This week, Yes But Why Podcast interviews Lisbon, Portugal based improviser, Stephen Thornton!

Stephen Thornton has been studying, performing and teaching improvisation since 2001 when he was first introduced to the theater games of Viola Spolin. From 2006 to 2018, he continued his improv education in New York City, taking classes at The Peoples Improv Theater (PIT) and studying with some great improv teachers from around the country.

Since 2010, he has been coaching improv teams and teaching Improvisational Theatre workshops in NYC and abroad. In 2019, he founded his own company, Stephen Thornton Improv and shortly thereafter, moved to Lisbon, Portugal. Stephen is currently active in building the Lisbon improv community. He teaches and performs with his short-form English-speaking group, "4Misfits,"which features previous Yes But Why guest, Andre Sobral. Stephen also hosts an improv jam called Jelly Jam alongside co-host/producer, Luana Proença.

In our conversation, Stephen and I talk about being improvisers who are extroverted onstage but introverted in private life. We talk about liking the attention but how we need to recuperate after all that energy exchange.

Stephen talks about moving from Hawaii to Colorado as a kid. Stephen tells me how he got into performing in high school. Stephen shares some of the issues he had with casting calls after graduating at New York Film Academy and how that inspired him to do improv full time.

Stephen talks about how happy he is to have improv in his life. Stephen talks about one of his mentors, Scotty Watson, and the acting training that he folded into his improv classes. Stephen and I discuss his recent move from NYC to Lisbon to be on the front lines of developing the improv scene in Portugal. This was a fun conversation with lots of good advice throughout!

Support Stephen by taking an online improv course with him RIGHT NOW! Stephen has been teaching online improv courses during this socially distant time. Next week, there are 4 opportunities to learn from Stephen --. 2 workshops for beginners and 2 workshops for experienced improvisers. Visit his website for workshop descriptions and to register NOW  www.stimprov.com

ALSO -- Very recently, Stephen was able to perform with his NYC troupemates from “3.14 pronounced PIE” both of whom have been interviewed by this podcast -- Irene Carroll and Scotty Watson! They did it via Zoom! And I am excited to see it! Link to the Zoom recording of their performance coming soon!

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