TucsonStage Blog: 7 Years of Unscrewed Theater!

From: Unscrewed Theater <UnscrewedTheater@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, February 1, 2021 7:01 AM
Subject: February Unscrewed News from Chris

7 Years of Unscrewed Theater!

As we enter the 2nd month of 2021 (or the 14th month of 2020), we're marking the SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY of opening our doors at our original location on Speedway - next door to Fronimo's Greek Restaurant & across the street from The Loft Cinema. Our opening weekend was January 31st & February 1st, 2014, and I still remember the excitement of that sold-out weekend.

And all the hard work that went into getting there. Yanking up ancient carpet, painting everything in sight, and assembling 100 original chairs – by hand! Not to mention tearing down walls, throwing out mountains of trash, building our stage, and then testing it out.

Since then, so much has changed.

We added 4 additional House Teams, lots of shows, and moved a bit east on Speedway (complete with another big-time construction project). We've performed over 1200 shows for thousands of laughing audience members and ended up on a journey no one could have predicted. As we start Year 8, I'd like to thank you for going for that ride with us, no matter how long it's been for you. We are grateful for the support we've received through the years.

For February, the laughs are still all over the internet, with 100% of our shows, classes, and workshops online. We're thrilled to have this online opportunity to connect with you! (As always, all times are Tucson MST time)

By the way, how's it going with those New Year's resolutions? Need something to shake up your routine?

I'd recommend starting with our online Drop-In Improv class every Monday night between 6:30-8pm. You can see people's faces from all over the country and feel supported in a familiar setting – Your. Own. Home! No experience necessary. See how we do the funny business we do. I'm there just about every week, with Ren Faire King, Jon Benda.

If you're already familiar with improv and would like a super-fresh perspective on the make-em-ups, we have two Guest Instructors joining us online this month from Los Angeles. Together, they're the duo known as Rollin' In Riches – Rolland Lopez and Rich Baker. Rolland & Rich have graced our stages for many years and are a special kind of hilarious! Check out their appearance on our Unscrewed House Party- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA1KPyys8y8.

Rolland Lopez has been teaching and coaching improv for over 5 years. He loves teaching, whether it's working with seasoned players or introducing Improv as a brand new concept to beginners. He is currently a faculty member at the Westside Comedy Theatre in Santa Monica, CA.

Rolland is offering two online workshops on Sunday, February 21st. First up is "The Magic of Patterns," followed by "Let's Focus on You!" Details Here.

Rich Baker first fell in love with improv in 1999 in his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas. Since then, he's performed all over the country with The Second City, ComedySportz Chicago, and Mission Improvable. He is the author of the book Improv Made Easier and host/creator of the podcast Improv Breakdown.

Rich will teach two online improv workshops on Sunday, February 28th. The first workshop is titled "Cut to Acceptance," followed by "Callbacks in Improv." Details HERE.

Online Zoom Shows – Of course, we are also continuing our weekly improv gatherings into February…because we know that now is a great time to laugh and keep laughing and laughing some more. All times listed are Tucson time (MST).

You can join us every Saturday night at 7:30 for our all-ages family-friendly Unscrewed House Party, where the improv is fun for EVERYONE. You are an important part of the show. By typing your suggestions in the chat, we'll create scenes designed just for you. As always – every show is different because every audience is different.

If you're looking for more unfiltered adult-oriented improv, our UNCENSORED SHOWS are the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month at 9:30pm. This month, that's the 13th and 27th.

Did I mention that we have guest improvisers and teams at EVERY SHOW? I didn't? Well, now you know. We're welcoming funny folks from all over the place to play with us. Check our Facebook page every week to see who we're working with.

10 Minutes With Dawn – Speaking of Facebook, every Friday morning at 10am, we're dropping a delightful new video featuring our own Dawn McMillan (member of From The Top and Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed) and improvisers from around the U.S. and beyond! She's worked with people from Tucson, Toronto, and New York City! There are more than 11 episodes so far, so if you haven't seen them, you can catch up HERE.

After the scene, Dawn chats with her guest in a separate video called A Few More Minutes With Dawn. You can find out how her guests found improv, other things they're passionate about, and how to get someone else to write your book! These videos are exclusively on the Unscrewed Theater Facebook page.

That's what we have planned for the shortest month of the year. If you're planning on celebrating Black History Month, the ❤ day on the 14th, or watching that Superb Owl football game, we hope you'll spend time with us and laugh your cares away.

If you're in a place where winter is in full force, join us from under a blanket in front of your space heater. If you're in a place with no snow on the ground and the temperature above 60 degrees, join us from your great outdoors. Whatever you do, just join us online! We'll have a jolly time!

If you want to talk improv and get the full history of Unscrewed Theater, email me at Chris.Seidman@gmail.com or give me a call at 520-975-7035 – and I'd be happy to tell you all the ways that watching and doing improv can change your life forever.

Until we meet again in March, stay healthy, stay safe, stay smart, and stay strong. And before you know it, we'll be together in person. For now, we're still home, and we're still in this TOGETHER!

Unscrewed is Tucson's ONLY 100% volunteer-run 501(c)(3) non-profit community theater dedicated to the fun and healing laughter found in improv comedy.

February Workshops
& FREE Shows!

Try Improv on for size -
every Monday night!

FREE funny for the fam
every Saturday night!

Every Friday @ 10am -
catch Dawn on our Facebook page!

More funny on Sunday!

Rollin' in Riches are back
with FOUR workshops!

It's been almost a year since we closed our physical doors.

We never DREAMED they'd be closed this long.

Yet here we are.

Still working so hard to bring a smile to your face.
Every weekend.

And we'll keep on keeping on until we can open those doors again and welcome you in with open arms.

And hugs.
Remember hugs?

Everyone at the theater is a volunteer. 100% of the time.

We don't get paid, but the landlord does. Any donation you can make is an investment in the future of funny.

Only give as much as you comfortably can, but even $5 helps. That's less than what it would cost to come to see one show in person.

If you can't afford to donate, then we're still happy to bring a smile to your face for free. As often as we can.

Smoosh this button to donate. 👇👇