Media

Rogue Improv named Houston’s Best Improv by Houston Press!

Will Coviello, audience member / critic, from Best of New Orleans:

…Neither abandoned his premise and the idea of bridging them was pushed to impossible extremes before they found an absurdly satisfying conclusion. The three comedians were quick on their feet, knew when to end a joke and when to revisit a developed theme. Their performance flew by and left the audience hungry for more.

Anita N., audience member, from YELP!

I don’t think you understand how freaking hilarious these people are. Creative bunch. Love em!

Audience member Email to Rogue:

One thing I loved was that some of the most brilliantly funny moments were the result of very subtle character choices; I was trying to explain some of these moments to my friends later and it was just sort of like “Well she was letting her left eye-lid droop in this really hilarious way” or “She was just barely slurring her speech” or “He might’ve only said 3 words in the whole scene, but they felt like exactly the right words!”  Some Improv I’ve seen is fueled primarily by the players’ panic, and so everything is really frenzied and most of the characters are pretty stock– like, the ditzy girl, the dumb jock, the kooky, hard of hearing grandma. It was a pleasure to see characters that felt very unique thanks to what appeared to be the players’ willingness to inhabit the scene and take their time relating with the other players.

Chadwick S., of The New Movement Theater, from YELP!

Rogue kicks so much ass.  I’ve seen them perform numerous times and even performed with them and it has been a blast every time.  If you are in the Houston and want something fun to do, go check out Rogue Improv and you will be so much cooler than everyone else you know.

Brittany E., audience member, from YELP!

VERY funny! We didn’t know what we were going to, we just took a chance and it was hilarious! We’ve been to famous comedy shows (that cost a lot more) that weren’t as funny as this was….It’s an awesome place to bring a group of people…..We will be back for sure and we recommend this show to everyone!

Chris and Tami, of The New Movement Theater, from YELP!

The people of Rogue Improv are exciting, fun and funny people. Supporting this show is like swimming. It’s really fun and you feel good before during and after it.

Craig Hlavaty, Author at Houston Press , from YELP!

They smell good and they will make you laugh on the most unfunny night of the week for the price of roughly four double cheeseburgers from McDonald’s. Also the only place in town where you can drink with the talent afterwards without having to buy a bottle of champagne.

Liz Maute Cooke, Student, Fall 2010

Thanks to Rogue, Mondays are now my favorite day of the week. Aside from all the fun times and laughter, Rogue has introduced me to my favorite people in Houston. So sign up for a class, check out a show and come play with some truly tremendous human beings.  Oh, and I’m learning how to be real funny too. So, that’s neat.

Eva Kaminskayte, Student, Fall 2010

I learned more about communication from this class than I did in four years of college. I learned how to listen and retain information, read people better, make decisions faster, adapt to any situation, and interact with others without contention and without feeling like I need to be right all the time. The class offers a supportive and non-judgmental atmosphere where I can express any weird or quirky side of my personality, and it’s perfectly ok. There’s a whole team that will accept the weirdness and run with it. In the end, we’re all here to laugh and play

Lauren Church, Student, Fall 2010

[Level One Class] is a great overview of longform improv. Perfect for beginners or people looking to get back on stage….I really felt comfortable with the content, environment, pacing….Amy was great at explaining fundamentals of improv, giving examples of what they were and how they work. I really enjoyed the classes and Amy was a big part of that.

James Valentine, Student, Fall 2010

I took this class to develop my skills as a motorcycle teacher, as an opportunity to practice mental focus (which can be a struggle for me at times), and for entertainment. The course exceeded my expectations on all fronts and awakened a desire to perform that I did not know I had! Amy and Ryan are very skilled and create a high energy, trusting environment; I would recommend the class to anyone because at the very least it is certain to make anyone a more comfortable public speaker and increase their awareness, all while having a good time.

Cris Skelton, Student, Fall 2010

…..Ryan has a deep understanding and a genuine love for this art form that shines through in his teaching style. He made it fun and engaging and left me eager to learn more. I loved the fact that an almost family-liked bond was fostered between the people in the class.

….Ryan is a very positive instructor. He’s very approachable with any questions or concerns you may have and truly cares about the students. He is clearly focused and disciplined in his own life, and he translates that focus well into his art.

…..When a friend suggested I see a Rogue performance, I was eager to see what it would be like. After the first show, I was enthralled. These guys are all extremely experienced performers and have some major credit to their names.

…..I loved the fostering of friendship and family the class atmosphere provided. After the very first class, I felt like I had a new set of lifelong friends. I trusted everyone implicitly and was eager every week to go to class.

….The class was absolutely brilliant.  I have worked in every major acting discipline and experienced nearly every different philosophy in a theatrical or film production…I can say with complete sincerity that this is one of the best classes I have ever taken, and I grew more as an actor and as a person in those eight weeks than I have in a long time

….Rogue is an awesome company to be involved in and, in my opinion, the first and last word on improv in Houston. Every show is something new, fun, and different. The performers are invested in what they do and they show a genuine love for the form.  If you want great improv in Houston, your only choice if Rogue. The End.

Chris Oddo, Student, Fall 2010

I would highly suggest taking a Rogue improv class. Whether your intention is to perform, loosen up, meet new people, or have a new experience, these classes are more than worth your time and money.

Susan Serota, Student, Summer 2010

…..By taking an improv class through Rogue Improv, I stepped out of my comfort zone, met incredible people and had so much fun I completely forgot about work. Every personality type gains something different from learning the art of improv; some strengthen their communication skills, some gain confidence, but the greatest lesson for me was being told to simply play and have fun on a weekly basis. The opportunity this class provides to get out of your head and be completely in the moment is exhilarating.

….Ryan is supportive and always highlighted our moments of brilliance. He created an environment where the bar was raised and we all wanted to reach for it. The environment was not one where students sought the biggest laugh, but the smartest choices.

Michael Aschner, Student, Summer 2010

…..Ryan’s passion for the art of improv is obvious and infectious. His energy sets a great tone. His nurturing personality and enthusiasm helps create a safe environment conducive to risk-taking. I really enjoyed learning from him

….This class helped me open up and change the way I write and think about comedy. Being in this class was one of those rare moments where I felt like I was in the exact right place at the exact right time.

Dana Kantalis, Student, Summer 2010, from Table Seven Blog

I love that it challenged me. I enjoyed learning not only about improv but a little about myself along the way…. it’s some of the most fun I have had in a long while. I heart Rogue Improv and I am pretty sure that my Monday night kicks your Monday night’s ass.

Casey Watkins, Student, Spring 2010

This class taught me to rethink most of my day to day interactions, i.e. focusing on listening, letting go of anxieties about carefully filtering gut reactions, and taking better note of body language and cues displayed by myself and others. Ryan was a terrific instructor– he was patient, always supportive, and provided constant examples and rapid, astute feedback that I found very honest and helpful. The course gave me a basic set of information and background of skills that I hope to continue to practice because improv is a great creative outlet.

Ben Artis, Student, Spring 2010

If this class has sparked ANY thought in your head that resembles “hmm, I don’t know, this could be kinda neat” you will be doing yourself a huge favor by signing up. Ryan is extremely supportive and really knows how to make every student feel comfortable, regardless of their prior experience. For me, the class has made me better at my job, introduced me to some great friends, given me a creative outlet to have fun, and allowed me to remove my 23 year old grudge against Mondays.

Tawn Le, Student, Fall 2009

I was hoping to learn something about myself and also challenge myself to something that was pretty foreign to me. And thankfully, that was how it worked out! Fast forward to the present…my speaking skills have gotten a lot better since then, I’m not as filtered/inhibited when I talk to folks and found out that when I’m like that, I connect and learn more from people, and the coolest thing to hear at work from upper management is the confidence boost that they’ve all noticed.