Out of Bounds Comedy Festival Picks

OPEN IMAGE GALLERY

Kristin Firth

Ah, What the fuck do we know – we're just the media, right?
Regardless of how closely we follow a scene,
regardless of what Jane Goodall-level hunkering-down-with-the-subjects we do, we're not on the inside, are we?

That's why we asked the people that are on the inside:
The improvisers, the sketch artists, the stand-up comedians,
all the people turning this city upside down in the next few days.

"What are y'all looking forward to seeing
at this year's Out of Bounds Comedy Festival?"
we asked, flexing our uncanny J-school prowess.

And here, to help you decide which of the dozens of shows happening this weekend you might like to see,
here are some of the responses:

Kristin Firth (half of the improv duo Firth & Arjet,
also works solo as REVLIS: Improv from the Future):
"One of the headliners, Switchboard, is an awesome group of strong lady performers. I'm also in slight improv-love
with Todd Stashwick. He's doing a late-night show with Jill Bernard
and a bunch of other awesome people on Sunday, with live musicians."

Kat Ramzinski (stand-up comedian):
"From a comedy fan standpoint, I'm really excited about seeing Tim Meadows.
I was obsessed with him on Saturday Night Live when I was a kid,
so It's gonna be really cool seeing how he translates on a stage solo.
From a comedian standpoint, I'm excited about seeing the local Austin comics
– this year there are a lot of people I've wanted to see on the festival circuit for a while –
they've just never gotten the opportunity before. From a sadistic point of view,
I just really really really want to put faces to these improv-troupe names.
I think improv troupes have more ridiculous names than the bands here in Austin.
I'm goin to be checkin' them out to see if they fit their name.

Shannon McCormick (half of improv duo Get Up, former OOB producer):
I'm most excited about Todd Stashwick who's coming to town as a sort of last-minute addition to the bill.
He's teaching a master class on Monday, and he's putting together an ad hoc, one-time-only group with a band.
And I'm looking forward to WeirDass, which is Bob Dassie and his wife Stephnie Weir.

Jordan T. Maxwell (part of improv troupe ¡Zarzamora!, Gnap!'s Showdown, former Well Hung Jury):
I like seeing old friends from around the country, meeting new friends,
all the people that come to the OOB. The performance I'm most excited about
is probably Todd Stashwick, because I love his acting and his improv
– his troupe Doubtful Guests was a huge influence on me in the last few year.
And Jill Bernard doing Drum Machine is a must-see for me every year.

Jon Bolden (improv-photographer-about-town, also part of the troupe Dukes of Bedside Manor):
I've heard a lot of good things about Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting,
who I haven't seen for a long time. Always the headlining troupes –
Tim Meadows, Uncle's Brother, and Switchboard. Greg Proops. But I'm really excited about
this guy named Todd Stashwick. He's Kareem Badr's favorite improviser – or one of them –
and he's famous for doing really unbelievably grounded improv.