Free Held2gether Improv Show THIS Saturday, Peeps!

Hey, party people!

Okay, that was just lame. Sorry. I was just trying to get your attention so I could remind you that this Saturday is Last Laugh Saturday, which is the show where we take suggestions from you guys and then figure out creative ways to turn them into hilarious scenes involving brothers, Asians, homosexuals or, most likely, homosexual Asian brothers. And those are just the scenes I'm in.

I know, I know. But we have to work with the suggestions we get, and we get "brothers" about 98% of the time.

Anyway, come on out to Hot Java and check us out! It's a great place to bring a date - you'll both be so busy laughing at us, you won't have time to have that awkward conversation about personal space.

By Sonnjea Blackwell

An Improv Record!

I'm sorry for the lapse - I have so much work to do at the moment and as it turns out, I'm not that focused sometimes. Sorry. You shoulda known me before improv... can you say scattered? But improv has helped the focus issues, as well as the shy issues, and the control-freak issues and the over-talking issues, and, well, you get the idea. I have a few issues.

Sunday was a record, even for me - 7 hours of improv in one day. If everyday could contain 7 hours of improv, I'd be a happy girl. Someday, maybe. For now, I get to look forward to Snow Globes & Shotgun Weddings, our long-form improv show coming up this Sunday night at the Sky Room Wedding Chapel in the LBC. There are still tickets available, but you should hurry!

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Improv In August

OMG, peeps! There is SO MUCH happening in August. I don't want your heads to explode or anything, but I have a lot to tell you.

First, this Friday is the first Friday in August, which means it's August First Fridays in the LBC. Of course, Held2gether will be at Elise's Tea Room, doing our improv-y thing. This month we're calling it Beach Blanket Bixby!

The show is free, as always. Come at 6:30 to chow down on delish scones, finger sandwiches and, in honor of beachy picnics, pigs-in-a-blanket! The show starts at 7:30.

Then, on Sunday, August 14th, we're doing the 1/2-day Intro to Improv Workshop at the EXPO Art Center. This workshop is great for newbies, people who are currently taking the Level 1 or Level 2 classes who want extra practice, or old pros who know you can never get enough improv!

The following Sunday, August 21st, it's our big long form show, Held2gether presents Snow Globes & Shotgun Weddings at the Sky Room Wedding Chapel in Long Beach.

Ten bucks for all the long form-y hilarity you can stand. Get your tickets in advance at the website, and you'll get a ticket for a free drink as well. The show starts at 6:00, so no complaints about it being a school night!

We'd LOVE to see you at all of these things! Check the Held2gether website for more deets on everything, or call the boss with questions.

(Lisa thinks I'm not very subtle, but I didn't even mention my birthday. Which is in August. Sometime.)

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Free Improv Show In Long Beach!

It's been a month already! That means it's time for another Held2gether improv comedy show in the LBC.

Now, you might be thinking to yourselves, "Jeez, that Sonnjea person doesn't do anything but pimp H2G stuff." And of course, you'd be right. But the thing about our monthly shows at Hot Java and First Fridays is they are FREE, which basically means one of two things: Either I am the worst pimp ever because I forget to charge, or we just really, really like you.

Turns out, it's the second one. The bottom line is, we love improv. We love watching it, we love learning it and we love performing it. And we especially love sharing it with our Long Beach friends and neighbors. Hot Java could make a bundle off their back-to-back comedy weekends (Laugh a Latte the 3rd Saturday of the month, H2G the 4th). But they don't, because they are also committed to providing free comedy for the community. Same with Elise's Tea Room, who hosts monthly improv as part of Bixby Knolls' First Fridays Art Walk.

See? I keep telling you we're givers! Sure, you could go to Vegas and have a great time. But you'd spend a fortune, get sunburned, do stuff that's illegal, immoral or just plain creepy and have to come up with creative lies to tell your boss about why you look like a homeless person on Monday morning. With H2G presents Last Laugh Saturday, you'll spend maybe three bucks on a coffee, do nothing to increase your risk of skin cancer, watch people make up hilarious scenes about doing stuff that's illegal, immoral or just plain creepy (with none of the shame and self-loathing that comes from doing it yourself) and no one will give you loose change and judgemental looks on your way to work Monday.

Look, there's nothing wrong with Vegas. But it's also nice to stay in town, check out the local talent and save a buck or two. This Saturday, July 23rd, 8 p.m., Hot Java. And Friday, August 5th, 7:30, Elise's Tea Room.

That still leaves you plenty of time to do the creepy stuff. You're welcome. And please don't feel the need to share.

By Sonnjea Blackwell