The Shimmy Shake Project

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of boobs, STDs and Jesus? Yep, audience suggestions from the most recent show at the Thirsty Ear Tavern. If you want to know what happens to the shimmies with those types of suggestions, then come to our next show. We’ll be at Gresso’s located at 961 S. High St. in German Village on Thursday night, January 21st, at 8pm. You’ll find us upstairs sharing the room with Fake Bacon and See Spot Run. Come out and join us all for some laughs.

P.S. The shimmies are no longer the only all-female act in town. The newest troupe, Faux Real did a fabulous job on their first ever show on Tuesday! Welcome to the community of short form improv girls!

We all hope that you enjoyed your holidays as much as the Shimmies did! Now that it’s back to the old grind it’s time for some fun! What better way to start off the year than with some laughs and good times with old friends or new ones?! Come check out the Shimmies at the next show on Tuesday, January 12th, at The Thirsty Ear Tavern in Grandview. Fake Bacon, Parlor Tricks and who knows who else will be there. Show starts at 8:30pm. See you there!!

Shimmy Shaker Sophia had a healthy baby boy today at 11am!  Congrats to her and her husband Ron!

Can’t wait to meet the newest member of the Shimmy Shake family!

And where were you last Tuesday, hmm? Anyone who was anyone was at the  happiest bar in Grandview, The Thirsty Ear Tavern, celebrating with the Shimmies. The Shimmy Shake Project is still strong and growing after two years of performing!  We’ve added a brand new member to our troupe. Her name is Catherine and she is a doll.  She is funny, cute as a button and spunky as a monkey! The Shimmies have known Catherine since before the conception of the troupe. We all started out in the same beginner improv class.  After taking a hiatus, Catherine realized her life was boring, meaningless and miserable without the Shimmies… we sure are happy she found her way back to us! Come check out the show and meet Catherine Tuesday, October 13th, at The Thirsty Ear Tavern in Grandview. You know Fake Bacon will be there. Two troupes for the price of one. The price is FREE! The beer and appetizers are cheap.  See you there!!

VIDEO LINKS FROM  OUR SECOND ANNIVERSARY SHOW

Thank you to Michelle Clark for video taping the show.  And a very special thanks to Scott Preston our web master.

Home Shopping:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXm4u8cvRpA

Fill in the Blank:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9sMK8tU5Jg

I-Pod Game:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8k-MpF7qNs&NR=1

The Dating Game:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M67uyua8FGk&feature=related

Lines Fron Ya’ll:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uixz2JHyZJc&feature=related

Sound FX:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6plh9efluo8&feature=related

Day in the Life:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n55QGiTZdh0&feature=related

Take That Back:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBXf6cfc1G4

What Did You Say:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Ggr7lzHcU&feature=related

Moving Bodies:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CymUmwIv418&feature=related

Speed Shift:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSYIEr7mCu0&feature=related

Job Excuses:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzIJ6FDG7dw&feature=related

  Congrats for making it to the finish line in Pelotonia 2009! It is quite a feat, not only finishing, but raising over $8,000 for cancer research.  And of course, even though the shimmies didn’t get on a bike or ride a single mile, we like to think we were very important to your success – I mean, could you girls have finished without thinking of the Shimmies’ awesome rendition of your training days at your fundraising party?  I mean come on; the thought of Celia falling to the floor repeatedly must have helped you through a few of the miles? 

Congrats from the Shimmies!

Need a Shimmy fix? You can catch one or more Shimmies at one of these fine engagements listed below.

July 10th and 11th (Friday and Saturday)

Gina and Celia will be performing two, 6-7 minute, scripted Sound FX scenes during John Kuhn’s eclectic Sideshow Shorts festival of plays, sketch, music and frivolity, at the Madlab Theatre. Shows start at 8pm. All shows $10.

The Madlab is located at 105 North Grant Ave. at the
corner of Grant Ave. and Long St. in downtown Columbus.

July 12th (Sunday)

The Shimmy Shake Project has been invited to Gresso’s by the premiere improv comedy troupe in Columbus, Full Frontal Nudity. If you haven’t witnessed the genius of FFN you are sorely missing out on some serious laughter and fun. The Shimmies hope to be as good as those folks some day! They totally rock!! We’ll be mixing it up with our homeboys from Fake Bacon that night. Show starts at 7:30pm and it’s free!

Gresso’s is located at 961 S High St in Columbus.

July 14th (Tuesday)

Back to our stomping ground at The Thirsty Ear Tavern. The best bar in Grandview (at least 4 out of 4 Shimmies agree) to perform our monthly Shimmy set. Who knows maybe we have a new game or new Shimmy up our sleeve. Of course, the Bacons will be there. If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be there. They’ll be there, we’ll be there and you better be there too! Show starts at 8:30pm and as always, it’s free!

The Thirsty Ear Tavern is located at 1200 West Third Avenue in Grandview.

July 18th Saturday)

Madlab is hosting their annual fundraiser Volatility. The Shimmies will join Fake Bacon to do a Shake and Bake short form improv session 3:30-4:30pm. This year marks MadLab’s eighth year of Volatility.  So come support the only completely original, alternative arts space in Columbus and see a slew of great bands and entertainers in the process, including the Shimmies. Doors open at 2pm. Cost is $5.

The Madlab is located at 105 North Grant Ave. at the
corner of Grant Ave. and Long St. in downtown Columbus.

August 1st (Saturday)

The Shimmies will be performing at a private fundraiser on this date.

August 6th (Thursday), August 14th (Friday), August 22nd (Saturday) and August 27th (Thursday)

2009 marks the tenth anniversary of Theatre Roulette. To celebrate this, MadLab will present the best play from each of the past 10 Theatre Roulettes. You can find Erin performing Alien Hand Syndrome by Michael Erickson 2009. A really cool and hysterically funny play. All shows start at 8pm. Cost is $12.

The Madlab is located at 105 North Grant Ave. at the
corner of Grant Ave. and Long St. in downtown Columbus.

The Shimmies are back! We thoroughly enjoyed being a part of Scott Tobin’s hilarious, fun and witty play, Aftershock! An Event! presented by Fake Bacon Productions and directed by John Kuhn. We cannot wait to be a part of another Scott Tobin play in the future!

Our focus has returned to improv. Practice and chat (not on the computer, but old fashioned face-to-face talking) sessions are underway once again. Chat sessions are very important for the well being of the Shimmy Shake Project. During some practices chatting is all we do. We call it Shimmy business and find these sessions just as productive as actual practices! We will begin regular practices next week with our omniscient coach, Chris Lane, our god of short form improv. 

Four very different women came together for a variety of reasons and a group with a common goal was formed…to have fun. From the beginning the Shimmies have been very supportive of each other, respectful and honest.  We want to keep our group intact and moving in a positive direction. We have decided to focus on our individual strengths to make our group better. I believe our individuality helps to create a variety of truths and perspectives in our scenes. Our upbringing, life experiences, political, religious and non-religious backgrounds, education, family and career paths are very different. Improv draws out those differences and demands that we look within ourselves to find the truth in any given situation. I have to admit it also leads to lots of giggling during practices!

So far, being part of an all-female troupe has been a wonderful and fulfilling experience for this particular Shimmy. I am proud to be a part of the Shimmy Shake Project, a troupe with integrity, respect for its members and a collective desire to have fun! Catch you at the next show.

The Shimmies shared the stage with Fake Bacon and Parlor Tricks last night at the Ear. The Shimmies had a short, but extra sweet St. Patty’s Day inspired set. We want to give props to Glenn and Drew for posing Gina and Sophia in a very funny Moving bodies. Also, a shout out to Scott of the Bacons and Damien of the Tricksters for infusing some testosterone into the Dating Game and showing everyone how to “walk this way.”

Walk on over to the Thirsty Ear March 24th to catch our next show. See you there!