A new improv comedy show I am directing is finally ready for the main stage! Wheel of Austen, an hour-long improvised comedy inspired by the works of Jane Austen plays Fridays in May and June at 8pm at ImprovBoston. Audiences will watch Boston’s top comedians bring a new Jane Austen-inspired novel to life as classic characters encounter new situations.  Throughout each performance, audience members will spin the “Wheel of Austen” as the cast plays with the conventions of Jane Austen’s work in unexpected ways. Wheel of Austen stars seasoned improvisers Noah Sheola, Chris Bujold, Michelle Boncek, Benjamin Scurria, Alex LeBaron, Elyse Schuerman, Lexie Koss, and Jenna O’Brien.

Dates:  May 6, May 13, May 20, May 27, June 3, June 10, June 17, June 24.
Time: 8pm for all dates.
Price:  $16 general admission, $12 for students and seniors
Location: Main Theater at ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St, Cambridge MA.
For tickets & reservations, please visit www.improvboston.com

NH Comedians Take to the Web for Live Interactive Performance

What happens when the Youtube generation meets ‘Whose Line is it Anyway?’-style comedy live on the Web? Improv comedy troupe Stranger Than Fiction plans to find out. The New Hampshire cast will broadcast an interactive performance on Tuesday, January 15th at 7:30 PM via live video stream provider Mogulus. Viewers will contribute ideas through a chat room and watch their ideas come to life instantly. At show time, viewers can log in for free at http://www.mogulus.com/improvcomedy



“This may be the first live improv show designed specifically for a web-only audience,” says troupe director John Herman. According to Herman, the troupe experimented with the concept in late 2007 with a secret audience. “We didn’t know if it would work, but our test audience absolutely loved it. Now everyone is invited. What better way to use the Internet than to spread laughter with it?”

Cast member Petrus Albus adds that there are many benefits to the collaboration of New Media technology and improv comedy. “People can watch some great live comedy in their underwear if they want. And it’s quality entertainment without having to pay for gas or parking.”

Stranger than Fiction performs improv comedy in venues across the Granite State. The troupe’s next face to face performance is at The Barley House in Concord on January 17th. The show starts at 8 PM. For more information, go to http://www.strangerthanfiction.us

This is a still from the first ever live web video broadcast of Stranger Than Fiction improv comedy. Suggestions for scenes were taken exclusively through live audience interaction in a chat room. My experiment was a big success. We used Mogulus to produce the show. We are pretty sure this is the first time the web has been used in this way by improv comedians. Everyone in the cast was excited by the positive response. The audience demanded we do it again soon!

I will be joining the talented Chris Bujold for a fast paced round of short form improv comedy with music (by Jon Briggs!) produced on a modified old school Nintendo Gameboy at the Cantab Lounge (with Bastards INC) in Central Square in Cambridge this Thursday, December 6th. Join us at 8 PM. Cover is only $3!

The Center for the Book at the NH State Library awarded “The Future” for best capturing the essence of the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. I directed the movie with improv comedians Stranger Than Fiction for the 451 Degree Filmmaker Challenge hosted by the Somewhat North of Boston Film Festival.

UPDATE: Steve Garfield featured “The Future” in his latest episode of Vlog Soup. Steve’s take on the future is a must see!

And here is a response video from the vlogfather Steve Garfield!

Every Tuesday night (all summer), we perform at the Players’ Ring of Portsmouth. Every third-Thursday of the month, we take the stage at the stylish B-Lounge at The Barley House (across from the capitol) in Concord. Also, last week, I trained the historic role players at Strawbery Banke on how to improvise and be better role players, and I am excited to get back there and see them in action. Also, we have two big special events coming up. First is our original Late Night Summer Series production, Time Battle. Secondly, our improv retreat and festival, Camprov.