Chris Trew makes Austin laugh

Usually when people think of Austin two things come to mind: live music and UT football. There is, however, another form of entertainment that's gaining attention in town
Austin has long been the last kid picked on the comedy kickball team when compared to entertainment meccas like Los Angeles and New York.

In recent years, Austin's ability to compete with the major metropolises has increased at a rapid pace. Film companies, studios, producers and directors are recognizing Austin as the new (and cheaper) Hollywood.  As a result, the Austin comedy scene has also started attracting attention.

The most common forms of comedy are stand-up and sketch. Nearly everyone has seen a stand-up comedian perform, and you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who hasn't at least heard of Saturday Night Live. The grandfather to these forms of comedy however, is improv.

If you've ever been to an improv show, you might not have gotten what you were expecting. That's because most improv performers tend to focus on the feeling and flow of the act rather than it's humor. As the saying goes, all comedy is improv, but not all improv is comedy.

Luckily, Austin has a local comedian that is helping to serve up a top shelf blend of improv comedy. His name is Chris Trew.

Trew's comedy is different from most comedians. For one, he's not interested in a ten minute stand-up act about blonde pop singers. He'd rather dress up as an Egyptian Pharaoh, surround himself with adoring servants who praise his comedic genius, and demand the audience to do the same.

Although the Pharaoh's jokes aren't exactly, monumental, it's the act of not being funny, that makes it funny. Get it?

Chris Trew is a productive guy. On his website you'll find a slew of performances, videos, and even music videos. Yes, Trew also has his own hip hop group entitled Terp 2 It. Aside from hosting Open Screen Night at the Alamo and freestyle rap battles, Trew's main attraction is his partnership in a new comedy theatre located right here in Austin.

The New Movement Theater is Trew's answer to conventional comedy clubs and improv theaters. He and the other members purposely blend improv and comedy into a show that will leave audiences roaring and not yawning. Trew says. "We don't shy away from comedy. We're not trying to do a theatre piece. We're trying to be funny."

The New Movement boasts a variety of shows from Wednesday through Saturday nights. They even offer a free improv class which is open to the public for anyone who wants to learn or just try their hand at improv comedy.

The theatre's biggest impact is that it gives audiences another opportunity to see live comedy. For years Capitol City Comedy Club and The Velveeta Room were the champions of comedy in Austin. Now, The New Movement Theater is challenging these heavyweights for the title.

If Austin's influence on the entertainment industry is to keep growing, it must be fueled by what has always made this city great-people attending live shows. We're unbeatable in supporting live music, so it will be interesting to see if we can do the same for local comedians by getting out there and guffawing.