Austin Secrets
| Austin Secrets | |
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| Theater | The Hideout Theatre |
| Directed by | Roy Janik |
| Cast |
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| Initial Run | Jan/Feb 2010 |
| Subsequent Run(s) |
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Austin Secrets is an improvised shortform show inspired by real-life-storytelling projects such as PostSecret, StoryCorps, and The Moth.
Due to its sustained artistic and commercial success, Austin Secrets has been the mainstage show at the Hideout Theatre on numerous occasions.
Structure
Generally, the show works with "secrets" -- these are real-life secrets from anonymous people, either taken from PostSecret or sent to the Hideout on postcards or via email. A secret will be shown on the theater's TV screen to the audience and to the players (or, in the case of "Hidden Secrets", to just one player), and then the scene will draw its inspiration from that.
A Thousand Different Directions
After the introductory hosting -- which, among other things, informs the audience about the projects that Austin Secrets uses for inspiration -- the show kicks off with "A Thousand Different Directions. In this part, a single secret is shown onscreen, and the players perform a quick montage of a couple dozen scene starts based on that secret. This helps to start the show energetically, shows the audience that there are lot of different ways to interpret a secret, and, ideally, demonstrates to the audience by quick examples that the tone of the show can vary widely, from light, surreal silliness to powerful, real-life drama.
Act One: Known Secrets
After this, the show goes into "known secrets", wherein a secret is shown to the audience and to all the players, and then the players perform a scene based on that secret.
Act Two: Truth Chair
In act two, a chair is placed center stage. A performer sits in this so-called "Truth Chair", and they answer honestly any question put to them by the audience. Then, the rest of the cast performs a scene inspired by *that* secret. Typically, the TV screen will show a bullet list of biographical data about each performer, which the audience can use as a jumping-off point for their questions.
Act Three: Audio Secrets
At this point, a single secret is shown to both audience and players. Then the lights go down, and two players improvise a fictional, extended interview on the microphones based on that secret.
Act Four: Hidden Secrets
The show closes with "hidden secrets", wherein a secret is shown to the audience and to *only one* player. That player keeps the secret to him- or herself, and initiates a scene based on that secret.
Casts
Season One (2010)
- Andy Crouch
- Curtis Luciani
- John Ratliff
- Jon Bolden
- Kaci Beeler
- Kareem Badr
- Kristin Firth
- Lisa Jackson
- Marc Majcher
- Meghan Wolff
- Roy Janik
- Stacy Kaplowitz
- Valerie Ward
Season Two (2011)
- Andy Crouch
- Curtis Luciani
- Halyn Lee Erickson
- John Ratliff
- Jon Bolden
- Jordan T. Maxwell
- Kaci Beeler
- Kareem Badr
- Karen Jane DeWitt
- Kristin Firth
- Lisa Jackson
- Marc Majcher
- Mike Sullivan
- Peter Rogers
- Roy Janik
- Stacy Kaplowitz
- Valerie Ward
Season Three (2012)
Cast
- Alex Dobrenko
- Chuy Zarate
- Courtney Hopkin
- Jayme Ramsay
- Jon Bolden
- Kaci Beeler
- Kareem Badr
- Kayla Lane Freeman
- Lisa Jackson
- Nicole Oliver
- Paul Normandin
- Peter Rogers
- Roy Janik
- Valerie Ward
Crew
- Cindy Page (tech director)
- Katherine Grecco
- Luke Wallens
- Warren Henderson
Season Four (2013)
Cast
- Aaron Saenz
- Alex Dobrenko
- Bridget Brewer
- Chuy Zarate
- Courtney Hopkin
- Halyn Lee Erickson
- Jeanette Jones
- John Ratliff
- Jon Bolden
- Kaci Beeler
- Karen Jane DeWitt
- Marc Majcher
- Michael Joplin
Crew
Season Five (2015)
Cast
- Andy Crouch
- Chuy Zarate
- Courtney Hopkin
- Heather Hasselle
- John Ratliff
- Jon Bolden
- Kaci Danger
- Lisa Jackson
- Quinn Buckner
- Shannon Dale Stott
- Theo Daley
- Valerie Ward
Crew
- Lindsey McGowen (tech director)
Season Five (2016)
Cast
- Aaron Saenz
- Angie Yaeyama
- Courtney Hopkin
- Chuy Zarate
- Heather Hasselle
- Jon Bolden
- Kaci Beeler
- Kareem Badr
- Lisa Michelle Jackson
- Luke Wallens
- Margaret Rose Hunsicker
- Patrick Creamer
Crew
TBA
Media
Videos
- Video of the 2/27/10 performance.
- Video of the 2/5/11 performance.
- Video of the 2/19/11 performance.
- Video of the 3/12/11 performance.
- Video of the 3/26/11 performance.
- Video of the 11/17/12 performance.
- Video of the 11/24/12 performance.
- Video by Paul Normandin of the 12/1/12 show.
Photos
- Photoset by Michael Yew that includes the 2/6/10 show.
- Photoset by Michael Yew that includes its 6/5/10 performance at The 41-Hour Improv Marathon.
- Photoset by Peter Rogers of the 9/2/10 show from The 2010 Out of Bounds Comedy Festival.
- Photoset by Roy Moore of the show from the 2012 WaffleFest.
- Photoset by Claudio Fox of the 11/17/12 performance.
- Photoset by Claudio Fox of the 12/15/12 performance.
- Photoset by Steve Rogers of the 11/24/12 performance.
- Photoset by Warren Henderson of the a 2013 show.
- Photoset by Warren Henderson of the 9/7/13 premiere.
- Photoset by Heidi Rogers of the 10/25/13 show.
- Photoset by Steve Rogers of the 3/7/15 show.
- Photoset by Chad Wellington of the 4/11/15 performance in The 2015 Improvised Play Festival.
Other
- Slideshows of the secrets from the January 2010 shows.
- slideshow of the secrets from 11/3/12.
- A slideshow of the secrets from 11/10/12.
- A slideshow of the secrets from 11/17/12.
- A slideshow of the secrets from 11/24/12.
- A slideshow of the secrets from 12/1/12.
- Slideshow of secrets from the 12/7/12 "Lovecraft Secrets" show.
- Slideshows of secrets from the 12/8/12 and 12/15/12 shows.
- A slideshow of the secrets from 12/22/12.
- A slideshow of the secrets from 12/29/12.
- Photos of Kaci Beeler's set design for the 2011 run: 1, 2, 3, 4.
- Photo of Kaci Beeler's set design for the 2012 run.
More Information
- The first audition announcement.
- A 2/25/10 post by Roy Janik, looking back on the initial run.
- An announcement of their 2010 holiday show.
- An announcement of the auditions for the 2011 run.
- A post about preparing for the 2011 run by Jordan T. Maxwell.
- A 5/23/11 post about curating the show by Roy Janik.
- A call for secrets for the 2011 run.
- 2013 interview with director Roy Janik and cast members Alex Dobrenko, Kayla Lane Freeman, Paul Normandin, Jayme Ramsay, and Peter Rogers on The Theft Forum.
