Wing-It Productions
Encyclopedia
Wing-It Productions, sometimes simply called “Wing-It,” is a 501(c)(3) non-profit theater company based in Seattle, Washington, USA which exclusively produces improvised theater. Wing-It operates from the Historic University Theater located at 55th Avenue and University Way NE in Seattle’s U-District.
, Twisted Flicks, and the Wing-It Presents Series
.
Jet City Improv is shortform improv show performed three times a week, Fridays at 10:30pm, and Saturdays at 8:00pm and 10:30pm. Typically a show is cast with four players, an emcee, an improviser using a mic to create sound effect
s and ambient noise, and sometimes an improvising musician on guitar, piano, or both is also featured. Performances are roughly 90 minutes and an intermission.
Twisted Flicks a B-movie
which is played with the sound turned off. Improvisers with microphones create the dialogue and sound effects based on suggestions form the audience. Twisted Flicks also features an improvising musician, who writes and performs a parody
song to kick off the movie, then underscores the remainder of the film.
Wing-It Presents is a rotating improvised longform show, performed Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00pm.
. They pushed the idea through and on October 31, 1997 Wing-It debuted the first Twisted Flick, an improvised re-dubbing of Creature from the Black Lagoon
, the event was so popular it became a Wing-It mainstay and on February 26, 1999 Twisted Flicks began performing twice a month. Wing-It produced the first ever Jet City Improv New Year’s Eve show on December 31, 1999 entitled the “Y2K Bash” . The concept, scripts and all video editing for the event were created by Lewis and subsequently this show became an annual event. During the summer of 2000 Twisted Flicks began performing for the Fremont Outdoor Movies. The following January (2001) Jet City Improv moved performances to the University Heights Center for approximately one year. Twisted Flicks moved into the Paradox Theater in September 2001.
The Lost Folio, Wing-It’s first longform, premiered in April 2002. September 5, 2003 Jet City Improv moved to the Paradox, thus bringing all Wing-It Productions performances under a single roof. The theater was subsequently renamed the Historic University Theater. In February 2004 Wing-It Productions co-produced the first annual Seattle Festival of Improv Theater hosting improvisers and improv groups nationwide. Wing-It Productions began producing regular Wing-It Presents shows in March 2004, beginning with Saturday Morning Cartoon Show, and on July 2, 2005 began producing regular midnight shows, premiering Jet City’s Last Call. March 15, 2006 Wing-It took over ownership of the Historic University Theater.
. 101, 201, and 301 build on one another and focus on general technique beginning with character work, storytelling, relationships, and objective then building to environment, partnering, scene work, and performance theory. Students audition for a spot in the Performance Series then under the tutelage of a director, who is typically also in the Jet City ensemble, rehearse for six weeks culminating in the creation of a new long-form format. This new format is performed every Sunday for three weeks and in between performances pick-up rehearsals are held to refine the format and receive constructive criticism. Drop-In Dojo is held every Monday from 6-8:00pm and is open to anyone. Players pay a small fee and an instructor will offer one-time workshop for those in attendance.
In addition to the adult classes, Wing-It also offers classes for high, middle, and elementary school students. For high school students, Wing-It teaches classes at the Historic University Theater, administers residency programs, and holds the Seattle Open, an improv competition for high school groups. Middle school residencies are also available and Jet City can be contracted to perform in assemblies.
Wing-It provides several different corporate workshops to companies. These workshops vary based on company needs, however most focus on teamwork, creativity and communication.
and other kids camps, but also to includes free workshops for at risk and incarcerated youth in the Seattle Area. Weekly classes are taught at the Seattle Juvenile Detention facility and the Sanctuary Arts Center.
Summary of Performance Programming
Wing-It primarily produces three shows, Jet City ImprovJet City Improv
Jet City Improv is a Short Form Improvisation troupe that performs in the Seattle, Washington area. The troupe was founded in 1992 and is operated by Wing-It Productions.-External links:**...
, Twisted Flicks, and the Wing-It Presents Series
Wing-It Presents Series
Wing-It Presents is a series of rotating improvised longform shows performed at the Historic University Theater produced by Wing-It Productions.-List of Wing-It Presents Shows:-External links:* *...
.
Jet City Improv is shortform improv show performed three times a week, Fridays at 10:30pm, and Saturdays at 8:00pm and 10:30pm. Typically a show is cast with four players, an emcee, an improviser using a mic to create sound effect
Sound effect
For the album by The Jam, see Sound Affects.Sound effects or audio effects are artificially created or enhanced sounds, or sound processes used to emphasize artistic or other content of films, television shows, live performance, animation, video games, music, or other media...
s and ambient noise, and sometimes an improvising musician on guitar, piano, or both is also featured. Performances are roughly 90 minutes and an intermission.
Twisted Flicks a B-movie
B-movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
which is played with the sound turned off. Improvisers with microphones create the dialogue and sound effects based on suggestions form the audience. Twisted Flicks also features an improvising musician, who writes and performs a parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
song to kick off the movie, then underscores the remainder of the film.
Wing-It Presents is a rotating improvised longform show, performed Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00pm.
Early Days of Jet City Improv
In January 1990 Mike Christensen and Andrew McMasters met at an audition for an improv group, later to be called Train of Thought. Over the course of the next two months Christensen and McMasters worked to gather a group of improvisers. Jet City Improv was formed and debuted with a free show on March 18, 1992 at the Second Story Studios (89 Yesler Way, Seattle, WA). In July 1993 Jet City Improv began performing every Friday at 11 pm at the Northwest Actors Studio, until the following October when they moved to the 50 seat house of the Belltown Theater Center where they performed Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30pm. The 10:30pm Friday/Saturday night timeslot became a standard and is a tradition Jet City maintains to this day. In January 1994 an automated information line called the Jet City Hotline (206-781-FURY) became active; it is still operational but the name has since changed to the Wing-It Productions Hotline.The Creation of Wing-It and its Subsequent Significant Dates
In December 1994 Christensen and McMasters founded Wing-It Productions premiering with The Improvised "It's a Wonderful Life." From January 1997 through December 2000 Wing-It officially produced Jet City Improv’s performances at the Ethnic Cultural Theater, a 200 seat house located at the southern end of University Way. In October 1997, cast members Matt Lewis and Chris Lundgren created the concept for what would become Twisted Flicks. The idea came to the two, when after a show they decided they wanted to something new for HalloweenHalloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
. They pushed the idea through and on October 31, 1997 Wing-It debuted the first Twisted Flick, an improvised re-dubbing of Creature from the Black Lagoon
Creature from the Black Lagoon
Creature from the Black Lagoon is a 1954 monster horror film directed by Jack Arnold, and starring Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, and Whit Bissell. The eponymous creature was played by Ben Chapman on land and Ricou Browning in underwater scenes...
, the event was so popular it became a Wing-It mainstay and on February 26, 1999 Twisted Flicks began performing twice a month. Wing-It produced the first ever Jet City Improv New Year’s Eve show on December 31, 1999 entitled the “Y2K Bash” . The concept, scripts and all video editing for the event were created by Lewis and subsequently this show became an annual event. During the summer of 2000 Twisted Flicks began performing for the Fremont Outdoor Movies. The following January (2001) Jet City Improv moved performances to the University Heights Center for approximately one year. Twisted Flicks moved into the Paradox Theater in September 2001.
The Lost Folio, Wing-It’s first longform, premiered in April 2002. September 5, 2003 Jet City Improv moved to the Paradox, thus bringing all Wing-It Productions performances under a single roof. The theater was subsequently renamed the Historic University Theater. In February 2004 Wing-It Productions co-produced the first annual Seattle Festival of Improv Theater hosting improvisers and improv groups nationwide. Wing-It Productions began producing regular Wing-It Presents shows in March 2004, beginning with Saturday Morning Cartoon Show, and on July 2, 2005 began producing regular midnight shows, premiering Jet City’s Last Call. March 15, 2006 Wing-It took over ownership of the Historic University Theater.
Education Programming
Wing-It offers a variety of Adult Continuing Education courses including Improv 101, 201, 301, as well as the Performance Series and a Drop-In DojoDojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
. 101, 201, and 301 build on one another and focus on general technique beginning with character work, storytelling, relationships, and objective then building to environment, partnering, scene work, and performance theory. Students audition for a spot in the Performance Series then under the tutelage of a director, who is typically also in the Jet City ensemble, rehearse for six weeks culminating in the creation of a new long-form format. This new format is performed every Sunday for three weeks and in between performances pick-up rehearsals are held to refine the format and receive constructive criticism. Drop-In Dojo is held every Monday from 6-8:00pm and is open to anyone. Players pay a small fee and an instructor will offer one-time workshop for those in attendance.
In addition to the adult classes, Wing-It also offers classes for high, middle, and elementary school students. For high school students, Wing-It teaches classes at the Historic University Theater, administers residency programs, and holds the Seattle Open, an improv competition for high school groups. Middle school residencies are also available and Jet City can be contracted to perform in assemblies.
Wing-It provides several different corporate workshops to companies. These workshops vary based on company needs, however most focus on teamwork, creativity and communication.
Outreach Programming
Wing-It Productions began an outreach program in early 1998, reaching out to underserved populations and providing free entertainment for events, children’s camps and fundraisers. This program has expanded to not only include annual performances for the NW Burn Foundation, American Cancer SocietyAmerican Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
and other kids camps, but also to includes free workshops for at risk and incarcerated youth in the Seattle Area. Weekly classes are taught at the Seattle Juvenile Detention facility and the Sanctuary Arts Center.