Since 2015, New Movement Theatre has been consistently voted the best place in Nola to watch comedy. However, what you may not know about the theatre is its status as a greenhouse for those interested in starting a hobby, collaboration, or career in the comedy world.
The theatre is home and host to a wide array of classes. From stand-up and storytelling, to sketch comedy and improvisation; TNM teaches a wide array of skills. Because of this variety, New Movement offers the promise to sharpen comedy skills and increase the connectivity of participating artist to the local laugh scene.
Last year, one group of students began an improv class with the theatre. And corresponding to its mission, they grew into something bigger. The collective goes by Unhinged, and they are the city’s newest performing comedy gang.
Meet Unhinged
Unhinged consists of eight one-time strangers who now consider themselves a family of performers. Seven members began with TNM’s Level One Improv class. The final member was picked up as the core group continued onto the Level Two, and the rest was history.
The newcomers enjoyed the classes and their time together so much that they continued on to a fifth level. One year later, they find themselves ready to step out of their role as students and into the position of a true troupe.
Uniquely, the members of Unhinged never set out to become comedy professionals. The members started taking comedy courses as a way to meet people. As their new status of collaborators suggests, it worked. When asked about how Unhinged came together, PR manager Robert Heap put it simply:
“Although each person in our group had different reasons for taking the class, the thing that cemented us was the fact that we all joined, in one way or another, to make friends.– Robert Heap
And make friends, they did. Throughout the next year, the members of Unhinged continued to learn and build their chemistry together. Member Carson Rapose says the group’s evolution has grown beyond a typical friendship:
“Over the course of our year-long experiment taking classes at the New Movement we grew to know each other not just by our jobs, interests, lifestyles, and dreams, but by the differences in our perspectives and how those insights and uniqueness allow us to be stronger as a group, on stage and off.” 
Unhinged, The Show
Now, Unhinged is moving from funny first-timers to professional performers, putting the strength of their group and the New Movement’s comedy conservatory on full display.
Member Curtis Steeves gives massive credit to the theatre’s program for preparing Unhinged for their next step. He cites a curriculum based around scenarios, drills, and discussions as a great teacher for the group’s improv theory and style.
Unhinged’s graduating show takes place this Sunday, January 27th at 7:00p. Certainly, it promises to be a stellar example of what the New Movement’s Improv classes can provide: a methodical, yet off-the-cuff event full of laughs and wit. According to one member, working with (and watching) the group is a special thing:
“They make getting up on that stage like riding a magical unicorn – comfy and just the right amount of weird.”– Rebekah Olinde
We here at River Beats can’t wait to check that one out. With so much excitement from these graduates, we might just have to take a few classes ourselves.
Join the Unhinged Improv Troupe for their first show this Sunday 1/27 7:00pm at 2706 St Claude Ave. Follow River Beats for all of your Nola Comedy News.
All Photos Courtesy of the New Movement Theatre
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