Girls Girls Girls , Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Shana Merlin, founder and member of Girls, Girls, Girls was gracious enough to answer a few burnin' questions we had about the troupe, their goals, and the upcoming Ladies Are Funny Festival (LAFF).DB: What is Girls Girls Girls?
Merlin: We are an improv comedy troupe that makes up full length musicals on the spot. We improvise the story, songs, and dances along with a live musical improviser. It's a ton of fun.
DB: Girls Girls Girls is now the oldest active improv troupe in Austin. What's the secret to your longevity?
Merlin: Making an improv troupe last is tricky. You need to get a group of people who have the same artistic goals as well as the same commitment level to the troupe. We are lucky in GGG to have a core membership that has both of those things. Plus we are really strict and structured. Everyone has a troupe job, whether it is treasurer, webmaster, or fluffer, who checks in on people and make sure they are feeling good in relation to the troupe. We have lots of business meetings, and policies on things from being late to rehearsal to what to wear in the show. And what we do is freakin' fun. It's addictive and keeps troupe members coming back for more.
Merlin: We have 7 Girls currently in the troupe and 1 musical improviser. We have about 10 alumni girls, and about 5 alumni musical improvisers. That's 22 total performers who have been in GGG.
DB: Tell us about the upcoming LAFF festival and GGG's role in it.
Merlin: GGG is so excited about this! We are producing LAFF, the Ladies are Funny Festival. On April 27-28 there is going to be a full weekend of performances by female improvisers, rap groups, clowns, and bands. We have performers from out of town and out of the state traveling to be here that weekend. Along with the shows there are going to be parties and panel discussions. We are going to build community, celebrate women in comedy, and entertain the crap out of our audiences.
DB: What does the future hold for GGG?
Merlin: We want to tour more around the country--booking our own shows and heading to festivals. When the Girls have a great show, we think we do some of the best musical improv in Austin and the nation. We want to spread the love, get tons of fans, teach workshops, get super rich, and drive pink and black cars. That, and the return of Boys of Summer, in July and August of 2007. Each Saturday at 8pm we will have a guest boy perform a musical with us.
Merlin: Doing it in heels.
Girls Girls Girls performs in The Double Barrel on 4/27/2007, along with Superovum.
Their website is http://ggg.austinimprov.com.
The LAFF website is http://laff.austinimprov.com
Labels: girls girls girls, interview
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