Here at Gnap! Theater Projects, we’re excited to be presenting the Puppet Improv Project’s fun show, Crack! The Improvised Puppet Musical. One of the great things about the show is that each night features a different guest artist from the world of Austin comedy. We’ll be interviewing each of them in turn. Today, we’re excited to have stand up mover and shaker and community leader Albert Im.
Gnap!: Hey Albert, let’s start off by saying thanks for being part of this show. Have you ever worked with puppets before?
Al: Thank you for having me! I’m really looking forward to it. Aside from playing with puppets as a child, I haven’t had any experience working with them. Just so happens it’s #25 on the bucket-list, so I’m excited about it.
Gnap!: Bucket list?
Al: Things to do before I die. The “Kick-the-bucket-list.” You’ve never heard that expression? They made a movie about it. And by “they” I mean Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson.
Gnap!: Wow, no. I figured it was something like that. Apparently I can cross knowledge of that phrase off my own bucket list.
So anyhow, tell me a little about your involvement with improv in the past. I think most people around town know you as a stand up guy, in both senses of the word.
Al: I definitely used to be more active in improv in the past. I ran with a group of hip kids in the troupe, “Snackers,” who are still going strong and was a part of the trio “Mister Boss Man.” I also used to run the Monday Night Mash back when it started at Kick Butt Coffee before it was moved to Coldtowne Theater. Aside from that, I did several Maestros at The Hideout (#33 on the Bucket List) and was one of the Boys of Summer a couple years ago (#29). My direct activity in improv has definitely dropped off in recent years but I still keep track of what’s going on. As for stand-up, it’s definitely been more my focus and my website www.lastgascomedy.com, which focuses on stand-up comedy in Austin, has been up and running for almost three years now.
Gnap!: I like what you’ve done with Last Gas a lot. Before then I didn’t feel like the stand-up community had the same kind central hub like the improv community has had for a while. Maybe I was just not as knowledgable about the stand up scene as I am now, but it seems like you’ve done a lot to build the sense of community out there among the new generation of stand ups. I guess that’s not even a question, I’m just giving you a high five.
Al: Aw, thanks man. I definitely feel like Austin’s stand up community had always been a very vibrant and colorful scene, but it has grown even more and received more exposure in recent years. The improv scene, of course, is the same way, especially lately, which is really exciting. Austin comedy in general is really blossoming. I know it’s something that someone says every year, but I think that’s what makes the comedy scene unique in this town – it consistently grows and evolves every year.
Gnap!: Awesome! Anything else we should know about on the horizon? Any dark secrets you’d like to share?
Al: I recently resurrected the JabberTalky how at Ego’s, an improvised talk show format that takes place at 7 pm on the first Wednesday of every month. There was a lot of demand to bring it back since it ended a year ago and I’m excited to bring it back.
As far as dark secrets go, it’ weird because the fact that I do comedy has always been my “dark little secret” to people that know me outside of comedy. Maybe my dark secret for you is that I lead a normal life outside of comedy…?
But let’s keep that between us.
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