People's Improv Theater: Hammer Throw

[stapper2]

So Vienna's entered into the world of improv now! The setup was improv skits alternating with Vienna's solo performances. Occasionally the skits would continue during Vienna's songs.

She played four songs:

1. Antebellum
2. Kansas
3. Whatever You Want
4. Harbor

The improv was funny (especially since it poked fun at my field- math). The shining moment was when Vienna decided to jump into the improv. part of the show. One of the running themes was about a girl and her dad. The dad finds out he is dying of cancer and goes to a rock concert to tell his daughter about his terminal illness. So Vienna felt there was some emptiness in the skit that needed to be filled so she started to play the role of the lead singer in the rock band that the daughter was seeing. Vienna was quite funny as lead rocker, explaining that "he" dedicated a song to the daughter because "he" thought she was hot and not because the dad drew attention to her with the cancer story. She's pretty good at playing a guy and not just writing from that POV.

It was also cool to see Vienna perform in a black box theater atmosphere. We were on risers and could watch her play from the top, giving us a unique perspective on her hands as she played. It was especially fascinating to watch her play through the Antebellum chords.

Who knows, maybe improv is the next of Vienna's many lives . . . . there's gotta be an improv group in Michigan.

[Michele]

Sounds like so much fun! Thanks for posting about it and Rockwood, was really curious to hear about them

[stapper2]

Well, I'm glad I could be of some use. It's good that there were only four songs b/c I'm not the type that writes setlists as I go.

And even with that small number, I almost couldn't remember what the first song was! The only reason I remembered for sure was because in the performer/audience dialogue, we were talking about how someone had been to their first lease signing as a broker. So Vienna introduced the song by saying that all the talk about houses reminded her of this song. And I couldn't for the life of me figure out why Antebellum reminded her of houses. Now that I've looked back at the lyrics, I can see some hints of that, but it's never been the primary imagery when I think of Antebellum.

So yeah, hopefully there will be many more forumites going to the Highline Show who will do a better job of tracking setlists than I will! =)

[aaparallel]

I chuckled to myself thinking about how brilliantly VT portrayed a rocker dude.

So did it look like it was her idea to join in on the improv? Haha.

Thanks for posting. I did cross my fingers for you to park near the venue

[stapper2]

VT's a woman of many talents I guess!

After the show, she said that the group told her to feel free to join in if she felt like it, so I would say it was her decision to join in!

Thanks for the finger crossing. The irony of it all is that there was tons of parking in around the venue, so that wasn't a problem at all, but I almost didn't make it there! I, in my genius, used the wrong zip code on my GPS and ended up heading to W 29th St in Brooklyn and not in Manhattan. . . I only realized it when I saw signs for Coney Island. Luckily, I left extra early, so i still managed to make the show! But I was thinking of you all as I sat in traffic thinking to myself "If I miss this show, at least there's another one next week so that the forum has a shot at an update about this improv thing!" =)

[Reileen]

This sounds hella epic. Wish I could've been there to see it.

[Fred]

So yeah, hopefully there will be many more forumites going to the Highline Show who will do a better job of tracking setlists than I will! =)

No problem! Hope to meet you there.

[Scot]

Indeed- sounds like a great evening. Thanks for the setlist!

scot