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 The Hideout Theatre and The Institution Theater.

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)
• Teaching Assistant Levels 1 - 6 at Hideout Theatre (2013)
• 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

• Texas Storytelling StorySlam Champion (2017)
• The Moth Houston GrandSlam Champion (2016)
• RISK! Live Austin Performer (2013 & 2017)
• The Moth StorySlam Winner (2015 & 2016)
• Testify Austin Performer and Producer (2016 - )
• Austin No Shame Theatre Performer - Backup Host (2011 - 2016)
• Story Department Performer
• Backyard Story Night Performer
• Hyde Park Story Telling Performer
• Beyond Our Backyard Storytelling Performer

Improv Troupes

• Apocalypse (2012)
• In Our Prime (2011 - Present)
• Two Guys From Yonkers (2011 - Present)
• We're Here to Date Your Daughter (2012 - Present)

Improv Shows

• EPIC! (Season 1 & 2 - 2011)
• The Sword of Merlin Works (2012)
• The Black Vault (2012-)
• Austin Secrets (2012)
• Blood, Sweat, and Cheers (Bob Davis)
• 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)

Festival Producer

• WaffleFest (2014 - )

Improv History

Paul decided to take improv classes after seeing a Firth & Arjet show at The Hideout Theatre. He is a storyteller and has a strong focus on narrative Improv.

Paul completed classes at The Hideout Theatre with his friend and classmate, Bob Olmstead. 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 the grounded, narrative 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 a version of the Improviser's Nightmare format, The Great Debate, and Bob Finds 50.

Paul is 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 is the 2017 Texas Storytelling Festival Champion. Paul joined the Production team at the Austin storytelling show Testify in January of 2017.

Paul was a teaching assistant at The Hideout Theatre in 2013. Paul has been the producer of The Hideout Theatre annual WaffleFest since 2014.

More Information

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