The New Movement Theater

Boy oh Boy, this weekend was a blast. Anthology, Austin’s newest invention in improv and sketch comedy, showcased to a full audience the best and most polished scenes from a month of improv. We had our ups, we had our downs, and our Dad even went to the moon (or so we thought.)

For information on our upcoming Austin improv shows, follow me!

Does the suggestion that your chocolate obsession may be out of hand leave you with frustration squiggles? Are you constantly lamenting the lack of flattering fashion in your life? Do you feel unlucky in love and incapable of thinking about much else than your next bon-bon break? Chances are you’ve been compared to America’s sweetheart Cathy – and you can relate to her stories and dreams.

Well, GOOD NEWS – The New Movement Theater is hosting a special week of CATHYMANIA this October and we’re looking for a real-life Cathy to star in our signature Megaphone Show, an evening of improv comedy inspired by your stories. Think you’re Cathy enough? Send us an email (christrew@gmail.com you guys!) and tell us about yourself and why you think you’d be a perfect Cathy. And as always, the Megaphone show is at 9:30 on Wednesdays and is totally free.

Want to know more about our Austin improv shows? Come with me!

Do you love wrestling and all of the drama that goes with it, but feel left out on the other end of the tv screen? Do you ever wish your favorite improviser could be the voice behind your favorite wrestling stars? Well the wait is over, RAW fans, because this Monday August 30 at 7 pm at ND, The New Movement will be hosting McMahon- the comedic wrestling fans worst nightmare. Troupes from The New Movement will be overdubbing the voices of wrestlers, their sweaty actions and commercials during the show, and so far nothing is certain. As many die hard fans know, with wrestling- anything can happen. Well, The New Movement just stepped that up a notch, so you can be sure when improvisers are added into the mix, it is a sure recipe for madness.

Looking for our other Austin improv shows? Check this out!

Amy Pacheco knows that comedy knows no bounds. Wherever she is, whatever she is doing, Amy injects her own style of funny into the mix, including improv shows like the Megaphone Show and an upcoming song and dance show she is producing, all at The New Movement. The improviser and sketch writer is constantly on the comedic move (headlining with troupes like Ghost Prom and Quite Well Thank You) and seems to always be up to her neck in creative projects, which makes her hard to pin down. We got together with Amy to find out a little bit behind the scenes of her comedy brain, and what she has to look forward to on the horizon.

How did you first get involved with The New Movement?
I met Chris Trew at a standup comedy night in 2007. I had just moved back to Texas from NYC and wanted to get involved in some comedy. I was planning on staying in Austin and studying improv with Chris right then and there but I got a job in Dallas so I moved where the money was. Chris and I stayed in contact via Facebook. When I decided I wanted to move to Austin in 2009, I contacted Chris and asked him where the funny was. He told me to start taking classes with The New Movement. That was one year ago. The rest, shall we say, is history.

What classes are you currently taking at TNM?
I just started Level 4 improv. I just finished Level 3 and the sketch class. My sketch class had so much material, we got TWO shows out of it: “Are You Afraid of the NARC?” and “Port-a-Potty Makeout Booth.”

Are you working on any project or collaborations?
There’s ALOT going on for me right now- and alot that has been going on. Ever since joining up with TNM, I’ve been so busy, it’s unbelievable. But I sure do love comedy so it’s all good times for me. I just got back from UCB’s Del Close Marathon where The New Movement was one of the selected troupes to participate in the comedy marathon in New York City. It was an honor and a privilege to represent The New Movement before such a wide audience. It was also exciting for me because I am from Boston and DCM was the first time my mother had ever seen me perform comedy.  I am currently working within two improv troupes: Ghost Prom and Quite Well Thank You. Both of these troupes will be featured in the Megaphone Marathons in September. Ghost Prom just had another of its ghost prom proms; and Quite Well Thank You is rehearsing in hopes of getting more performances booked soon.  And I have a few projects on the back burner: a video called “Kitten Massacre” and a song and dance act I’m building with Jake Lutz.

What is your favorite scene you’ve seen at TNM?
I’ve had lots of favorites but one of my most recent faves was during a Megaphone show when one of the audience members asked out loud what Chris Trew was doing onstage. He had mimed a soda dispenser at a sandwich shop and told her so outright in response to her question. And then, the whole scene became about people walking on and announcing what they were doing as they were doing it. It was a great reaction to an otherwise awkward situation that inspired all of the rest of the performers to play a game. I love comedy, especially when it gets all cerebral like that.

Do you have a motto?
“Life is uncertain, eat dessert first”

To find our more about our Austin improv shows, this is the link for you!

There are big things happening with Jen Sembera. Not only has she turned the state of The New Movement’s garden into a real thing of beauty (The Garden Posse is a force to be reckoned with), but she has her improv plates spinning with so much tenacity, you start to wonder how she got them up there in the first place. Well, you may have seen Jen around the theater, but it’s time we got to know the girl behind the improv. We got together with Jen to see just how she got started at The New Movement, and where it is taking her now.

How did you first get involved with The New Movement?

When My Ol’ Pal Clay the Barton quit his job to open the Dallas Comedy House, I scratched my chin contemplating why a genius of a human being would decide to start something that “crazy.” After telling stories at a Megaphone Show last year, I was hooked and understood what Clay was talkin’ about.

What classes are you currently taking at TNM?

I just started Level 4 and am prepared for the mind-blowing to ensue.

Are you working on any project or collaborations?

I just finished as a cast member for a couple of sketch shows (Are You Afraid of the Narc? and Port-o-Potty Make-Out Booth). I made sweet, magical love with the sketch creation process. I’m also a troupe member of Quite Well Thank You, Anthology and Table of Incontinence. All super fun and awesome and lovely.

What is your favorite scene you’ve seen at TNM?

Oh man. Pizza cry. Or maybe Michael Foulk in anything. Wait, MILO AND SHYLA. Shit, hold up. Tami Nelson playing anyone condescending.

Do you have a motto?

My motto constantly changes. Wait! Maybe THAT could be my motto. And love. Love’s where it’s at.

Want more of our Austin improv shows? Come and see us!

Watch out, America…

Holy Moly:  The Megaphone is representing in SIX cities around the country this weekend.  Let’s break it down…

DCH in Dallas, that’s a given.
TNM in Austin, as always.
The Megaphone NOLA in New Orleans, fairly recently debuted.
DCH co-founder Amanda Austin is teaching workshops at The Improv Festival Oklahoma, happy festing!
Our New Orleans based Megaphoners Stupid Time Machine are in NYC for Fringe!
Austin based TNM instructor/performer Dan Grimm is in Grand Rapids for The Big Little Comedy Fest!

Improv is indeed everywhere.

TONIGHT we debut The Control Group, TNM’s newest house troupe.  Show is at 8:00p, $5.

Here is a list of facts about The Control Group:

• They are friendly (look at their faces!)
• They collectively own an old 1950’s pick up truck that they work on in their spare time
• They take turns dancing in the middle
• They all have a tattoo of the Yahoo “Y!” symbol
• They will only give attitude if they are in sunglasses