Off (the Cuff) Broadway Musical

On Monday I mentioned a new improvised musical Blacktop Comedy. It's called Off (the Cuff) Broadway, and it premieres Saturday, July 11th, 8:30pm. This improv comedy is about the drama involved in preparing a show for the stage. Think Birdman, Chicago, and The Producers. It's a mashup we know you'd love

Welcome to Off the Cuff, an off Broadway theater, where you contributions shape the story.  The script is nearly perfect. Nearly. It's need a couple fresh suggestions. With your suggestions, we might just create the next Broadway smash! Everything in this production is improvised, and every story differnt. Every production is an all new musical! Will this musical be a romance? Mystery? Action adventure? You tell us! Of course, it'll be filled with drama. Musicals are always filled with drama.  And when the curtain goes up, you have a front row seat to it all!

An improvised story, music, and songs. Only at Blacktop Comedy.

That's it! We won't say another word. We'd hate to offer too many spoilers. And, of course, it's hard to offer spoilers when it's improv. We don't know where the show is going! You are pivotal. We need audience suggestions throughout the piece. Of course, we never pick on anyone. If you want to sit and just watch the show, we'll never call or pick on you. Enjoy the anonymity. But, if you want to participate, we'd love your help! The cast includes a phenomenal group of local improvisers: Betsaida Lebron, Jay Miller, Christopher Kimbrough, Aeriel, Allison Morrow, Kellee Benson Owens. Paul Burke on lights and Cristian Amaral on sound.

Also, let me emphasize, it's not for children. Mature audiences only. If you have children, grab a babysitter. That's one nice thing about staying local in Rocklin. You only aneed a babysitter for 3 hours. Go get some dinner at and then meet us at 8:30p show Off (the Cuff) Broadway

Only 4 shows! Limited availability. That's it. Call your friends, tell them, "we're skipping the club this Saturday," "you can see your husband another night," "put down the chips and dip and don't rent that movie from Redbox". You're going to see a show this Saturday(nothing against Redbox of course, or chips. I love both. Have you tried the new Triscuits?  Cracked Pepper and Olive Oil? Why are they so good!? What's in that Triscuit? It's very addictive.Damn. Now I want a box.) Grab your tickets. Here are the following dates: July 11, July 19, Aug. 1, Aug. 8:

Destination Rocklin

It's nice to be settled in Rocklin, CA.

We're a part of the Rocklin nightlife. We're helping build Rocklin nightlife! We're excited to make Rocklin even more of a destination. For three years Blacktop Comedy was roaming,. Originally, we were in downtown Sacramento, but settled in Roseville, CA, by the new Roseville DMV. Well, in 2011 it was a rocky field, just a Roseville DMV dream. We were sandwiched between the train tracks, and the kids play place, Wacky Tacky. Everyday was a mixture of happy children, and deafening trains tearing by the theater. It was so loud we would have to justify the trains within the improv performances Want to push your creativity? Send a train by your theater every night at 9p, and try to create an original response ("Looks like the train is right on schedule," gets old fast.).

It was a small theater, but we were comfortable. The summer sun would cook that little Roseville theater, but what choice did we have? Aha! There's always a choice we discovered. We moved within the Business Center off Galilee. We upgraded to a larger space that used to work on custom.... Ferraris? Lamborghini?s I'm not sure. It was a custom shop with harsh lights, a concrete floor, and an extra wall. In a month we pushed over the wall, laid over 1600 feet of laminate flooring, and purchased some Hue Lights. First, if you want to impress an audience, buy Hue Lights with WeMo. The audiences love it, and it makes the space feel like a movie theater. You can buy Hue Lights at the Roseville Apple store. Second, if you want to feel like the Incredible Hulk of the Avengers, i suggest pushing a wall over

We had done it! We had found a new theater! We could settle into Placer county, and start producing live comedy! Weekly improv comedy shows here we come!

But, we had to move 8 months later. We needed more space.

Oh no! Not again! The third move can't possibly be the best one yet.

But it was!

We're here. In Rocklin, off Sunset Boulevard now, and we love this space! We have space to produce new shows, and brave new works. We have more Undergrounds for new local improv and sketch comedy teams. We have theater kids classes, and teen improv workshops. We have an improvised musical in July. That improvised musical will blow your mind. We were working on the details this weekend over drinks at the VC, (Vaelencia Club in Penryn).

And, we're excited to partner with the incredible TAAC (The Alternative Arts Collective), and hosting their Midtown Blue screening.

Rocklin is becoming a destination!

We'll see you soon!

People Watch in Roseville and Rocklin

The streets are empty this morning. I've been walking the dog for the last 15 minutes, and I haven't seen anyone as I drift through the Roseville suburbs. I'm beginning to miss downtown Sacramento...a little bit.

I don't miss the bad drivers who are baffled about navigating one way streets. I do miss, however, all the fantastic people watching in midtown, downtown, and east Sacramento. Sacramento was the perfect spot for an improviser looking to see the world through someone else. Want to step out of your comfort zone as a performer? Go people watch, and copy everything. You'll discover the boundaries you've set ("oh, I'm only capable of this. This is my character range,") will dissolve. Sitting down at Temple, watching how people live, and how they move is an entertaining hour. "That could be a fun character!" "I should try that gesture." "I like the way she flips the pages in the book." That was a fun hour.

This wasn't a fun 15 minutes. The streets were empty this morning, and I hadn't anyone to watch. Woe is me! Until I realized Rocklin, Roseville, Loomis, and Lincoln have some brilliant places to people watch too! Especially in the summer. Placer County has lots of summer events that bring people together. The cities are packed with people watching venues. You just have to look for them!

Let's go!

1. Food Truck Mania with SactoMoFo Johnson-Sprinview Park is a beautiful place, and even more beautiful when you're holding a KrushBurger or Bacon Mania's Jack Back Sammie. It's a an inside/outside grilled cheese sandwich! What's not to love? These are the reasons hundreds attend Food Truck Mania. The 4th Thursday every month, 5-9pm. Come hungry! Check it out tonight!

2. Downtown Tuesday Night The event has been a round for years, and brings thousands of people to Downtown Roseville Vernon Street, every Tuesday, 6-9pm. Sponsored by the Downtown Roseville Merchants, the event bring together vendors, food trucks, a farmers market, car show, musical acts, and even a T-Rex. The always incredible Stand Out Talent at Tower Theater offers BIG SCREEN KARAOKE during Downtown Tuesday Nights.

3. Thursday Loomis Family Fest I know. I was just talking about Family Fest, but it's worth mentioning again. It's similar to Downtown Tuesday Nights with a focus on the family. Send the kids off to enjoy the Kids Fun Zone of bounce houses, pony rides, go carts and face painting, while you go people watch at the food court, live music stage, and beer and wine garden.

4. Galleria Mall It's right there! Off highway 65! Over 100 stores, and air conditioning. Sweet, sweet air conditioning. Sit down, get comfortable and people watch. Looking to develop a certain character? Hipster? mom? geek? Aloof old-money fuddy duddy...who uses terms like 'fuddy duddy'? You have front row seats to Apple, Gamespot, Forever 21, Nordstrom, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Burberry, and Destination Maternity. Time to develop that cast of characters.

5. Thunder Valley Casino It's a big building. Take your time. You have restaurants (High Steaks, and Red Lantern), bars (Thunder Bar, and Mingle), and clubs (Illusions). Oh....and hundreds of table games and slot machines. Thousands of people, from every walk of life, dealing with emotional highs and lows. In 5 minutes at the Thunder Bar you'll see every emotion possible. Enjoy!

**I know there's always Starbucks, Origin, Bloom, etc. to people watch. I love these places too! I am looking for a higher concentration of people, though. The ol' people/time equation (technically it's not an equation without a '='. But, you know what I mean.)