Articulations
The grand old troupe of the Austin improv comedy scene is closing its home of six years, and the Texas Commission on the Arts announces the appointments for state poet laureate, state musician, state two-dimensional artist, and state three-dimensional artist for 2003 and 2004.
By Robert Faires, Fri., May 2, 2003
Playhouse's Last Laugh
No joke: National Comedy Theatre is closing the vault and moving out of the mall. The grand old troupe of the Austin improv comedy scene, NCT has been pulling laughs out of thin air for 17 years (originally and for most of that time as ComedySportz- Austin). More than six of those years were spent in their very own home, a converted bank building at Northcross Mall. The ComedySportz Playhouse opened in November of 1996, and its Electrolux vacuum light fixtures, tables from the Dart Bowl, and vault lounge provided a whimsical and altogether fitting setting for the group's interactive comedy competitions, as well as appearances by other comedy groups such as the Skinnies, ImproVision, the Blah-Blah-Train, and the Nielsons and events such as an HBO Comedy Showcase and more benefits than you can count. Now, after some 3,000 events in the space, NCT owner and troupe guru Les McGehee has decided to take his business elsewhere. Just where, McGehee isn't ready to say just yet, but he assures the club's many fans that a new home for NCT is in the works. An announcement should be forthcoming by midsummer. In the meantime, he, business manager and longtime troupe member Megan Flynn, and Artistic Director (and Mr. Sinus Theater co-founder) Owen Egerton encourage comedy lovers to come by for one of their final shows this weekend or May 9-10 and have a last laugh in their old home. NCT's improv competition Two Teams and a Ref is performed at 7:30pm Fridays and Saturdays, and the all-star 18-and-older show The Jet Set is 10pm Saturday. For information, call 266-3397 or visit www.comedy7.com.
Texas, Your Official Artists
Congratulations to the latest batch of artists named as official cultural representatives of the Lone Star State. Last week, the Texas Commission on the Arts announced the appointments for the positions of state poet laureate, state musician, state two-dimensional artist, and state three-dimensional artist for 2003 and 2004. These positions, created by SB 1043 of the 77th Legislature, will be filled by one-year appointments. To be eligible for appointment, the artists must be native Texans or five-year residents of the state and must have received recognition for high levels of excellence and success in their respective disciplines. The eight appointees named for 2003 and 2004 certainly fill the bill for excellence and dedicated commitment to the arts in Texas -- and two call Austin home. The 2003 appointees are Jack Myers of Mesquite, Texas, poet laureate; James Dick of Round Top, Texas, state musician; Ralph White of Austin, Texas, state two-dimensional artist; and Dixie Friend Gay of Houston, Texas, state three-dimensional artist. The 2004 appointees include Cleatus Rattan of Cisco, Texas, poet laureate; Ray Benson of Austin, Texas, state musician; Sam Caldwell of Houston, Texas, state two-dimensional artist; and David Hickman of Dallas, Texas, state three-dimensional artist. For more information, visit www.arts.state.tx.us/news/newsflash.asp.
