Preview and Interview: Grandma Hates Technology at Out Of Bounds [Improv]
Thursday September 2
Salvage Vanguard Theatre (2803 Manor Road)
$12, 8 pm
[info] | [tickets]
The Out of Bounds Comedy Festival is bringing down the unique improv duo Grandma Hates Technology. While improv duos are fairly ubiquitous, Grandma Hates Technology, a father and his teenage daughter, is a more unusual combination than most. Grandma Hates Technology will be performing two shows in this year's festival. Austinist asked Mike Weiss -- the father -- about how he came to perform improv with his daughter and how they avoid doing anything creepy on stage.
Most teenage girls don't want to be seen with their parents, much less on the stage. How did you two discover performing improv together and how has it affected your relationship?
We’ve always been very close. Jessica is an only child so I’ve always served as her surrogate sibling. In 2009 I noticed a duo improv class was being taught at the Magnet Theater. I’m a standup comedian and wanted to take the class with another comic. I couldn’t think of anyone who would be a good fit and as I was about to give up on the idea, I thought of taking the class with my daughter. Magnet was very accommodating and allowed us to take the class together even though Jessica was only 12 at the time. Jessica had taken children’s improv classes before at local (New Jersey) theaters and camps.
We never expected to perform together beyond the initial 4-week class. But we discovered that we loved duo improv and continued taking classes at the Magnet. Then, in July 2009 we applied (on a lark) to the Philadelphia Improv Festival. To our surprise, we were accepted. Since then we have performed in the Gainesville Improv Festival, The North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival, The Providence Improv Festival and the Baltimore Improv Festival.
I think improv has made our relationship even stronger. We have a great deal of fun playing together and Jessica has the additional perk of being able to say anything she wants to me on stage-- including cursing and disrespectful gestures.
How much does being a father and daughter influence the stories you tell and the characters you embody? What does it open you up to do that other groups aren't able to do? In what ways does it limit you?
Being a father daughter improv troupe has a lot of advantages. We’ve known each other Jessica’s entire life, we have a tremendous amount of shared experiences and understand how each other thinks. For example, If one us mentions a name or a place our shared memories will often let us know how the other player would like us to react. Does that make sense?
As for limitations, there aren’t too many. The main limitation is that Jessica is not as educated as I am (though she certainly is smarter!) so there are some suggestions and ideas she doesn’t fully understand. It’s usually pretty easy to work around that because I have a pretty good idea of what she knows and what she doesn’t know.
Of course, we shy away from certain subjects that might lead to a creepy or uncomfortable scene.
What are some of your favorite things about performing together? What are some of the difficulties?
We love all the time we get to spend together. Sometimes we spend too much time together.
Is there anything in particular that you guys are looking forward to doing with your time in Austin?
We’re very excited about seeing lots and lot of shows. We’re also going to do a little sightseeing, check out bookstores and record shops, and maybe catch a band or two. Also, I am hoping to perform a little stand up around town.
