Tag: Madison

  • Spotlight on: Steve Horton

    Spotlight on: Steve Horton

    Steve Horton is an improviser and comedian from Chicago, Ill. He will make his Countdown Improv Festival debut on the Commodore Stage on Saturday, Oct. 23 with his show Improvised Phone Calls with Steve Horton. In this spotlight interview, Horton talks about the genesis of his show, the differences between standup and improv, and exactly how much it would take to rig Atlas Improv Co.’s competition show “The Cut.”

    We’re super excited to have you with us this year, Steve! Can you tell us about your show? How did you come up with the concept, and what can audiences expect?

    Steve Horton: Oh hey, yeah, thanks. I’m excited too. Well, I’ve been exploring solo improv more lately. It’s fun to not have to listen to anyone else go on and on about what they think is funny. It’s like, hey! We get it! Ostriches are funny or whatever! I don’t know, I just feel like if my scene partner wants to keep doing scene about ostriches, I mean, after a while it gets old. I guess I just want to do improv that’s not about ostriches for once. Did I answer your question?

    The show seems to rely on people actually picking up their phones, right? Do you have contingency plans if no one picks up, or if the calls all go to voicemail?

    SH: Do you think that’s the case because it’s called “Improvised Phone Calls?” Because up til this point, it hadn’t occurred to me that I could actually call people with real phones. I guess that could work though. I’ll consider it.

    Your show sort of feels a little bit like it straddles the border of improv and standup, which is fitting, since you’ve got lots of experience doing both. How does your improv influence your standup, and vice versa? What do you find fulfilling about each?

    SH: Well, when I do stand up, I get frustrated that I can’t do emotional character work. And when I do improv, I get frustrated that I can’t do my witty observations about all the different books and DVDs on minimalism. Why are there all these books and DVDs on it? Seems kinda ironic, huh? (Pause for laughs.) Anyway, I guess the two art forms influence each other. To be honest, I’m also influenced by my ventures in screenwriting and even some clown work I’ve done. Heck, one time I was booked to walk around in a giant taco costume and hand out coupons for a taco shop. My point is my show is truly one of a kind. Did I answer your question?

    Do you have any pre-show rituals? How do you like to prepare for a show?

    SH: I really want this show to be good, so I think I’ll isolate myself pre-show and write out every line of dialogue and pantomime I plan on doing. This is my pre-show ritual for shows I want to do well at.

    You performed with Atlas Improv Co. in Madison, Wisconsin for a long time. Be honest with us: How much money would it take to rig The Cut? $50 per judge? $100? Everything has its price, Steve.

    SH: Are you suggesting I only won The Cut in 2014 because I bribed the judges? Because that’s actually the truth. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you’ve hired a private detective to dig up dirt on every judge. And this dirt? It was dirty. Now the more astute among us might think I’m an idiot for confusing bribery with extortion. But, well, whatever.

    Finally, who do you think will be inducted into the Countdown Improv Festival Hall of Fame this year?

    SH: I just hope both teams have fun.

  • Spotlight On: Crossed Wires

    Spotlight On: Crossed Wires

    Crossed Wires is an improv duo featuring Amanda Rogers and Steve Wyeth. Based out of Madison, Wisconsin, Crossed Wires will be performing in tbe 6 o’clock block on Saturday night of the 2020 Countdown Improv Festival. In this spotlight interview, Rogers and Wyeth talk about their show format, the genesis of their duo, and the top post-show hangout spots in Madison.

    We are so excited that Crossed Wires is back for the second year in a row! For the benefit of people who haven’t seen you perform, can you describe your show for us? What can audiences expect to see this year?

    Steve Wyeth: Fortunately, it looks like we’re able to use the Atlas stage to do the show, so you’ll be getting the full effect. We basically perform a short movie, with tons of action, montages, and even music! It’s a wild ride!

    Amanda Rogers: Expect a show that is like going to a movie theater to see a movie, but the movie theater is stuck in a tornado.

    The “ABC Title” show format has been an Atlas Improv Co. favorite for years. How have the two of you taken that format and made it your own? What distinguishes a Crossed Wires ABC Title show from other takes on the format? 

    SW: It tends to be a lot faster paced, for better or worse. Also, because we always intended to take it on the road, we provide our own sound track. The biggest difference however, is we bring a really — I don’t want to say goofy — but goofy energy to the format.

    AR: Our version of ABC Title takes out the beginning elimination round and streamlines it in a way that allows us to blend our stories a bit. 

    What are some of your favorite and least-favorite movie genres to perform, and why?

    SW: I like action and horror best, for this format. They allow us to do big, wild stuff. Crossed Wires is at its best when we can hit the gas. Least favorite? Rom Com. It just doesn’t move that fast, which I don’t mind in some cases, but I think it’s better suited to an ensemble. What I’d love to try sometime is a musical!

    AR: Favorite Genre: Light-hearted horror because… I like to play murder, for fun? Hate: Rom-Coms… Ugh, feelings…

    You both perform as part of a larger ensemble at Atlas Improv Co. in Madison, Wisconsin. What inspired the two of you to start working together as a duo? How do your performance styles complement each other?

    SW: My recollection of how we got started is that we were having drinks after a show. It was a pretty light crew hanging, myself and Amanda, and maybe two other people. The discussion was on teams, generally. Atlas artistic director Dan Row had put an idea out there of Atlas members forming smaller teams, in order to better travel to festivals. Amanda was pretty new to the company at that time, though I already viewed her as a very strong performer; she mentioned that she wanted to try a two person narrative format, but wasn’t sure who to ask; I said I’d do it. I don’t think she a hundred percent believed me, at the time. But, we got started, and it was clear to me at our first practice that this was going to be something special. We both have big time energy that we bring to the stage; Amanda is full of wild ideas, and I have this “go for it” mentality, and we just really complement each other.

    AR: I really wanted to do a two person team for narrative and Steve offered to be in it. That was super cool. I feel like our improv styles are alike in a way that allows us to be on the same page easily, but are also flexible enough to go jump on the first idea. That makes our show seem like a runaway train. Just constantly moving forward. 

    We love Atlas and we love Madison, and we can’t wait to come back there and hang out with you guys soon. In the meantime, please rank the following post-show Atlas hangout options from best to worst, and please explain your rankings:

    • Star Bar
    • The Brass Ring
    • The Tornado Room
    • Francisco’s (note: the internet tells us that they might have gone out of business)
    • Drinking Grain Belts that had previously been chilling in Steve’s car
    • Going home and taking a shower
    • Essen Haus
    • SW: 1: Essen Haus, it is the place of friendship and joy! Do they have the best drinks? No. The best food? No. Is the polka band sometimes infuriating? Yes. But it has an undefinable magic.
    • 2: Grain Belts from my car. Other than Grain Belt being the best beer in existence, it usually means a chill night hanging at the space.
    • 3: Tornado Room, and an excellent steak. This would be higher on my list, but the chances of getting a table are so low; maybe one out of three times can we get in.
    • 4: Star Bar. It’s close, and it has character.
    • 5: Francisco’s, RIP. A longer walk, but pretty good tacos. Sadly, it is no more.
    • 6: The Brass Ring. It kind of has everything you want: good drink selection, serves food. But, it is merely adequate quality, and lacks character.
    • 7: Going home. I’m usually too wound up to get to sleep anyway, so I’d rather stay out and be with friends who have had a truly meaningful impact on my life. I might also have a drinking problem.
    • AR: #1 Essen HAUS- the place of friendship and love
    • #2 Tornado Room- those steak sammies are amazing
    • #3 Brass Ring- would be higher on the list if they didn’t close so damn early.
    • #4 drinking Grain Belt (love chilling at the space)
    • #5 going home and taking a shower
    • #6 Franciscos is dead and I’m not even mad
    • #7 Star bar- too loud/ if the outside is open it’s up to a # 5

    Finally, who do you think will be inducted into the Countdown Improv Festival Hall of Fame this year?

    SW: Barack Obama. Remember him? I don’t remember any improv festivals getting forced online when he was president.

    AR: I think you guys should be in the Hall of Fame because I love you so much!