Kevin Miller

Kevin Miller
Primary Theater	Gnap! Theater Projects, Merlin Works Institute for Improvisation
Years Active	2001-2004,2009-Present

Kevin Miller is an Austin improviser and instructor at the Merlin Works Institute for Improvisation. He started improv on October 24, 2001, the morning after seeing his friend Andy Crouch's graduation show at the Hideout Theatre. His first instructor was Shana Merlin. Kevin graduated from Level 3 at the Hideout on March 26, 2002 and became a member of We Could be Heroes.

Kevin took time off from improv starting in late 2004 to be a guide for Austin Ghost Tours. His time away continued through February 2009, when he participated in the Hideout Theatre 10th Anniversary show. He then played in the July 25, 2009 Maestro, and gradually rejoined the improv community from there. On March 6, 2011, Kevin successfully auditioned for False Matters, his first mainstage show after the long break.

In 2012, Kevin joined Merlin Works as a TA and then instructor shortly before its move from Salvage Vanguard Theater to ZACH Theatre. He is today an instructor there and member of the faculty troupe The Known Wizards.

After initially suggesting it as a joke, Kevin joined his troupe ¡ZARZAMORA! at the Finland International Improv Festival in June 2013. It is believed to be the farthest north that an AIC troupe has ever performed. He is returning to FIIF in June 2014.

The Bear Joke

In September 2011, Kevin went on a solo backpacking trip to Montana. In the weeks and months preceding the trip, Chuy Zarate—an avowed indoorsman—expressed his confidence that Kevin would be eaten by a bear while hiking through the wilderness. Upon Kevin's return, Chuy adopted the theory that Kevin had been eaten by a bear, and was now actually a bear wearing Kevin Miller's skin as camouflage. The joke became strangely persistent, even among AIC members who had no idea as to its origin.

History

A post from him about the first improv show he ever saw:

My first show was Freudian Slip in College Station on a weekend visit to A&M, circa 1998. They asked for a volunteer. I leapt onstage. It was a courtroom game; I was the defendant, and both lawyers left the room while the crowd decided on what I was being accused of. Then the lawyers returned and tried to determine what the case was while they tried it.

When the defense attorney started his opening statement, he said: "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury! The only thing this man is guilty of is a receding hairline!" (Insulting an audience volunteer? SERIOUSLY?) Of course I took it in stride, feigned despair, and crawled under my chair.

Show #2 was ComedySportz on the UT campus, circa 2000.

Show #3 was Andy's graduation show, fall 2001. I started Level One with Shana the very next morning.

Troupes

• Foolish Mortals (2003-2004)
• The Known Wizards (2013-)
• Your Dad's Friends (2012-)
• ¡ZARZAMORA! (2011-)

Shows

• Cover to Cover
• False Matters
• Slumber Party Slaughter
• Start Trekkin'
• Steam
• Not This American Life
• Totally Improvised, 90210

More Information

• Interview by Andrew Buck.