The very last weekly Main Event is happening this Thursday, April 28 at 8:00 at The New Movement Austin. Two brand new troupes (Witch Baby and Las Lucietas) will be performing.
This Thursday is going to mark the end to a period in my life. For nearly a year I’ve been hosting a show at The New Movement Austin called the Main Event. After this Thursday, The Main Event is becoming a semi-monthly tournament. The first one will probably happen in early July. It’s going to be super weird not to have something I absolutely have to do every week at the theater so I thought I’d drop some knowledge and general thoughts on my year of Main Eventing on this here Improv Wins blog thing.
Chris Trew asked me if I would be interested in hosting the Main Event sometime in June of 2010 and I have to admit I was initially terrified. I had only hosted one or two shows at the theater before and neither one had gone in a manner that could be deemed as spectacular. But The Bearded One had faith in me and I decided to take it and run with it. We schemed all June long over our dream show where Professional Wrestling and Improv Comedy had the love child they always wanted. If you ever find yourself bored in this world, I recommend that you spend a large swath of time coming up with a brand new art form that is an amalgamation of all the things under the sun that you’re enamored with. You will not be disappointed.
The wrestling part of the The Main Event has always been the unknown factor that we reconsider and debate over and over again. Put too much wrestling in and it’s just two guys mock-beating up on each other. Put too much comedy in and it’s just a sketch. I have to say, though, that one of my favorite moments in my performing life was when I faced Commissioner Trew in a “Say Uncle” match where the first competitor to say “uncle” would lose the match and the winner would become that person’s legal uncle. It got really bloody. If you don’t believe me, check out my the picture on my performer profile page. But just make sure you open it in a new tab. I wouldn’t want you to lose your place in this article. I know how you’ve had focus problems in the past.
Although the the wrestling portions are an integral part making the Main Event work as a comedy show, the primary focus of the show has always been showcasing New Movement improv in all its glory. When I first started getting involved at The New Movement, the thing that impressed me so immensely right off the bat was the enormous freedom that the theater allows its performers. If you’re a performer here and you want stage time, there is no end to the amount of opportunities available for you.
“You say you came up with a brand new format for a show? Awesome! Let’s put it on next month’s schedule! You’re opening up for Narwahl!”
Over this year long run I have lost count of the groups that had their very first show at the Main Event. I’m going to really miss being able to say “That’s great! You guys wanna do The Main Event next week?” whenever someone mentions their new group to me. Its been a true joy seeing a troupe start out as a crazy idea in the back of someone’s head and then, 6 weeks later, see them be considered a powerhouse in The New Movement community because they keep winning Main Event after Main Event. It fills my already swelled head with even more ego to think that I played even a small part in getting amazing troupes like Claws With Fangs or Opposites off the ground. I hope I am played by Paul Giamatti when HBO produces a mini-series about those events. David Morse would also be fine.
With all of that “Comedy as a Community” jazz out of the way I know what you’re thinking: “How does Brady James feel about all this on a deep personal level?” Well I’ll tell you. I’m certain to have mixed emotions about our last tomorrow night. Even though I know the Main Event is going on to a form that is probably going to be better for it, I’m going to be immensely sad to see it go. Personally, The Main Event has given me a weekly venue to figure out what I think is great in comedy and what blows. For those first few month of shows (and probably to this day somewhat) I’ve had just as many “wow, they really think that was funny” moments as I’ve had “well, I’ll never do that again” ones. But through the whole thing, The New Movement community of performers and audiences has supported what we’ve tried to do with this show and I can’t tell you guys how much I appreciate that. We’ve really made an incredible place in the universe here in East Austin and I can’t way to figure more and more ways I can collaborate with you guys to make it even more incredible.
UBH,
MWA Jr. Commissioner Brady James
