taylor, Levin O'Connor, Tony Lewellen, Bryan Irzyk, James Kirkland, Erica Gowland 

 Intrigued? Learn more on their website: www.ussrocknroll.com. 

So don’t just enjoy improv this month, contribute!!!

Now that we have you in the mood, check out what other fabulous August comedy events and shows we have going on at iO West!

Harold Auditions August 11

Now is the time to test your prowess, Moxie and improv powers because the Harold auditions are just around the corner, and you want to be nimble enough to scale that corner.

If you are a student who is in Level 5 or above, and you have permission from your teacher, or you are an alumnus, you can sign up for one of the Saturday slots in the Green Room behind the Main Stage. 

If you were once on a Harold team, either DCT or Main Stage, then you can automatically come to call backs on Sunday, August 12. Just call the office to get on that list: 323-962-7560.

And be sure to BREAK A LEG!

Mix together Carrie Clifford and stand-up comedy...

...and you've got scrumptious Comedy Tapioca on the iO West Main Stage tonight at 8:30.

The line up includes:

Karen Kilgariff (Mr. Show, Premium Blend)
Jon Huck (Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham)
Brian Finkelstein (The Moth, UCB)
Chris Marrs (Eagleheart, LA Vice, Comedy Central)
Murray Valeriano (Comedy Central, FUEL TV, Sirius/XM)
Tim Harrington (The Comedy Store, The Improv)
Pete Correale (Letterman, Leno, Comedy Central)
Alison Koellisch (iO West)

The host is the one and only Carrie Clifford of the rightfully highly lauded Razowsky and Clifford.

Following Comedy Tapioca is a whole basket of cherries: 

Cherry, Cherry Crush and The Cherry Pick, where audience members who are also students of improv at schools such as iO, the Groundlings, UCB, Second City, Comedy Sportz, etc, toss in their ID's to be picked to pick fruitful improv fruits with some of improv's mightiest hands. 

Make this Monday feel more like a weekend except without all that traffic.

Full bar inside.

Valet is just $5 with validation.

Brandon, beer, bourbon and the iO West bar

LAist lauds the place we all love...FIND OUT WHAT THEY SAID

FREE improv class on the Main Stage July 21

Improvisation is the one specific skill shared by more sit-com stars, hour-long talents, talk show hosts, national commercial actors and show runners than any other (and even movie greats -- have you seen Tom Hanks improvise lately?)

So what are you waiting for?!

Find out what is so tricky and special about improv.

Take the free "Introduction to Improv" class at iO, the theater and school founded by Del Close, the visionary who created the Harold, on Saturday, July 21st, from 1-3pm on the iO West Main Stage.

In this class, you will experience some of the exercises from iO's Level 1 "Introduction to Improv" class. 

This class is for first-time iO students. 

Sign up soon, as space is limited. 

To enroll, email your full name, email address and telephone number to dropinclasses@gmail.com. 

There is no reasonable reason not to. Only fear, and what good is fear in Hollywood?

iO West highlighted in the Huff Post

 

The 10th Annual Los Angeles Improv Comedy Festival might have ended, but not talk of it or of iO West.

Read what the Huff Post has to say about Dr. God, the MADtv folks, WeirDass, Craig Cackowski, King Ten and others...

WHAT THE HUFF POST HAS TO SAY

And then smile because you're a part of the story.

Renowned 'Bicycle Men' at iO West Two Nights Only

The Bicycle Men bring their critically-acclaimed musical comedy back to the iO West Main Stage for two nights only.

The Bicycle Men is the whimsical story about a hapless American tourist who crashes his bike and encounters the twisted inhabitants of a quaint French village. 

The Bicycle Men, written by Dave Lewman, Joe Liss and John Rubano, composed by Mark Nutter and performed by Joe Liss, John Rubano, Neill Chambers, Bruce Green and Derek Manson is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades:

Winner FringeNYC’s "Excellence in Overall Production" Award

“Comedy Pick of the Week…C’est magnifique!”  

- L.A. Weekly

“Get ready for laughs…unapologetically nonsensical.” 

 - The Los Angeles Times

“You may laugh so hard you’ll fear for your health.” 

 - The Daily Telegraph

“Songs beautifully written and so off-the-wall they’re on the floor.” 
- The Scotsman  

 “Nothing could possibly lift your spirits as quickly as ‘The Bicycle Men,’ a gleefully funny exercise in Francophobia.”   

 - The New York Times

“Absolutely not to be missed…delicious…intensely funny.” 
- The Chicago Tribune

The Bicycle Men rides through the iO west Main Stage Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23 at 7:30pm. 

Tickets are $15. All patrons must be 21 and over.

BUY TICKETS HERE

Workshops, workshops, workshops!

The 10th Annual Los Angeles Improv Comedy Festival is known not only for its celebrity-riddled improv and sketch, but also for its array of workshops taught by instructors from both far and near so you can experience firsthand their unique insights and/or sample their styles before signing up for a full iO West session.

Here are a few workshops to pique your peek:

Friday, June 8, 2012 

On-Camera 

12pm - Learning Improv for the Camera with Derek Miller in The Loft

4pm - Casting Workshop with Jimmy Kimmel casting director Cecilia Pleva on the Main Stage

Sketch 

2pm - Impressions with Phillip Wilburn in The Loft 

Theatrical

12pm – Embracing the Real You with Annie Kouris and Levin O’Connor in the DCT

2pm – Creating a New World: Discovering and Using Theme with Nick Armstrong in the DCT

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Sketch

10am – Micheal Bay Comedy Class with Derek Reid in The Loft

4pm – Sketch Comedy Bootcamp with Keith Saltojanes in The Loft 

Theatrical 

12pm – What I Learned From Del: The Crazy Wisdom of Improv with Ed Greenberg in The Loft

2pm – Everybody Get in Here…Other Options for Group Games with Dawn Hunnicutt in The Loft

2pm – One Person Show Workshop with Eric Hunicutt and Molly Prather in the DCT

4pm – The Viewpoints in Improv with Eric Hunicutt in the DCT

4pm - Recognizing the Needs of Your Show with Mike Coleman (Beer. Shark. Mice.) on the Main Stage THIS IS FOR EXPERIENCED IMPROVISERS CURRENTLY ON TEAMS. 
THIS WAS JUST ADDED, SO TO REGISTER FOR THIS ONE, CALL 323-962-7560

Sunday, June 10, 2012 

On-Camera

12pm – Auditioning for Pilots with Jessica Makinson and Janet Varney on the Main Stage 

Sketch

10am – Writer's Block Killer - Sketch Workshop with Leann Bowen in The Loft

Theatrical 

12pm – Advanced Solo Performance with Andrea Kittelson in the DCT 

Jack McBrayer performs tonight with Quartet at 10

As if Quartet wasn't already a small amalgam of giant talent, with Craig Cackowski, Bob Dassie, Stephnie Weir, Tammi Sagher and Jean Villepique, tonight it will be even huger when it is joined by the effervescent Jack McBrayer.

Tickets on sale via the web for a limited time (until 5pm) and are sure to sell out, so buy tickets NOW.

What do Broken Lizard, Matthew Lillard and Gary Anthony Williams have in common?

 

 

 

 

They are all performing at the 10th Annual LA Improv Comedy Festival - 

Tonight at 9pm: The Armando with Broken Lizard

Tonight at 10pm: Dr. God with Matthew Lillard 

Tomorrow at 9pm: Joel Murray and Friends with special guest Gary Anthony Williams 

For a complete list of shows and workshops - there are 150 shows on three stages and 60 two-hour, $25 workshops, such as Using Improv in Movie Acting and Writing, Being Physical in Improv, Casting Workshop with Casting Director Cecilia Pleva and dozens more...

Visit the 10th Annual LA Improv Comedy Festival page.