Me and Big Sexy

GEAR UP FOR BIG SEXY IMPROV

Here are the deets on the Alternative Comedy Theater's upcoming festival Big Sexy Weekend of Improv.
by Amy Martin for TheaterJones.com
published Monday, May 7, 2012

Brad McEntire to lead a solo improv workshop at Big Sexy

Dallas — Ready for another comedy marathon? Didn’t get enough improvisational madness at the Dallas Comedy Fest in March? Here comes the fourth incarnation of the annual Big Sexy Weekend of Improv, May 31 to June 2, produced by the Alternative Comedy Theater. Performances will be based at the Dyer Street Bar just north of Mockingbird.

Improv comedians with a theatrical bent gravitate toward the ACT and the Big Sexy com-o-sphere, even though the group does a significant amount of competitive games-based improv. Theaterical multi-talent Brad McEntire has a big presence at the festival with his duo FUN GRIP featuring favorite collaborator Jeff Swearingen, plus a couple of improv workshops. McEntire is hosting the Monologue Jam in which festival performers take a single suggestion and create a three-minute monologue. Fans of Scarborough Renaissance Festival will recognize the Shakespeare-esque parodies of the Motley Players III.

A significant nab for Big Sexy is a return appearance of BTK Band from New York City, led by Moth storyteller lead singer Peter Aguero. Described as the “hardest drinking improvised storytelling band,” these comics, musicians, storytellers and burlesque dancers fashion improvised songs and stories. They headline on Saturday night. Aguero does a Friday afternoon story-improv workshop. 

Austin sends the Latino Shades of Brown, the duo of Rachel and Dave (described as “modern-day Stiller and Meara”), Elevator Action of ColdTowne Theater, and the intriguing iZARZAMORA! who perform “psuedo-cerebral improv comedy.”  Oklahoma City provides several of the Big Sexy acts including The Big O, Red Dirt Improv, C4, and One State Two State Red State Blue State. 

Local improv acts are not neglected. ACT regulars Persons of Interest and The Victims perform. The all female Band Wreckers will be hot off a May gig at the Ladies Are Funny Festival in Austin. 

Big Sexy Weekend of Improv runs Thursday May 31, Friday June 1, and Saturday June 2 at Dyer Street Bar, 5529 Dyer St. Dallas, TX 75206. A season pass in $35. Shows are $10 and workshops are $25. 

Schedule

Thursday May 31, 7pm

The Extreme Improv Challenge Champion (Dallas)
Motley Players III (Dallas)
The Victims (Dallas)

Friday June 1, 7pm

The Big O (OKC)
Persons of Interest (Dallas)
Shades of Brown (Austin)

Friday June 1, 9pm

One State Two State Red State Blue State (OKC)
iZarzamora! (Austin)
Monologue Jam (Various)

Saturday June 2, 7pm

C4 (OKC/Dallas)
Rachel and Dave (Austin)
Fun Grip (Dallas)

Saturday June 2, 9pm

The Band Wreckers (Dallas)
Red Dirt Improv (OKC)
ColdTowne Theater Super Troupe Elevator Action (Austin)

Saturday June 2, 11pm

The BTK Band (NYC)