What does the name "Killing My Lobster" mean?

The exciting answer is: a heart-shaped pinata filled with laughter, hard candies, and John Cougar Mellancamp albums.

The boring but true answer is: the phrase was accidentally blurted out during a drunken game of Celebrities. We meant to say "Killing Me Softly." We accidentally slipped "Killing My Lobster." We remembered the phrase when it came to thinking of a name for the group, and it was waaaayyyy better than "Are you there god? it's us the art collective." So it stuck; and luckily people have remembered it.

No more Pimms Cups for us.

Where do you all perform?

Thing is: we are nomadic. We perform all over the place and as of this time we don't have a regular venue to house us. (If you want to change that and have a theater, please let us know.) That means we perform all over--and our location is often based on the performance venue is available. So keep checking with the site, reading the paper, and keeping your ears unplugged. You'll catch us around town soon.

Who designed your website?

We happen to share our office space with a group of awesomely talented designers called "Digipop" (if you are in the Mission district and pass a black building with green Atari-like lettering with their name on it--that's us). These guys could not be cooler. If you have a project or need help with your site, look them up at digipop.com.

How can I join Killing My Lobster?

We have auditions annually--usually in January. You will see notices about these auditions on the main page of our site, when they are announced. On some occasions, such as when we produce our new plays festival or shoot short films, we have needs for more actors outside of our core group to perform. In those cases, too, we'll post notices on our main page. In addition to acting with the group there are lots of other ways to get involved.

Do you write your own material?

Yes, and we take pride in that fact. We write or develop all of our material with members of the group, and friends we've made along the way. It's all orginal stuff, and it's all from the minds of the members of the group, and members of our extended family. It's not improv. And we are not an improv troupe.

Why do you guys choose to stay in San Francisco--and not move to, like, LA or New York or someplace where you can get famous?

It's nothing against the other fine cities you mention... We have serious love for this city. We've also found that the brand of humor we specialize in works very well here. Audiences here are extremely intelligent and force you to make the smart choices in writing and performance. And as most of us are still and always learning how to be better writers, performers, and creative people, this area of the country is an extremely responsive 'lab' in which to learn. It's just a good place to be an artist: you don't really need a car, you can get by on little money if you are careful, and there are creative and funny people everywhere. And as long as folks continue to come to the shows--we'll stay.

When will the bullshit end?

Sadly, not anytime soon. But together we can get through anything.