Success Comes in Sixes
March 26th, 2008 by Alec McNayrPosted in Community, Our Work | 6 Comments »
Bob and I have long said that the more that people around you succeed, the closer it’s getting to you. In a community of artists, when the industry grows, we all benefit.
So tonight, it was exciting to get some good news from an old comedy-brother Alex Enriquez who just got into The Groundlings Sunday Company. It’s been a long time coming and I’m excited for him. Couldn’t happen to a nicer (or funnier) guy.
With Alex’s big win, it got me thinking about The Improvatory. It was my experiment back in 2003: an attempt to fuse many styles of improv into one experience. It served as a place to keep working between Groundlings classes. I had big dreams (a performing company, a school, a dynasty), but perhaps as I lost touch with being an actor, the group lost its focus as well.
I may be biased, but we were exceptionally funny and good at long form (clap-in) improv, performing about a dozen shows before I bowed out in late 2004. Sure, it was short-lived, but we had some great shows including raps, time-doors, shanks, Floor Lords, lots of “jumping pictures,” and other now-inside jokes. We also had a revolving door of cast members, but throughout the whole experience, we had a core group of six guys who led the charge.
About four years later, it’s amazing to me that our “core” group of six guys have each had some major successes as comedians. To some extent, we’ve each gone our separate ways, but we’re all moving up the ladder:
- John Baumgaertner – Award-winning writer-director of online shorts. Our production partner on Hollywood Rumble.
- Bob Gustafson – Producer on American Idol Extra and award-winning Space Shank Media producer. Three deals in the works as a writer-producer-director (with me!).
- Alex Enriquez – Just made the Groundlings Sunday Company. Star of ICN’s Annals. Staff writer/performer with Fries on the Side.
- Alec McNayr – Sexy and elusive producer/celebrity.
- Avi Rothman – Star and writer of Partners (2007 ITVFest Best Comedy), and more YouTube hits than anyone we know.
- Kenny Stevenson – Veteran member of Groundlings Sunday Company. Landed commercials for Yahoo! among others. Also a staff writer/performer with Fries on the Side.
I’m proud to be among your company, gents. I’d put on a “reunion tour” in a heartbeat. What do you say, guys? Guys? Anyone?
6 Responses to “Success Comes in Sixes”
By Alec McNayr on Mar 26, 2008
raps, time-doors, shanks, Floor Lords… who has any other memorable lines?
By John B. on Mar 26, 2008
Do it. Can we do it at the John Raitt? (is it even still called that?) because, well, it’s pretty close to where I live.
By Alec McNayr on Mar 26, 2008
of course we can, only now it’s called the Paul G. Gleason theatre… same black box theatre, only parking is now $18/night.
By Kenny Stevenson on Mar 26, 2008
I am down for a reunion! For sure. Who’s that guy who looks like Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters?