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Improv Discussion and Resources

13 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago -

Level up your performance by listening to performers, teachers, actors, writers, directors, and producers share their experiences with you on Improv Discussion and Resources. Host Chris Griswold and an array of guests discuss what they love about improv, what they're working on and useful tools for improvisers. Discuss the podcast on the Improv Discussion & Resources Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/improvtalk/) or Improv Discussion & Resources Discord: (https://discord.gg/GRvtacUh7Z)Thunderbolt Comedy - https://www.thunderboltcomedy.com

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Episodes

"Meet people where they are" - Shannon Stott

July 27, 2021 04:00 - 47 minutes - 32.5 MB

Today, my guest is Shannon Stott.  Shannon is the creator and director of Improv On and Off the Stage, A virtual Improv Studio offering virtual classes and workshops. Based in Austin, TX she has been performing and teaching Improv since 2000. Shannon uses Improv to help people connect to themselves and others both on and off the stage. Find more information about her at Shannonstott.com  or follow her on instagram and YouTube at shannonstottimprov. Hey! We’d love to answer your improv que...

Adaptations with Kareem Badr

July 20, 2021 04:00 - 48 minutes - 33.3 MB

Today, my guest is Kareem Badr.  Kareem is one of the owners of The Hideout Theatre in Austin, TX  , and with his improv team Parallelogramophonograph, he co-authored “Do It Now”, a book of essays on narrative improvisation. In 2020, his fiction podcast script "Curtains" won the Austin Film Festival script competition. Great news! The Hideout Theatre has re-opened! PGraph's first show back at the theater is this Thursday, July 22nd! Hey! We’d love to answer your improv questions, share yo...

"Empathize first" - David Escobedo

July 14, 2021 04:00 - 59 minutes - 40.7 MB

Today, my guest is David Escobedo.  David is the creator of The Improv Boost, a community-focused social media presence with more than 29,000 followers. David has been teaching and performing improv since 1994. He has studied at iO, Second City, Westside Comedy. He has a Bachelor's Degree in performance and directing and a Master's Degree in Drama, focusing on improv, and he is currently pursuing his PhD in Drama, focusing on improv training and rehearsal.  Follow The Improv Boost on Face...

From Love to Death with Rhiannon Jenkins

July 07, 2021 04:00 - 50 minutes - 34.6 MB

Today, my guest is Rhiannon Jenkins. Rhiannon is an improviser from London who has been very busy during Lockdown. She has directed The Love Circle, Loose Seuss, and Between the Lines virtually through the Hideout Theatre in Austin, Texas, and she’s appeared in numerous shows and festivals.  In London, she’s education administrator for The Nursery Theatre.  Rhiannon teaches online frequently, but she will be offering multiple in=person workshops at the Boom Chicago Comedy Festival at the e...

"Do it over and over until your body learns to live onstage" - Michael Hartney

June 29, 2021 16:00 - 42 minutes - 28.9 MB

Today, my guest is Michael Hartney. Michael was the Artistic Director of UCB New York, where he also co-created the character comedy house teams and spent years on both improv and sketch house teams. This year, Michael co-founded the new nonprofit Squirrel Theater. Michael’s TV credits include The Politician, The Break With Michelle Wolf, and 30 Rock. He also originated the roles of Stanley and Mr. Williams in School of Rock: The Musical on Broadway.  If you’re in New York, see Michael’s S...

"Be There for the Human" - Amey Goerlich

June 22, 2021 11:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MB

Today, my guest is Amey Goerlich.  Amey is at Chaos Bloom theater in Denver, Colorado, where she is training center director, co-creative director, co-owner. Amey has directed or coached more than 500 improvisation groups, sketch teams. and off-broadway productions.  She produced & hosted Indie Cage Match at UCB East for 6 glorious years. Amey is a pioneer of virtual improv as the artistic director of e-mprov.com, the first online-only improv theater. She co-created the improv card game Hum...

Episode 4: "Be There for the Human" - Amey Goerlich

June 22, 2021 11:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MB

Today, my guest is Amey Goerlich.  Amey is at Chaos Bloom theater in Denver, Colorado, where she is training center director, co-creative director, co-owner. Amey has directed or coached more than 500 improvisation groups, sketch teams. and off-broadway productions.  She produced & hosted Indie Cage Match at UCB East for 6 glorious years. Amey is a pioneer of virtual improv as the artistic director of e-mprov.com, the first online-only improv theater. She co-created the improv card game Hum...

"Authenticity is everything" - Karla O'Bryant Dingle

June 14, 2021 10:00 - 52 minutes - 36 MB

Today my guest is Karla O’Bryant Dingle.   Karla is the Improv Director and Acting Instructor at Acting Out Studio in Charlotte, NC. She is also a faculty member with Queen City Comedy’s Global Improv Project. She has been performing improv in Charlotte since 2009 and has taken classes at Second City, Hoopla, and The Groundlings.   I wanted to chat with her because Queen City seemed to figure out producing and marketing virtual classes and shows in a way other organizations have struggled ...

Episode 3: "Authenticity is everything" - Karla O'Bryant Dingle

June 14, 2021 10:00 - 52 minutes - 36 MB

Today my guest is Karla O’Bryant Dingle.   Karla is the Improv Director and Acting Instructor at Acting Out Studio in Charlotte, NC. She is also a faculty member with Queen City Comedy’s Global Improv Project. She has been performing improv in Charlotte since 2009 and has taken classes at Second City, Hoopla, and The Groundlings.   I wanted to chat with her because Queen City seemed to figure out producing and marketing virtual classes and shows in a way other organizations have struggled ...

“Why NOT The Netherlands?” - Velvet Wells

June 07, 2021 10:00 - 43 minutes - 30 MB

Today's guest is Velvet Wells. Velvet is the outreach and inclusion manager for The Nursery Theatre in London, as well as the Director of Operations for the Black Improv Alliance. Velvet describes himself as Black, autistic, queer, and velvet-voiced. We discussed the need for more Black people in improv, taking space for yourself, and the allure of Europe. We are sponsored by Pineappl, a video app designed for virtual improv. If you want effortless movement and a sense of connection in you...

Episode 2: “Why NOT The Netherlands?” - Velvet Wells

June 07, 2021 10:00 - 43 minutes - 30 MB

Today's guest is Velvet Wells. Velvet is the outreach and inclusion manager for The Nursery Theatre in London, as well as the Director of Operations for the Black Improv Alliance. Velvet describes himself as Black, autistic, queer, and velvet-voiced. We discussed the need for more Black people in improv, taking space for yourself, and the allure of Europe. We are sponsored by Pineappl, a video app designed for virtual improv. If you want effortless movement and a sense of connection in you...

“I make it funny for the audience because I made it funny for myself.” - Joe Bill

May 31, 2021 11:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MB

In this very first episode, I had a great conversation with Joe Bill. Joe is perhaps best known as half of the duo BASSPROV, but he’s also a founding member of The Annoyance Theater in Chicago, where he performed and directed more than 60 shows. He served as the Director of Corporate Training at iO as well as a teacher & guest artist in residence at The Second City Conservatory & Training Center, both for well over a decade.  Joe tours the world, teaching and performing. During the Pandemic...

Episode 1: “I make it funny for the audience because I made it funny for myself.” - Joe Bill

May 31, 2021 11:00 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MB

In this very first episode, I had a great conversation with Joe Bill. Joe is perhaps best known as half of the duo BASSPROV, but he’s also a founding member of The Annoyance Theater in Chicago, where he performed and directed more than 60 shows. He served as the Director of Corporate Training at iO as well as a teacher & guest artist in residence at The Second City Conservatory & Training Center, both for well over a decade.  Joe tours the world, teaching and performing. During the Pandemic...