Paul Normandin

Paul Normandin
Primary Theater	The Hideout Theatre
Years Active	2010-Present

Paul Normandin is an Storyteller and Improv performer who works primarily with Merlin Works Institute for Improvisation and The Hideout Theatre.

Education

• Texas A&M University, B.A. 1989, Speech Communication
• Texas A&M University, M.A. 1992, Speech Communication
• Hideout Theatre & Merlin Works Graduate (2010 - 2012)
• Improv Classes - Many and Varied (2010 - )
• Storytelling Classes - "Kevin Allison (RISK! Podcast)," "David Crabb (The Moth)," & "Brooke Pillifant (Down South Word of Mouth)" (2013 - )

Teaching Experience

• Guest Lecturer at The University of Texas at Austin - Public Health, Technology, and Ethics (2017 - 2019)
• Teaching Assistant Levels 1 - 6 at Hideout Theatre (2013)
• Teaching Assistant Musical Improv Level 301 - Merlin Works (2019)
• Junior and Senior High School Sunday School at University United Methodist Church (1997 - 2010)
• Teaching Assistant in Speech Communication at Texas A&M University (1990 - 1992)
• Storytelling Classes and Workshops (2017 - Present)
• Dean of the Merlin Works Institute for Improvisation (2021 - Present)

Storytelling

• Ten by 9 Ireland Podcast (2020)
• Austin Writers Roulette (2017)
• Texas Storytelling StorySlam Champion (2017)
• The Moth Houston GrandSlam Champion (2016)
• RISK! Live Austin Performer (2013 & 2017)
• The Moth Houston StorySlam Winner (2015)
• The Moth Houston StorySlam Winner (2016)
• Austin Writer's Roulette (2017)
• Austin Writer's Roulette (2019) Fiction
• Testify Austin Performer and Producer (2016 - 2021)
• Austin No Shame Theatre Performer - Occasional Host (2011 - 2016)
• Story Department Performer
• Backyard Story Night Performer
• Hyde Park Story Telling Performer
• Beyond Our Backyard Storytelling Performer
• The Living Room Performer
• The Listening Room Performer
• Drinking with the Saints Performer, Host, and Producer (2018 -)

Improv Troupes

• Apocalypse (2012)
• In Our Prime (2011 - Present)
• Two Guys From Yonkers (2011 - 2013)
• We're Here to Date Your Daughter (2012 - 2016)
• The Known Wizards (2020 - Present)

Improv Shows

• EPIC! (Season 1 & 2 - 2011)
• The Sword of Merlin Works (2012)
• The Black Vault (2012-)
• Austin Secrets (2012)
• The Next Chapter (2013)
• The ReSet Project (2013)
• Pick Your Own Path (2013-)
• Elf Employment (2013 Guest)
• Thinning the Herd (2013-2014)
• Hurly Burly (2014-2017)
• Improv Anonymous (2014 - )
• Grimm Noir (2015)
• "Austin Playback Theatre" (2015 - 2018)
• Shattered (2019)

Scripted Shows

• Blood, Sweat, and Cheers (Bob Davis 2012)
• The Spark (Jerry 2015)
• No One Dies in This Story (Paul 2017)
• Bargainland (Johnny 2017)
• The Other Side of the Window (Earl 2018)
• Pagewood (Brother Ken 2019)

Festival Producer

• WaffleFest (2014 - 2018)

Director of Improv Shows

• Stories from Around the World Co-Director (2018)
• Gone Tomorrow Co-Director (2017)
• Cochise: Student Mainstage Run Assistant Director (2014)

Improv History

Paul decided to take Improv classes after seeing a Firth & Arjet show at The Hideout Theatre. He completed the classes at The Hideout Theatre and Merlin Works Institute for Improvisation. And is now the dean of the Merlin Works Institute for Improvisation. Paul is a teacher and performer with a focus on narrative Improvisation and true, personal Storytelling.

Paul completed classes at The Hideout Theatre with his friend and classmate, Bobby Ford. Paulie and Bobby were two characters the pair often played while in class. After completing Level 6, Bob invited Paul to form a duo called "Two Guys From Yonkers" on October 31, 2011.

Other classmates included Brad Hawkins, Chad Wellington, Katherine Greco, and Cindy Page. This core group completed Levels 1 through 5 at The Hideout Theatre. Paul, Bob, Chad, Kat, and Cindy also completed Level 6 together in 2011.

Paul conceived of and started a dramedy focused troupe In Our Prime in 2011 with Gloria Rabil-Bankler, Ryan Hill, and Jessica Arjet.

Paul completed classes with Todd Geldon and Jennifer Dorsey at Merlin Works. The three performed with their 601 class in the show The Sword of Merlin Works. Paul, Jen and Todd are all members of the Improv troupe We're Here to Date Your Daughter founded in 2012.

He has also produced one off shows for The Free Fringe at The Hideout Theatre to include two different versions of the Improviser's Nightmare format, The Great Debate, Bob Finds 50, and Little House on the Alien Prairie.

Paul was a regular performer at Austin No Shame Theater. Often telling stories or performing in his own or others' sketches. Paul tells stories around town. He has told stories on the RISK! Live Show in Austin in September 2013 and in January 2017. Paul has won Moth StorySlams in Houston in November 2015, September 2016 and the GrandSlam in March 2016. Paul joined the Production team at the Austin storytelling show Testify in January of 2017 and Drinking with the Saints Storytelling in January of 2018. In February 2017, Paul created and performed in a twenty five minute solo piece with Ryan Hill on guitar at FronteraFest. Paul won the "2017 Texas Storytelling Festival StorySlam" in March.

Paul was a teaching assistant at The Hideout Theatre in 2013 and Merlin Works in 2019. Paul was the producer of The Hideout Theatre's annual WaffleFest from 2014 to 2018.

Paul retired from the position of Senior Planning and Project Advisor for Laboratory and Infectious Diseases for the State of Texas in October of 2018. Paul remains a Project Management Institute certified Project Management Professional. Paul teaches Improv and Storytelling classes and workshops. In his spare time, he lives to play "Ultimate", run Dungeons and Dragons weekly and "Firefly Role Playing Game" Campaigns, and write.

More Information

• "In Praise Of..." post by Mia Iseman.
• "Twisting Tales" by Harrison Long.