New TJ and Dave Book

This week Pam Victor released her work Improvisation at the Speed of Life: The TJ and Dave Book. The reviews are really positive, and I can't wait for my copy to arrive. I wish Amazon Prime already had those drones services available so I could read it yesterday. Am I hear to complain about first world I-have-to-wait-two-days-for-a-book-to-arrive problems? No. That would be a terrible blog post.

Nope, I wanted to talk about TJ and Dave. The book release reminded me of the first time I saw them at iO Chicago, and how much I learned just watching them. I was attending the iO Summer Intensive program (I highly recommend it. They offer the program in LA too!), and loving my time in Chicago. My teachers, and other students said, "you have to see TJ and Dave," "have you seen TJ and Dave? You have to see TJ and Dave!" "Cancel your plans! Come with us and see TJ and Dave!"

You get the idea. It was must see improv.

And then I saw TJ and Dave.... TJ Jagodowski and David Pasquesi blew me away. I know, "blown away," sounds hyperbol-ish. It's not. (They blew me away when I was new to improv, and they continue to blow me away every time I see them. I'm in a constant state of, "wow!")

They are patient, and kind, and empathetic; incredibly focused, discovering a character, and living a life. It really is improv theater...that happens to be really, really funny too. I still recall the story characters; two beat cops. What sticks with you is the characters. They're vibrant, and evolve. The story just flows from that.

There was one moment though, I'll never forget. It reinforced: there's a lot of beauty in the detail work. TJ's character, the beat cop, was eating some red rope. And, you knew it, because you saw it! You saw the length, and the packaging. TJ took time to unwrap a red rope. Have you ever tried unwrapping a red rope versus red vines? It takes some patience. TJ was patient. You could see his coil the rope on his wrist, and play with the wrapping, working to separate the vine from it's plastic sheath. He wasn't immediately successful. He had to work at it, at getting at his red rope. He was struggling onstage. He chose to struggle. We can choose to do anything onstage, and he chose to struggle with a tiny bit of plastic and rope. It was beautiful to watch, because he let us see the world, with all it's little annoyances and quirks. We also learned a lot about the character. He wouldn't stop. He wouldn't complain. He knew what he wanted, and he was going to get it. Yeah, I agree...maybe I am looking to deeply at a brief moment on stage. But, then again, isn't that exactly what we're trying to do? Give people moments, funny or not, on which to reflect?

Girl Scouts at Blacktop

Girl Scout Cookies. 'Tis the Season. Girl Scout Thin Mints, Do-si-dos, Shortbread and many more are available this Saturday at Blacktop Comedy. Girl Scout Troop 2268 will be at Blacktop Comedy this Saturday, selling cookies, and joining us onstage for some very special, themed games. We love being part of the Rocklin and greater Placer community, and offering a clean comedy, family friendly show every Saturday. As a theater we're also excited to have these sorts of partnerships. Blacktop Comedy and the Girl Scouts joining forces! The show begins at 7p, and cookies will be available beginning at 6:30p. In fact, all audience members will get a free cookie when you buy a ticket. Try something new! Improv is all about saying yes to new opportunities....whether they're big life changing options, or saying yes to trying a Thin Mint when you're always reaching first for those Peanut Butter Patties.

(I think the Girl Scouts wants you to put a little registered trademark by each cookie name. Though, I'm not sure how to do that. I do know the R in a circle is called a closed R or Circle Latin R. The more you know!)

The Girl Scouts do a lot of good in this community, and each box of cookies you buy really helps! Does anyone know the percentage the troop keeps? I don’t, but I’m going to look.

Hold On a second.

Um…..

Hmmm….

I know it’s a large percentage. I remember reading…that….somewhere.

OK!

Here we go! I found it. Over 70% of the money is kept in the local councils! Over 70% of the money raised from Girl Scout sales goes to helping Girl Scouts. That’s a lot! Come out to the show this Saturday night. Bring the family, or a date, buy a box of cookies, and spend the night laughing as Blacktop Comedy, and the Shorties bring you some of our favorite games.

We’ll definitely be playing Blind Line, and maybe even get some of the Girl Scouts involved in the onstage shenanigans.

And, before I forget…if you’re a member of an organization and would like to team with us, please reach out! We are big believers in supporting local, and that begins with spreading the word about what’s happening locally in the community in other organizations, and groups. If you have any questions or want to know how we can work together, call Paul Burke at (916) 749-3100 or email him at info@blacktopcomedy.com. We’re excited to work with you!

P.S. Did you know Tagalongs are called Peanut Butter Patties, and Samoas are called Caramel deLites?

Blacktop Comedy Moves to Rocklin, CA

Four weeks ago we performed our last show…

…at our old venue!

Goodbye old! Hello, new!

Today, I’m excited to announce Blacktop Comedy is reborn, and we’re in Rocklin! We’re no longer by the Roseville rail yard. We decided performing in a warehouse next to trains wasn’t for us. We wanted to try something else. We wanted to find a venue that could seat more people, that offered plenty of parking, and maybe even a babbling brook. We'd also like to find a place that's is only 5 minutes from our current venue.

We found it all (even the babbling brook. It doesn’t babble much in the summer, but it’s quite babbly in the Fall and Winter)! We’re so excited to be performing at the Showdown Theater in Rocklin, CA.

Where is Showdown Theater? It’s on Sunset. That’s not very helpful, considering Sunset is stretches for miles.

You might be wondering, “how often will you perform? Is the team still intact? Will Playgrounds continue? Will classes resume?”

Answers: Twice a week. Yes. Yes. And, Yes!

Blacktop Comedy will remain the committed improv entity it has always been, but now with more bathrooms! Seriously, this venue has three bathrooms! Have you ever met a theater group excited about the number of bathrooms? You have now.

Blacktop Comedy of Rocklin will continue to produce live improv comedy Friday and Saturday nights. Yep! Sierra College and William Jessup students, rejoice! The Rocklin nightlife has become awesomer!

Blacktop isn’t just for college students looking for a night out. Our shows are the perfect date night. Grab dinner at one of the many great restaurants in Placer. Yep! Roseville, Rocklin and Auburn all have some great venues! I’ll prove it. Have you been to Thai Chili? How about Izumi Sushi? The Place? Auburn Alehouse? Get going! And, then come by Blacktop for some after dinner entertainment.

Celebrate that anniversary at Blacktop, or bring that bachelor and bachelorette party to the show. We’ll cast the soon-to-be bride and groom in a game, get them onstage, and make them the star.

Sacramento, you know you’re curious. Make the drive to Rocklin, and discover the best improv comedy in the region. Our players, our staff, and our venue exist to give you a fun night out.

Blacktop Comedy! Do it! It’s less than the price of a movie. It’s kind of a great gift. We’re kind of a big deal.