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Austin360 blogs > Austin Arts: Seeing Things > Archives > 2009 > February > 06
Friday, February 6, 2009
Rude Mechs grow new Shoot
Congratulations to Austin theater collective Rude Mechs. They’ve raised $80,000 toward the creation of a new home for Grrl Action, the Rude’s writing and performance program for teenage girls.
The Rudes have secured 1,400-square-feet of warehouse space adjacent to their current East Austin venue, the Off Center, to transform into the Off Shoot, a dedicated space for Grrl Action participants to research, write and rehearse for performances and to create their multi-disciplinary year-round projects. It will include a studio space with sound and light equipment, desks, lockers, seating and a resource lab with video and computer equipment, and a library.
A recent gift of $40,000 from The Laos House—Center for Personal Learning brings the campaign closer to finishing in time for the 10th anniversary class of Grrl Action beginning July 2009.
Local architectural designer Nicole Blair, of Studio 512, is providing her services pro bono to realize the design. She has enlisted local contractor Ramirez Homes, Inc to oversee the project.Also providing support for the Off Shoot are Impact Austin, The Meadows Foundation, Austin Community Foundation and Dollar General Corporation.
Go girls!
A room of her own: before. Raw warehouse space waiting for renovation.
A room of her own: after. Designer Nicole Blair’s plan to tranform warehouse space into a workshop for Grrl Action.
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Comic Ron White makes a surprise Sixth Street appearance
Comedy open mic nights are hit-and-miss affairs. Anyone can sign up and get on stage and anyone usually does.
Last night at the Velveeta Room on Sixth Street was shaping up to be a miss. Lots of music acts (even an accordion). Veteran comics weren’t having much luck, either. Jokes were offered and lethargic crowd members did their best impression of library patrons.
Then Ron White showed up. The Texas native and national headliner is appearing at the Paramount this weekend, but his arrival at the much-smaller club was unexpected, to say the least. White performs before thousands; Velveeta sits maybe 50.
He sat in the back, taking it in.
Everyone noticed. People gave him space, but crowded tight in anticipation. A friend of White’s whispered to Lynette LaMonica, the MC. She nodded.
“We have a very, very special guest tonight… Ron White!”
The crowd suddenly popped like they’d all gotten Wiis for Christmas.
White took the stage. He started with a joke about his newfound love of bidets. Unprintable punchline.
With a drink in hand, he talked about how he’s on his third marriage — and emphasized that he’s been faithful to his current wife.
“I haven’t always had that policy.” Grin. Drink.
Another joke about about his favorite couch stain-protecting product: Scotchgard.
“Do you have vodka guard, too?” Laughs.
In all, he performed for about 15-20 minutes for a few dozen people who knew they were getting a treat.
White finished up and returned to his seat.
The veterans followed with their A-games. Local headliner Seth Cockfield was next. He was a hit. So was Chuck Watkins.
Open mic nights are hit-and-miss affairs. Not last night.
As Cockfield put it: You’ll never go to a music club to see a local band, then hear: “And now up next, Metallica!”
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