I have known Chris and Tami since I moved to Austin in 2007, and I couldn't imagine Austin without them. They are some of the most funny and down to earth instructors, and never stop teaching. If you get a chance to take their improv classes, I highly recommend. There is no second guessing yourself on the stage, and they make beginners improv fun and stress-free! Great for people who are looking to become more social, more witty, get over a fear of public speaking, or just someone who likes to take risks. read more

I enjoyed some of the stand up comedians, but honestly, I was slightly offended. The staff was pretty rude, and we were charged a lot more than advertised- with a reassurance that next time we come we would be given a show for free... Otherwise there was not a lot of people at all, and some of the jokes were very dark. It is as they say I guess- extremely uncensored. The audience was also rude to our group as well. read more

I just went to a performance, but man, what a cool joint. Owners are out and about talking to people, all the aspiring comedians had great things to say (and on a whole were very funny). I've been back twice, and just might sign up for the classes. Recommended highly! It's BYOB, which is cool, but arrive early to get a seat, or the floor will be calling your name. read more

If you are in the mood to DO something in Austin and you like laughing or fun or petite women and bearded men this is a damn fine place to be. It's my opinion that Tami and Chris help their students go from timid first-time comedic performer to Blazing Comedic Dragon Lord of the Nether-Earth in record time. That's how it worked for me anyway- I can breath fire now. Tami and Chris are very skilled supportive teachers and The two Funniest performers in town (check the videos y'all if you doubt, http://newmovementtheater.com/category/blog/ studio8.net)- but most importantly they are masters at making a community where everyone gets affirmed and acquires comedy skills while having more fun than three year olds with fresh play-dough. If you think that's common, I beg to differ. There are few places where you "come as you are" and are both fully embraced and formed into something stronger simultaneously. I'm all invested up in this community (I take classes, I perform, I teach classes, I come to most of our awesome parties) - so you are hearing a biased, but informed opinion. Last weekend the New Movement ensemble performed at Fun Fun Fun Fest, this upcoming week they are sponsoring a show at the Alamo Drafthouse, they are integral parts of the New Orleans Improv Festival and the Dallas Improv Festival and partners with the Dallas Comedy House: they've showcased on Comedy Central, SXSW, Dan who teaches standup is Emmy-nominated... It is like "Aw, man!" up in the little theater on the east side. Like Patrick said: Free class Every Wednesday @ 7, free Shootaround show every Wednesday @ 8. read more

A friend told me about this place and I checked out the free improv 0 class. I ended up signing up for classes and I could not have made a better decision. I've learned how to do things I never though I could do and the lessons, experience, and friends made has actually changed my life for the better. Wow, that sounds cheesy, but it's true. As far as a venue to see some comedy, it is a GREAT place to take a date. Inexpensive and on Wed nights it's FREE. You will definitely laugh and have a great time. Chris Trew and Tami Nelson are masters of their art and run the venue with a real community centered mind. I highly recommend checking this place out as it is one of Austin's little hidden treasures. read more

We saw the Pioneer improv show and it was great! The performers had great energy and the space was small and intimate. Would definitely return! read more

This is a great theater full of wonderful people. They offer a nice variety of shows and their 9:30 stand up comedy on Saturday is hilarious. The drink prices are reasonable and the environment is laid back, staff is friendly, and it is an overall comfortable artistic space. We really enjoyed the variety of comedians featured. Some were more dark, some sarcastic, some more dry etc. Also, the owner of this theater really cares about each patrons experience, and takes feedback seriously. You'll feel good spending your dollars here, this an ethical company worthy of Austin's support! read more

I really really adore TNM already! I recently moved from NYC where I studied improv & sketch at Upright Citizens Brigade and while UCB is an amazing theater, it is nowhere as supportive or inviting as The New Movement. My level 2 improv class at TNM was both fun and informative (instructor Milo Smith) which I feel progressed my improv skills greatly. I'm able to focus more on enjoying the craft instead of letting my concerns or self doubt take over. Plus I was very impressed with the sketch 1 classes I was able to sit in on. It is a newer aspect of TNM's conservatory but the instructor (Alex Berry) has built a phenomenal program in this short amount of time. She lends succor while letting your own creativity lead you. If performing improv/sketch isn't your thing then I definitely suggest at least catching a show. People think the only places to see good improv are Chicago, LA, or NYC but as someone who has seem improv is all those locations I can confidently say that the TNM is WAY up to par. All the hilarious performers seem to truly love what they do and that radiates from the stage. Of course the owners, Chris Trew and Tami Nelson, have helped nurture that funny, earnest, fearless community. Chris & Tami make sure everyone feels as if they can conquer the world and that's a rarity within the comedy scene. In conclusion, you'd do yourself a service by giving The New Movement a try. read more

This review: In which two Chris's and one Tami change my life. You know those times when you tell yourself you're going to do something over and over and over again? And you tell yourself you'll do that thing for years, and then finally something kicks you in the pants and you just suck it up and do it? That thing for me was improv. I have always admired and passively studied improv, but my exposure was relatively limited. In fact, I mostly followed comedians from other cities. In fact, it was my following of other comedians that drew me to the Chris Gethard Show, brought to Austin by The New Movement, and inevitably pushed me to stop making excuses and do something about my love of comedy. I enrolled in improv classes the next session. i've recently finished level three classes, and I cannot say enough good things about The New Movement. Not only is this little haven pretty much single-handedly maintaining my sanity, I've found more than just classes and shows - I've found a community. Cheesy, right? But it's true. I've never met a more consistently kind group of people than the students, performers and instructors at The New Movement. Chris and Tami have developed a curriculum around support and it shows, and I think the performers are better for it. I think that I am better for it. Ultimate Back Having for life. Not only are the classes and the people great, the shows are great, too. Consistently funny, BYOB, and always cheap or free. I don't think it gets better than that. read more

The Fallout Theater (fka The New Movement) has made so many strides to continue bringing new, interesting, and experimental comedy to Austin. Every week they keep getting better and sharper and the staff does everything that they can to make sure that the theater, its staff, and its performers are happy and taken care of. It's an amazing environment that's warm and welcoming and constantly getting better. read more

Life can be SO busy, routine, tiring, stressful... etc, etc. The New Movement is like a refreshing pool. You come as you are, in whatever shape or state you're in, with whatever you have or don't have. It's absolutely safe to jump in and play. You don't even have to know how to swim, errr improv. After each class, you leave feeling rejuvenated. I cannot recommend this place enough. It's the best place in Austin to give yourself permission to be yourself and to explore beyond your wildest imagination. Come Laugh. Come Learn. Come Play. They have shows now! Good comedy and totally inexpensive! It's a great place to start your night out at. read more

Great Comedy! Great staff! I really enjoyed pyschospere. Well written, funny stuff.

It was very unfunny. There were people laughing but I get the impression they knew the performers. I get the feeling this place is great for people that want to learn. If you're curious, give it a shot but don't expect much. read more

I spent 9 months training here! It was the best 9 months of my comedy career. So many great instructors! I learned to love comedy here and learned what an improv environment should be: fun, accepting, and focused I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! read more

I took classes at TNM and graduated. For me the experience was fantastic. The people I met, interacted, and graduated with are all talented and genuine people. TNM has made it extremely affordable for aspiring comedians to learn the long form improv in a situation where students are performing from the get go. I only have wonderful reviews for TNM and I believe that anyone who try's it will have a very positive experience. read more

I only came here for the neighborhood show. Pretty solid comedy, it's sketch comedy which overall was pretty good, especially for the 7 dollar pricetag on it (buy your tickets online to save 3 dollars!) Wish I could have stayed to check out the next show which was an improv based show I believe, but I'll be back to do that. Staff was friendly, theater was clean, so all in all a great experience. It's also BYOB, so how can you not be happy with that?! The one thing I hate about reviewing comedy theaters, and really theaters in general, is that most people review the theaters on the comedy itself. While that's definitely one part of an overall experience, it's hard to give a theater stars based on a single show. Sometimes everyone doesn't have the same humor, but what you can rate places on are it's cleanliness, the friendliness of staff, the seating, the theater itself and it's amenities, and at the new movement all of these things were top notch, so 5 stars here! :) read more

There is more magic and love per square foot in this place than anywhere else in the world. Positivity, support, and genius burst at the seams in both the shows that you see here and the classes that you take. And I haven't even mentioned that it's fun and funny! Free or cheap shows happen from Wednesday to Saturday (sometimes Sunday). It's always BYOB so there's no problem with having your favorite beverage handy whilst you laugh uncontrollably. Do yourself a favor... See a show, Take a class, you won't regret it. read more

Perfect for a regular date night or a special occasion! Needless to say we laughed our booties off for both shows we stayed for but from even the cocktails, bathroom art and fun lobby...we feel like this Theater really nails the whole experience. Every member of staff we met was very friendly and kind. This theater makes me feel everything that #supportlocal represents. What a great find! Highly recommend. read more

I love coming out to The New Movement! It's cheap and the entertainment is 7 days a week. They put on a variety of shows, including improv and stand up. I've been to TNM on several occasions and I'm always left laughing. Not to mention it's BYOB! read more

Fallout Theater - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

This place is Austin's comedy sanctuary. If you've never seen improvised comedy, then this is the place to start. The shows here are funnier than anything I've ever seen in my entire life and are consistently entertaining. This place is so much more than just an improv theater. It is truly a comedy think tank that is constantly improving and becoming smarter and funnier every single week. Somehow, they've filtered through everything and found the true secret to making people laugh and put on quality shows. Chris and Tami are not only amazing performers, they are also tremendous teachers of their abstract art. Wednesday nights are free, which is ridiculous considering how good the shows are. Starting up soon, there will be two shows on Thursdays, Fridays AND Saturdays at 8 and 9:30. I highly encourage people to see shows here and take the level zero intro class on Wednesdays at 7 PM! It will change your life. read more

Went on a Sunday. $5 I got a free soda, water, and you could get free beer. The comedians were pretty funny and they had this cool improve session at the end. I would recommend this place if you're looking for some laughs and to explore the comedy scene in Austin. read more

Fav spot in downtown Austin! Amazing atmosphere and hilarious comedians! Very cool art on the walls and in the bathrooms, very underground exclusive feeling makes you feel kinda cool, would recommend x10000 read more

I found the New Movement online, and joined the free Jam session on Wed nights. It was a blast, made some good friends and now I am a part of the family. Good shows, fantastic classes, and fun times. read more

The New Movement is a vortex where once through the portal, magical and powerful creatures surround you in the dense foliage of wonderment--creating an environment of radiant gammas that burst through the room and your mind. The collective energy created from a dynamic and diverse cast of characters performing a melange of mediums bears resemblance to little else the universe has to offer. Catch the flagship Megaphone show for $0 any Wednesday night at 9:30 or check the calendar on newmovementtheater.com for troupe performances from Spirit Desire, Laser Heart and Handbomb just to name a few. There are also shows based out of Houston and a new theater in New Orleans that rivals Carnegie Hall. BYOB, and leave tips. read more

Very friendly people! Great atmosphere with BYOB, but they handed out beer when we first arrived. Cool group of people. Well worth the $5 cover to see good entertainment. read more

New Movement has both Improv and Stand Up shows at very affordable prices. I've seen several shows, including their Open Mic night and enjoyed myself. It is also, BYOB! They are a bit hard to locate. They're at the corner of 7th and Lavaca (on Lavaca) but their sign just has a ? on it. read more

Taking their sketch comedy class is the coolest and most fun thing I've done in a long time. When you take a class here, you become family. You'll meet some wonderful people, too. I feel like I hit the fun friend jackpot. Take a class! Go see a show! If you don't enjoy it, you're definitely awful. read more

I was in Austin and my daughter heard about this Improv place on Austin 360. It was free! Why not for a Friday night. It is in the East Austin area. It is a storefront on the corner. We walked in and owmdered if we were in the right place. It was a real TNM family affair. But we didn't feel out of place. The show started a few minutes late and what we saw were a man's group and a woman's group of true improv. Unrehearsed except for the first team to give a theme lead in. It was an over 21 place without being offensive. It is not Second City, but a few of the entertainers may head for Chitown. Look me up. We had a great time and all the troupe asked is for a donation for keeping the place going. We all gave. Look em up when in the live music capital of the US. Keep Austin Weird! JohnnyChitown read more

Amazing staff and events happening at this little treasure!! There is a fun little gaming area complete with bar tables. It's easy to hang out and chat, or go in and catch some comedy. (We went for the improv night. So worth the $8 bucks!!) You have to check this place out if you haven't already! The door is a little hidden, so don't pass it up! Head on in. read more

Was looking for something fresh to do in Austin . What a GREAT choice this turned out to be. Packed crowd, BYOB, artsy setting with young faces all around ( except for mine, ha!) great sketch writing by "The Cool Table" performed by super talented performers. So obvious that lots of work went into this show . ...and I just saw the early show ! read more

Fallout Theater - Showtime! - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

If you think you have mad funny person skills sign up for an improv class. It will break you! But do not worry, TNMT will build you back, better and funnier than before! Tami and Chris create a safe place to take risks, make mistakes, and always laugh loudly when you eventually actually do say something even close to funny. It's a really special place. See a show, take a class, make some friends. read more

This place is the tits. I absolutely love it. I have taken Improv Levels 1-2 here with G-Su and Amy and they are incredible. What a fun experience. These teachers know their stuff! The best part is that the teachers are full time comedians- so they are super passionate about comedy and about teaching! It is great for all skill levels and would be perfect for anyone looking to get into comedy or someone just looking to get over their fear of public speaking. It's a great way to meet new people and to have a blast doing it. Also- if you want to have a fun, inexpensive night out, their shows are genius. It's usually just $5 and it's BYOB...what could be better? GO THERE NOW!! read more

The Location: At the corner of Chicon and Rosewood in non-hippster East Austin. Didn't feel like the safest neighborhood in the world, but it helps contribute to an atmosphere of gritty, against-the-grain improv performance--if you're into that sort of thing. The Venue: With a full house, it was pretty intimate. That's generally good in a potentially interactive style like improv; however, I felt like I could not get up except for the most dire of emergencies. The Performance: There were certainly some funny moments and standout performers. However, some scenes/games felt like they went on to long and could have benefitted from rotating cast members in more frequently/changing the scene more frequently. Then again, I just might have a short attention span. There's definitely a friend/student factor meaning that many of the people in the audience were friends of performers/students at New Movement. Consequently, there were many instances of isolated pockets of laughter with an inside joke feel. But hey, it's easy to criticize. I'll probably check out some other improve places in town before I go back. read more

I've been taking lessons here for a year and the place is phenomenal. The environment is stress-free and very encouraging. The teachers and staff organize shows for in-house troupes and classes 4 night a week that often sell out. It has everything that's great about a comedy club without any of the bad (crowd hecklers, drunken jerks, etc.). The owners Chris Trew and Tami Nelson also organize in-house troupes for those who want to pursue comedy outside the classroom. I'm now involved in 2 on top of my full-time job and other hobbies. The classes are affordable and low-pressure, but if you can't commit then I recommend bringing a 6-pack and a date to any of the weekend shows. Your face will be sore from laughing. read more

I can't give this place enough stars. For real. Truly a gem in Austin. They have so many great shows going on all week, that are usually cheap or FREE! But I would still pay a lot to see these people perform. I can't believe there is so much amazing talent in such in Austin! Truly remarkable. And their training is amazing as evident when you see shows! (All their shows feature talent that comes from their school.) Go see/do some improv here! Support live comedy! read more

The best thing about this place is that the shows are NOT polished and professional. They're raw and you see the seams. And that's what's so awesome. Improv, stand-up, and sketch comedy. It's new stuff and the quantity is impressive. The Zach Theater puts 8 shows a year on its mainstage. Esther's Follies is a revue that changes slowly. Fallout puts on over 500 unique shows year. This is not an exaggeration. Every improv show is different, every stand-up open mike, every variety show is different. What you are seeing on the stage hasn't been rehearsed a hundred times. At Fallout you see comedy as it is born. Often funny, often clever, sometimes touching. Relaxed and unassuming, Fallout is a great place to take in a show. read more

Recently discovered this great underground theater with improve shows only $5 bucks on Saturday night. There were 3 different types of shows you could choose from in the evening. The actors in the show were students from the school that is associated with this theater. Very relatable and real. It left actually thinking that improve classes were something that might be something even I could participate in. My friend and I had a great time and a few chuckles. You pay in cash prior to the show, no pre-bought tickets, and you can BYOB to enjoy during the show. Relaxed and fun. Definitely inspires the inner comedic in us all. read more

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I love the Do Good Comedy shows that they host once a month! Can I think of anything better than donating to charity and laughing my ass off/playing videogames? I definitely will be returning for some of their other shows because if this is the sort of talent they book, then I know this place is great! I give it 5 hearty chuckles! read more

I honestly forgot how great it feels to laugh alongside a room full of people after this year. I was so happy to see Fallout Theater reopen this month, and after catching a show this weekend was reminded what a gem of the Austin comedy community they are. Their improv, sketch, and standup shows are all super funny with an alternative vibe and led by veteran showrunners; the staff are friendly, the drinks cheap, and the décor, rad; plus they have fun classes if you want to get into comedy yourself. Bonus: the owners and staff are all Austin locals and care about community values like ending bigotry in comedy and protecting public health, as they've demonstrated time and time again this past year. This is a great theater to support and a guaranteed fun time! read more

Bought tickets in advance and showed up right when the tickets said to do so on the tickets--they said they'd sold the seats we'd bought and turned us away. This is he worst experience I've ever had as a comedy fan. I recommend you steer clear of this venue and support other local comedy businesses that are more professionally run. read more