RFT Best of 2010 list salutes Cherokee Street once again

A couple of years ago, The Riverfront Times awarded Cherokee Street with its Best Mile of St. Louis distinction.  They were right then, and Cherokee continues to earn mentions in the RFT.

The Best of St. Louis 2010 Awards have been posted for this year and once again there are more than a couple of Cherokee-related honorees.

Congratulations are in order for the following awards:

Best Place for Belly Laugh: The Improv Trick
Best Art Gallery to Die in the Past Year:  Boots Contemporary Art (sorry to see you go, Boots!)
Best Arts Organization: Sloup
Best New Band:  Sleepy Kitty
Best Local Artist:  Sarah Paulsen
Best Parade:  People's Joy Parade on Cherokee Street
Best St. Louis-Inspired Wordplay:  STL-Style
Best Junk Store: Cranky Yellow
Best New Club:  2720 Cherokee
Best Place to Slow Dance: Casa Loma Ballroom
Best Trend:  "Up with the St. Louis music scene!" is the award recipient here -- with mentions of Foam and 2720 as fab places to hear and see music.


That is quite a lot of kick-assery, Cherokee art folk!  Well done!  (Hope I didn't miss anyone -- if I did please let me know in the comments!)

interested in taking an improv class?

Interested in taking an improv class?

The Improv Trick is offering Introduction to Improvisation starting March 24!

Learn "The Trick" to Improv. This highly recommended class is a comfortable and supporting environment, suitable for people who have never been onstage before. Beginning Students find this work easier than they thought and Advanced students find The Improv Trick approach fresh and inspirational.

This class is taught by Bill Chott and George Malich. Chott appears on Disney's *Wizards of Waverly Place, The Ringer* and *Saturday Night Live*. He's performed and taught internationally for *The Second City, Improv Olympic, *and* Upright Citizen's Brigade*. He also teaches workshops for Special Olympics Global Messengers. George Malich is an award-winning St. Louis Actor, star of the film *A. Anonymous* and one of the leading improv teachers in St. Louis, having trained with Keith Johnstone. Your first session of this 4 week introductory course is free. This Lifetime Class can
be repeated to help you develop a firm foundation in the fundamentals of improvisation. This Lifetime Class is only $150 and you can register at the free class at a $25 discount. Scholarships, Gift Certificates, and Internships are now available. For more info, call 314-922-1998, e-mail info@theimprovtrick .com or visit www.theimprovtrick.com

All classes take place at 2715 Cherokee Street, St. Louis, MO 63118.
Wednesdays 3/24-4/14 7:30-9:30PM
Sundays 3/28-4/25 (Does not occur on 4/4) 3:00-5:00PM

Hope to see you soon,
The Improv Trick

STL 314-922-1998
LA 323-359-8588

Weekly Shows Tuesday and Wednesday
For more info visit

www.theimprovtrick.com
www.theimprovtrick.ning.com
www.myspace.com/improvtrick

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Improv Benefits for Haitian Earthquake Relief

Tuesdays and Wednesday nights are always special for The Improv Trick. This weeks shows need your support more urgently than ever.

We're raising funds for Haitian Earthquake Relief. If you've been out to a show before and enjoyed it, please bring friends for a night (or two) of fun for a necessary cause.

Tuesday's Benefit
January 19, 2010
Improv Trick Harold Night and Longform Jam
The Improv Trick Comedy Underground
2715 Cherokee St.
8pm - FREE - Donations accepted at the door

Wednesday's Benefit
January 21, 2010
Bill Chott's Late Nite Improv Comedy Jam
Mangia Italiano
3145 S. Grand
10:30pm - FREE Donations accepted at the door

Lifetime Improv Class

From Bill Chott:

LIFETIME IMPROV CLASS

One price pays for free improv classes...for the rest of your Life!
Perform in a showcase and join us onstage for shows twice weekly!

Cost: $150, only $125 if you pre-register online.

Learn "The Trick" to Improv. This highly recommended class is a comfortable and supporting environment, suitable for people who have never been onstage before. Beginning Students find this work easier than they thought and advanced students find The Improv Trick approach fresh and inspirational. Students of this class appear in an improv showcase and can perform twice weekly at Improv Trick shows. This class is taught by Bill Chott and George Malich.

Chott is the star of Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place, The Ringer and Saturday Night Live. He's performed and taught internationally for The Second City, Improv Olympic, Upright Citizen's Brigade. He also teaches workshops for Special Olympics Global Messengers.

George Malich is an award-winning St. Louis Actor, star of the film A. Anonymous and one of the leading improv teachers in St. Louis, having trained with Keith Johnstone.

If you enjoy this free class, you can register at a discount for a 4-week introductory course — The Lifetime Class — that you can take again and again. This Lifetime Class is only $150 and you can register at the free class at a $25 discount.

WHERE: The Improv Trick Comedy Underground - 2715 Cherokee, STL MO 63118
WHEN: Sundays 3-5pm, Wednesdays 7:30-9:30pm - Sit in on either class for Life!
COST: $150, only $125 if you pre-register online.

Scholarships, gift certificates, and internships are now available. For more info, call 314-922-1998 or visit theimprovtrick.com

FREE! "Honkey" Goodbye Roast: November 28 - All Welcome!

From "BJ "Honkey" Lange:

Fellow St. Louisans,

I haven't had that much time to meet all of you, but those who I have met know that I am moving back out west very soon. I signed a lease in Los Angeles starting December 1. My improv school, The Improv Trick (founded by Bill Chott; SNL, The Ringer, Second City) wishes to throw me a roast before I leave. I'd really like to have the community which I've grown to love there, considering how much you all have grown on me.

Date: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: The Improv Trick Comedy Underground
Street: 2715 Cherokee
City/Town: Saint Louis, MO

BJ "Honkey" Lange is moving to Los Angeles, CA and The Improv Trick wants to give him the proper send-off by throwing him a roast!

Roastmasters Angie Patton and Marc Pruter will be there making sure that BJ will be ripped a new one by some of St. Louis' top comedians and his own friends! Come join in on the fun, bring your friends and say good-bye to him in style.

This event is BYOB and there is a $10 suggested donation.

For more information, please contact Marc or Angie at
314-922-1998 info (at) theimprovtrick (dot) com

Improv Benefit for childhood cancer this Saturday

One Night Only!!!! The Improv Trick is proud to host the "BAD BOYS OF KANSAS CITY IMPROV!"

October 17 at 8:00 pm at The Improv Trick Comedy Underground!

Tickets are only $10 and proceeds will benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand, a charity dedicated to fighting childhood cancer.

For more information or to make reservations, call 314-922-1998

Please invite your friends!!! This is going to be a really fun event!

Kansas City Improvisers to Play St. Louis for Cancer Charity
St. Louis – Loaded Dice, Kansas City’s Bad Boys of Comedy are coming to St. Louis to perform with Bill Chott’s Improv Trick on October 17th, 2009. Loaded Dice promises to bring fun, fast-paced comedy with a whole lot of attitude from Missouri’s “West Coast” and a portion of the ticket sales will benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a foundation that supports finding a cure for childhood cancer. The show begins at 8:00 PM.

Loaded Dice competed in Kansas City’s Improv Thunderdome which pits nine improv teams against one another twice a year to determine who the best improvisers in Kansas City are. The Bad Boys of Comedy won, two times, a feat that no other team can claim. The Kansas City-based troupe also hosted a twenty-four-hour comedy benefit this summer raising over $1200 for Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

Clay Morgan, director of Loaded Dice, wants to expand the troupe’s comedy arsenal and help kids at the same time. Loaded Dice partnered Alex’s Lemonade Stand because it supports research going on at KU Med Center and Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. “It was sort of a no-brainer to team up with such a great charity. Plus, they were really jazzed about the idea. Laughter is the best medicine,” Morgan said. He hopes that playing with teams in other cities will raise awareness of Alex’s Lemonade Stand and to learn from other improvisers.

“When we play with other troupes, we always learn from their style. We use that to play better and smarter. Performing with teams in Kansas City is great, but there are other cities doing great improv, like St. Louis and Springfield, that are just a few hours away. They offer different styles of doing what we love to do” Morgan says.

Bill Chott, owner of the Improv Trick, hosted the Kansas City Improv Festival a few years ago and Morgan and Chott became friends on Facebook. This connection has led to the cross-state performance for Loaded Dice. The men of Loaded Dice are very excited to perform in St. Louis.

“We’re pretending we are rock stars on tour. We get a chance to do what we love in front of new audiences,” Morgan adds, “We aren’t going to tear up a hotel or anything like that, but we will hit the stage with all the swagger and confidence that is associated with bands like KISS and AC/DC.”

The Loaded Dice will also be teaching a workshop on Sunday October 18 at 1 pm.

Registration is just $25 for Current Improv Trick Students and $30 for everyone
else. Space is limited so reserve your spots today!
314-922-1998

The Improv Trick Comedy Underground is at 2715 Cherokee St. STL, MO 63118

FREE Improv Class, Longform Class begins Monday

FREE Improv Class Wednesday, Longform Class begins this Monday, October 5.

Take this FREE class and you can register for The Lifetime Class:

Introduction to Improv – Level 1
Wednesdays, 7-9pm – Join in anytime, for Life!
PUBLIC SPEAKING, NETWORKING, FUN

Bill Chott from SNL, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The Ringer is recognized nationally as one of the best improv teachers. Take advantage of this class while he’s in town, and you’ll be able to take it for FREE for the rest of your Lifetime. Bill and others teach this class year-round and once you’ve taken the class you can always come back and take this class for free. This class is a safe and comfortable environment, suitable for beginners and experienced improvisers looking for a fresh point of view.

Students in this class will be eligible to perform in a Student Showcase at the Improv Trick Comedy Underground.

The Improv Trick Comedy Underground is located at 2715 Cherokee St. Saint Louis, MO 63118

Instructors: Bill Chott and Marc Pruter

*FREE TIX* WED 9/9 - Improv Comedy Show

From BJ "Honkey" Lane, of the Improv Trick:

Friends of St. Louis Improv, Talent, and Artists –

Come See Why The Improv Trick Won an RFT Masterminds Award, and why BILL CHOTT/Improv Trick was featured in This week's RFT cover feature!!

Our last stage match at The Stable.... An all-ages event.

St. Louis' top comedy improvisers match wits in The Stagematch, a no-holds-barred, knock-down, drag out head to head bout. Audience suggestions are spun into pure comedy gold in this evening of competitive improv.

Imagine if Wrestling at the Chase broke out at a Whose Line Is It Anyway improv show! Cheer your heroes, boo your villains, and you'll laugh till you're down for the count at The Stable (St. Louis's hottest new brewhouse and distillery) to play games and share new games. Teams of 2 players set comedy records, bring home the gag trophy and bash wits for your comedy enjoyment.

Funds will be raised for scholarships for local youth scholarships to become improv students, and this party will go on way into the night.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Doors Open at 9:00pm

The Stable
1821 Cherokee Street (at Lemp)
St. Louis (Benton Park by Lemp Brewery)

Looking forward to seeing you at the show. Good food, drinks, laughs and memories, let me know how many free tickets you need.

Bringing improv back to St. Louis ,

BJ “Honkey” Lange

Student/Performer, The Improv Trick

314.922.1998

info at theimprovtrick dot com

Kudos to a Cherokee Street Mastermind

The Improv Trick has been recognized by The Riverfront Times as the 2009 Performing Arts MasterMinds for their work in teaching and performing improv with an emphasis on involvement in the Cherokee community. (click on the link for a terrific write-up on The Improv Trick.) And Bill Chott and The Improv Trick are due to be featured in the RFT this week!

Oher Improv Trick news:

Don't miss Bill Chott's Comedy Cabaret this Friday, September 4 at the Gaslight Theater. An early show for families, and a late night show for sophisticated audiences.

For more info, visit theimprovtrick.com

The Improv Trick
2715 Cherokee St.
St. Louis, MO 63118
314-922-1998

Free Improv Comedy Show Tonight!

If you haven't been to the Improv Trick Comedy Underground for the longform jam, then tonight is the night you need to go! You will be amazed as teams of improv actors create an entire play-let, from a single audience suggestion, right before your very eyes! And tonight, we have, Doug Foehner, acid head guitarist, opening the show.

The Improv Trick Comedy Underground is located at 2715 Cherokee, between Iowa and Ohio. The show starts at 8:00pm with LIVE music. Doors open at 7:30pm. Admission is FREE and you may B.Y.O.B.

Tuesday Nights at the Improv Trick feature a sampling of longforms, like:

• Dream (an audience member recounts their day, as our players portray that night's possible dream);
• Armando (a player provides comedy monologues based on an audience suggestion, and the other players create a montage of scenes, based on ideas generated from the monologues);
• Ugly Coyote: Harold (three different scenes revisited three times with palate-cleansing short-form games between).
  

So come on out for a riotous good time!

Big Free Comedy Tonight!

*WHAT? Long Form Improv Comedy & Jam!!*
*WHEN? **Tuesdays at 7:30pm!*
*WHERE? Improv Trick Comedy Underground! *
*WHY? It's Fun! It's Funny! It's FREE! *

** *AND This Tuesday August 4th ONLY!!*
By special arrangement: local psychotronic acoustic guitarist *Bill Boll* opens the show with his sometimes touching, sometimes humorous, *always dynamic* combination of originals and covers.

*Bill Chott's* Improv Trick Comedy Underground is located at 2715 Cherokee, between Iowa and Ohio. The show starts at 7:30pm LIVE music and doors open at 7:00pm. Admission is FREE and you may B.Y.O.B.

What the heck is longform? If you've never seen longform improv (and even if you have) you will be amazed as teams of improv actors create an entire play-let, from a single audience suggestion, right before your very eyes!

Tuesday Nights at the Improv Trick feature a sampling of longforms, like:

- *Dream* (an audience member recounts their day, as our players portray that night's possible dream);
- *Armando* (a player provides comedy monologues based on an audience suggestion, and the other players create a montage of scenes, based on ideas generated from the monologues);
- *Ugly Coyote: Harold *(three different scenes revisited three times with palate cleansing short-form games between). Ugly Coyote stars: Lindsey Barrow, David Imler, Mike Lara, Han Lim, George Malich, Theresa Masters, John Stumpf and Ric Syberg.

A typical (though there's nothing typical about it!) longform night also features several short form games, musical numbers, and opportunities for audience members to get up and "jam" too!

If you're a fan of longform ... come on out! Maybe even join the jam? If this sounds like some sort of freaky spectacle ... then come to the freak show and meet the freaks!

Please visit www.theimprovtrick.com for more information.

National Improv Tour Coming this Saturday

Chris Trew and Tami Nelson’s Dream of Meal Tour brings Austin Comedy’s finest two-person show and classes to St. Louis’s Improv Trick Comedy Underground.

Here's what the critics have to say:

“Clever…deliriously unpredictable” – The Onion

“A fiercely enjoyable brain warp of a time” – The Austin Chronicle

“Energetic and razor sharp” – The Gothamist

Chris Trew and Tami Nelson are nationally touring performers and instructors and are the official improv group of Studio8.net.

The duo met, trained and began performing together in New Orleans at the Comedy Conservatory. After Hurricane Katrina they relocated to Austin, Texas where improv became life. After attending nearly every comedy festival in North America performing and studying the art form they returned to Austin and co-founded the ColdTowne Theater and Conservatory.

Chris and Tami were at the forefront of an improv revival and played a major role in exploding the burgeoning Austin improv scene. From 2006 to 2008 they were the Artistic and Conservatory Directors, producing and performing in hundreds of shows as well as training hundreds of students.

They’ll be performing at the Improv Trick Comedy Underground Saturday, August 1 and teaching the following workshops:

• Freestyle Rapping – Saturday, August 1, 5-7pm
• The Pattern is Everything – Sunday, August 2, 2-4pm
• Device Art – Sunday, August 2, 4:30-6:30

For more info and to make reservations, visit www.theimprovtrick.com or call 314-922-1998.

The Improv Trick Comedy Underground
2715 Cherokee St.
St. Louis, MO 63118

Tuesday Night Longform Improv

This Tuesday (as well as every Tuesday!) Ugly Coyote along with The Improv Trick present the Harold Night and Longform Jam! Come out and watch as the players spin completely improvised scenes, games, and vignettes into a three act play all based on a single suggestion from the audience! The night is free and fun and starts at 8:00 pm! So don't miss your chance to get in on the underground comedy scene in St. Louis at:

The Improv Trick Comedy Underground:
2715 Cherokee St.
St. Louis, MO 63118

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Last chance to see Bill Chott in STL

One last week to see Bill Chott in action here in St. Louis. Three, if your schedule permits this week. Listen to us live on John Carney's show on KMOX tonight around 10:30 or so.

1. HAROLD NIGHT AND LONGFORM JAM - Bill Chott (Saturday Night Live, The Ringer, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and St. Louis' hottest improvisers perform longform improv, an artform with roots in St. Louis history. Tuesday June 23rd (tonight) at The Improv Trick Comedy Underground 2715 Cherokee St. 8:00 pm.

2. COMEDY STAGE MATCH - St. Louis's top comedy improvisers match wits in The Stagematch, a no-holds-barred, knock-down, drag out head to head bout. Imagine if Wrestling at the Chase broke out at a Whose Line Is It Anyway improv show! Cheer your heros, boo your villains, and you'll laugh till you're down for the count. Funds from this show will benefit local at-risk kids and adults in the Cherokee area. Wednesday the 24th (tomorrow) At The Stable 1821 Cherokee 9:00pm

3. COMEDY ROAST - Bill Chott's 40th Birthday Roast. Bill's comedy friends and family will rip him a new one, and the public is invited. This will be every bit as raunchy and rowdy as a Friar's Club or Comedy Central Roast. Don't miss this once in a lifetime event! $8.00 ticket includes beer! At The Improv Trick Comedy Underground 2715 Cherokee 9:00pm.

Online ticketing is available for all these events...The Roast may sell out early, so buy your tickets now. For info, click here.

Workshop & Auditions & Audition Workshop

Audition Workshop - Stop Making the Same Mistakes!

Work in Film and TV
Learn from a Working Professional with experience in Top 10 films and TV’s highest rated shows. Bill Chott (Saturday Night Live, The Ringer) teaches you his secret methods.

Learn Audition Technique Tips and Tricks:
How to Prepare for the Unexpected.
Get an Instant Guaranteed Callback!
Learn how to market yourself.
Turn a Question into an Instant Showcase!
Audition Technique Workshop
Only $50! Register with a friend and save $10
Sunday May 10 7-9pm
At The Improv Trick
2715 Cherokee Street
St. Louis, MO 63118
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Comedy Audition with Saturday Night Live's Bill Chott

The Improv Trick will be holding comedy auditions on Sunday, May 24, 2009 from 3:00 - 6:00 pm at 2715 Cherokee. For work with Bill Chott (Saturday Night Live, The Ringer) on stage, at festivals, tours, corporate events, and online content. All ages, no experience necessary. Call 314-922-1998.

Bill Chott
Actor: Website Reel IMDb
The Improv Trick
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Multicultural Audition

The Improv Trick will be holding multicultural auditions for scholarships and performance on Sunday, May 17, 2009 from 7-9 pm at 2715 Cherokee. Seeking African-American, Latino, Asian, all ages and all ethnicities for work with Bill Chott (Saturday Night Live, The Ringer) on stage, at festivals, tours, corporate events, and online content. All ages, no experience necessary. Call 314-922-1998 or e-mail at info at theimprovtrick dot com.

Free improv class and party

Bill Chott (Saturday Night Live, The Ringer) is back in St. Louis! He just shot a scene with Johnny Depp in the upcoming film The Rum Diary. He's in town through June and he'll be teaching classes for adults, kids and teens.

Don't miss this chance. Please tell a friend.

Kids know Bill as Mr. Laritate from Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place and PBS's Curious George. Teens know him from Johnny Knoxville film The Ringer, and Dude Where's My Car. Everyone at Altenheim has seen him on ER and MONK.

Join us this Saturday, April 18, for a FREE Improv class, party, improv jam and networking event. . To register, please email info at theimprovtrick dot com or call 314-922-1998.

To find out more about the classes Bill is teaching while he's in town, please visit http://www.theimprovtrick.com.

Thanks,
The Improv Trick Team

The Improv Trick in St. Louis is at 2715 Cherokee Street.