My improv group Thank You, Robot is celebrating our 3rd anniversary as a team this week here:

For almost two years now, Thank You, Robot’s sole regular gig has been as hosts of our show Summer Fridays at Under St. Marks Theater. We took the slot over from the dearly departed UCB Harold teams fwänd and Tantrum, and I like to think we’ve done a pretty good job of holding down a prime-time slot at one of the highest profile non-school improv theaters in the city (was that a lot of qualifiers?). Our very first show as a team was on that stage, and in fact, at a fwänd/Tantrum show. We performed a La Ronde, a form where the opening involves a revolving cycle of two quick scenes for each performer as a specific character, then the remainder of the show pushing those characters together into scenes. Both teams did a really great job of making us feel like we BELONGED there. That we were there for the final Tantrum show, in June 2008, which ALSO took place in that slot, was an honor for us.

We like to believe we put on the type of show that doesn’t happen at other indie venues. Of course, none of that would be possible without the help of other people.

Katey Healy-Wurzburg has been our tech person for the entire run of our show. That someone would be as dedicated to a show that doesn’t have much to offer back as she has is a gift that we don’t take lightly. She’s really great at calling shows as well. There have been times where we wanted to get one or two more moves in before the blackout, but I think that just means we’ve been doing OUR job well, because there are shows where her blackouts are mercy killings. She has a sharp eye for what works and what doesn’t work, and where the peak of tying together all our nonsense arrives. Her post-show notes are always great, and she does a tremendous job of keeping us prima donnas out of our heads after particularly bad shows. Summer Fridays wouldn’t be what they are without her.

Heidi and the staff at Under St. Marks have also done a great job of tolerating us and keeping our audiences well-lubricated. That they have been patient with us throughout some behind the scenes messes we’ve created, and still allowed us to have this show, is nothing short of incredible. Heidi, in particular, has come through for us on many occasions, and thankfully has enough screws loose that she’s asked us to work with her on other shows that Horse Trade (the company that owns USM) puts on.

We’ve lost members over the last three years, which always left me in a state of panic, assuming that whichever person leaving was going to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, bringing down the team. That this has never happened is wonderful. Again, thanks to the members of TYR for not letting my madness drag you down. That we’ve been together for three years as a team, with no backing from any theater group, is something I’m damn proud of.

Finally, I just want to say thanks to the other members of the New York improv community. Thanks for making TYR feel like we belong. Thanks for coming out to our shows. Thanks for sticking around afterwards. Thanks for laughing with us when things go well, and thanks for the accurate assessments when things don’t. Thanks for asking us to do shows. Thanks for telling other people about us. Thanks for making the members of this team feel like we have a skill to do something about which we’re all so passionate. Thanks for just being a great goddamn group of people. The difference between the stand-up community and the improv community is STAGGERING, and stand-ups could learn a fucking thing or two about support from you guys. I hope you can all celebrate with us tonight.