Of Saturday, Sunday, and Beer Can Trophys

I feel compelled to break the mold a little bit here and do a kind of standard weekend recap type of thing. Why? Because it was awesome.

During the day on Saturday I went to Improv Boston to see the premier of Michelle Barbera and Jacob Lipcon's pilot Our Living Blue Planet.


It was completely fantastic. Featuring lots and lots of the funniest people I know and months and months of really hard work, this show is not to be missed. It was a lovely afternoon. There was even lemonade. There were even babies! Really cute ones. Just, I mean, how else would you want to spend a Saturday?

From there, the Bastards packed up and we drove off to Providence, RI for the Providence Improv Festival. We got a nice 8pm slot in a little space called The Speakeasy and got to watch our New Hampshire compatriots Stranger Than Fiction do a very fun short form set before we went on. The audience was lovely, and we had a killer time. Just being jerks, doing scenes, it was the most fun.

This year at the improv festival, Mauro and the gang made it New England exclusive, and added in a competitive component. The top six groups (who could make it the next day) were announced that night and both Bastards and our cousin group (I think we've decided that's what we are to each other) Three Hole Punch were asked to return on Sunday. We were first up at 7pm and had lots of fun on stage for our 15 minute semi-final slot. Our "round" came to a close and we were asked, based on audience vote, to stay for the finals.

Three Hole Punch had a great set featuring some very savvy ski ball playing, and Improv Jones who were hosting the festival did some very exciting, fast scene work.

The final performances were a blast. Just such good energy, such a great theater, such an excited crowd. Ryan and Tucker played a surgically conjoined assistant stylist, that's pretty much what I'm taking away from the show and holding in my heart forever. So we "won" the festival! (?) I don't know if you can really "win" a festival, but it was a great time and an true pleasure to meet so many great folks, see a lot of outstanding improv, and eat Cuban sandwiches.

Thanks Providence, Mauro, Improv Jones, and my gorgeous Bastards.