Not This American Life

Not This American Life
Theater	The Institution Theater
Directed by	Michael Ferstenfeld Asaf Ronen
Cast	Andy Buck Annabel Guevara Brandon Martin Colin Bates Dan Kerrigan Emma Holder Gene Zhou Heidi Caldwell Heidi Rogers Jeff Britt Kevin Miller Lisa Jackson Luis Salinas Mars Wright Nicole Beckley Ruby Willmann Ryan Hill Sam Schak Teresa York
Initial Run	May/Jun 2012
Subsequent Run(s)	Nov/Dec 2012 Nov 2013

Not This American Life (original title: This American Live) was a variety show that explores a topic via scripted and improvised material. It was inspired by the NPR program This American Life.

History

Name Change

The show was originally called This American Live, but in 2013, it received a cease-and-desist letter from NPR, which apologized for the 'hassle' but pointed out that at least one theatergoer had contacted NPR asking for ticket information. Host Michael Ferstenfeld wrote back with a set of suggested alternate titles. This American Life host Ira Glass favored "Not This American Life", and the name change followed.

Casts

• First run, cast by Shannon McCormick & Kerri Lendo
  • Directed and adapted for the stage by Michael Ferstenfeld
  • Assistant Directed by Ruby Willmann
  • Cast & Producers: Andy Buck, Emma Holder, Lisa Jackson, Kevin Miller, Heidi Rogers, Luis Salinas, Teresa York, Ruby Willmann, Gene Zhou, Sam Schak (tech)

• Second run, cast, directed, and produced by Asaf Ronen & Michael Ferstenfeld
  • Colin Bates, Nicole Beckley, Heidi Caldwell, Annabel Guevara, Dan Kerrigan, Brandon Martin, Kevin Miller, Sam Schak, Mars Wright, Gene Zhou

• Third run, no regular cast:
  • Directed and Produced by Michael Ferstenfeld & Asaf Ronen
  • Recurring cast: Jeff Britt, Ryan Hill
  • Assistant Producers: Heidi Caldwell, Nicole Beckley, Sarah Marie Tufts, Luis Salinas, Gene Zhou

Topics

First Run

• 5/4/12 - Episode 1 - "A Map of the World" (produced by Gene Zhou)
• 5/11/12 - Episode 2 - "Co-existence" (produced by Ruby Willmann & Lisa Jackson)
• 5/18/12 - Episode 3 - "Physics as a Metaphor" (produced by Luis Salinas)
• 5/25/12 - Episode 4 - "Cinematic Reality" (produced by Heidi Rogers)
• 6/1/12 - Episode 5 - "What a Coincidence" (produced by Teresa York)
• 6/2/12 - Episode 6 - "Haunted." (produced by Kevin Miller)
• 6/8/12 - Episode 7 - "Food Glorious Food" (produced by Andy Buck)
• 6/9/12 - Episode 8 - "Beginnings and Endings" (produced by Emma Holder & Asaf Ronen)

Second Run

• 11/2/12 - Episode 9 - "Body Image & Body Commerce"
• 11/9/12 - Episode 10 - "TechnEcology"
• 11/16/12 - Episode 11 - "Secret Identity"
• 11/23/12 - Episode 12 - "Sense(Less)"
• 11/30/12 - Episode 13 - "The Line in the Sand"
• 12/7/12 - Episode 14 - "Life of Privelege"
• 12/14/12 - Episode 15 - "My Strange Habit"
• 12/21/12 - Episode 16 - "Insufficient Data"
• 12/28/12 - Episode 17 - "24 Hours"

Third Run

• 11/1/13 - Episode 17 - "Transition" (produced by Heidi Caldwell)
• 11/8/13 - Episode 18 - "Art is Theft" (produced by Nicole Beckley)
• 11/15/13 - Episode 19 - "Weather the Weather" (produced by Sarah Marie Curry)
• 11/22/13 -Episode 20 - "Mapping the Mind" (produced by Gene Zhou & Luis Salinas)
• 11/29/13 - Episode 21 - "The Immigrant Experience" (produced by Asaf Ronen)

Media

Videos

• Video of the 5/4/12 premiere ("A Map of the World").
• Video of the 5/11/12 show ("Co-Existence").
• Video of the 5/18/12 show ("Physics as a Metaphor").
• Video of the 5/25/12 show ("Cinematic Reality").
• Video of the 6/1/12 show ("What a Coincidence").

Photos

• Photoset by Michael Yew of the 5/25/12 show ("Cinematic Reality").
• Photoset by Michael Yew of the 11/30/12 show ("The Line in the Sand").

Other

• Audio from the "House of the Future" sketch from the 11/9/12 show ("TechnEcology")

More Information

• Posts to The Austin Improv Forums:
  • Announcement of the June 2012 show topics.
  • Announcement of the 12/28/12 show.
  • A call for stories for the 2013 run.
  • Show announcement of the 2013 run.