HISTORY/TIMELINE
The Knuckleball Now was born in Late 2004, the same night The Boston Red Sox began their impossible comeback down 3 games to 0 in the best of seven with the Yankees. That night roommates, Craig Kotfas & Mike D'Alonzo, who had been improv partners since 1998, met up with friends Mike Dolan, and David Modigliani. Their goal was to break down what makes improv fun and rewarding. Their first show was a month later at the Hideout Theatre's Annual Wafflefest (2004). TKN was then taking shape and over the next year or so the philosophy was refined on stage.

Mike Dolan, left shortly after the first couple shows to pursue a wonderful career in writing. and then in 2006 Mike D'Alonzo left for LA, but not before Michael Joplin (yikes, that is a lot of Mikes) tagged in. Joplin became a main stay. They had a blessed run of shows with the super talented and charming Lee Eddy, who bolted for the Big Apple. David eventually left and is now an award winning Producer/Director/Writer. 

For a few years Kotfas & Joplin held the things together until they added power house Ace Manning (2009). During Joplin's year in Korea (2010), TKN was again a dual consisting of Ace and Craig, which allowed for intense chemistry to form while performing at the Savage Vanguard Theater, Institution Theatre and Hideout Theatre. Joplin soon returned and the trio was back together.... until it EXPANDED yet again with the addition of Deano Jones in 2012. The troupe was a bulletproof four. Each bringing a unique energy and talent to the stage. Deano not only brought a dynamic energy, but was another graphic designer skill to the group, to go along with Craig. Many of Deano's classic posters and imagery can be seen in the promo gallery.

The fall on 2014 saw the triumphant return of Lee Eddy to Austin and TKN, shortly before the departure of Deano. In 2015, the new foursome hit another gear and others took notice. They were awarded their first of two B. Iden Payne Awards (Rudy Kloptic Award for Outstanding Improv Troupe). By this time, TKN had monthly residency at The Hideout Theatre ("DATE NIGHT" along with lovely ladies of PHYSICS CURSE and the delightful THE ESCORTS. Meanwhile across town, at COLDTOWNE THEATER, they were aboard the 30+ PLUS PARTY BUS with legendary THE FRANK MILLS every Thursday. This supposed 3 week run soon became an unforgettable 6 month run at Coldtowne. In those months Lee stepped aside to give birth to a sweet boy.  Back down to three, Craig, Joplin, Ace. That's when Ace was cast in BOOM! CHICAGO and left to spend a year in Amsterdam. It was back down to two (sound familiar). LEE RETURNS!!!

In December 2017, Joplin moved to LA the same time Mike D'Alonzo returned to Austin after 12 years away.  Spring 2018, Ace returned to Austin & TKN. The quartet of Kotfas/Eddy/Manning/D'Alonzo have been going strong ever since.

THE NAME??
Upon the first meeting, our only homework was to create a list of 10 possible names. The only word to appear on more than one list was KNUCKLEBALL. Thanks to the TV's constant mentioning of Boston Red Sox pitcher TIM WAKEFIELD's bread and butter pitch during the 2004 MLB Postseason.. But it was perfect... a knuckleball is a pitch that has no set path when thrown. Much like their style, we don't know where we'll end up. It has little to no spin, yep, that applies too. But they felt it was maybe sounding too much like a comedy version of Austin band FASTBALL, so Modig suggested adding "Now" to the end for more of a zen like feeling. It rolled off the tongue, it made sense, even more so now.

PAST ALUMNI

DAVID MODIGLIANI

MIKE DOLAN

DEANO JONES