Hi HUGEletter readers! It has been a long time since I've written you a HUGEletter. Apologies. It's a weird thing to do, to write a letter every month then hit a button and hope someone reads it. A little message in a virtual bottle tossed into the ocean of emails. But just now there are a few things I really want to tell you!

• OMG is coming back! OMG features a cast of six people reading from their actual adolescent diaries/yearbooks/notes, followed by improv based on the material. Taj Ruler from the Brave New Workshop and Show X will be hosting this upcoming run, and the cast will be different each Saturday in May and June at 8pm.
• If you are an improv performer, producer or director - or you'd like to be - please participate in the Artist Summit. There are morning and afternoon sessions on Saturdays April 20 & 27.  Read more and register here.
• We always recommend buying tickets online. Did you know it is actually the LESS expensive way to buy single tickets? We know people hate ticket fees so we reduced the online price to eat them up nom nom nom. Check out the full show schedule and buy tickets at hugetheater.com

Member News

You may have heard - we've made some changes to the Member Program so that more people can participate. You can now become a ongoing Supporter of HUGE Theater for as little as $5 per month! Full membership starts at $30 a month. We’re truly grateful for any level of support you can give. More info at: http://www.hugetheater.com/contact/donate/ 

Update to the Member Handshake: please, just take it slow on the spinning part, we've had too much broken glassware.

HUGE Hero:  Pamela Mazzone 
We like celebrating people who make the community better or elevate the experience of being at HUGE in big ways or small.  

This month we recognize Pamela Mazzone, a performer, Teaching Assistant and all-around rock star. She brings amazing positive energy into the building, and she’s great at spreading the good word about shows she’s a part of and those she sees.  Pam was nominated by a student, Deepika Pangarkar,  who wrote: "When I first came to HUGE, I was terrified of improv. I wasn't funny and I was always in my head. I still am, but thanks to Pam always being inclusive and encouraging, I learned to let go a bit. Pam really did an amazing job as a TA making me feel like anyone can do improv, even engineers who aren't funny and way too practical. It's so hard entering a space that's new and having no experience in it. Im just lucky that my first introduction to improv was with Pam in 101." 

Thanks for all you do, Pam!

Who would you like to nominate for HUGE Hero?  We're opening up a nomination form, and would love to hear from you. 
Nominations HERE! 
 
Ask Jill

Director of Education Jill Bernard answers questions about improv. Here are two about auditioning!   

Heather writes, “One of the characteristics of being a good improviser is "making your scene partner(s) look good", i.e. supporting their choices and not steam-rolling them. On the other hand, when auditioning for shows, you also need to stand out and be memorable. I struggle to reconcile those two things and find that balance. I don't want to be too timid in my choices, but I also don't want to be a selfish jerk either. Any advice?”
Directors don’t want you to stand out or be memorable. They want you to do good, supportive improv. There is a famous story about Ian Gomez’ audition for Second City where all he did was play the bartender in the background of a scene where a couple was fighting. He gave such focus to the scene and did such great environmental work that he was the one they cast. Show that you have solid improvisational skills, that you can support your scene partners, and that you can take direction well. 

Hannah asks, “How many times should you go back to the same show audition if you don't get in the first, second, etc. times you auditioned? Like if you try out for Throwback each year and don't get in, do you think it's a matter of moving on or trying a different tactic?” 
If you have the energy and it’s not depleting you emotionally, please go back to and audition every year. At an audition, they only see you personally for about 5 minutes, all told. They might’ve missed what makes you special. There’s nothing wrong in giving them a second or third or fourth chance to see it, and in taking some time to develop your chops. 

When ComedySportz moved out of Calhoun Square, Doug Neithercott, the artistic director, did the sweetest thing. He went through all the old paperwork and gave us all the photos from each of our auditions. Some of us had auditioned three or four times, and had a little row of Polaroids with different shirts and haircuts. Some of the strongest ComedySportz players didn’t get in on the first try.  

Nobody asked, "How can I find out about improv auditions?" 
Two great places to look are the HUGE Performers Blog: http://performers.hugetheater.com/blog/  and the Twin Cities Improv Treehouse Facebook group.