Improv Comedy Connection (Whit Shiller)

Morgan Phillips joins us for this, our fourth episode.  Morgan is based out of New York and performs and teaches with the UCB there.  He’s been an improviser for 25 years, and to celebrate, he has started a new project called Not A Bit Comedy Theater.

In this episode, Morgan shares thoughts about what makes for good improv, as well as how growth as an improviser changes after you’re in it for a long while.

You can find Morgan at:

Twitter: @Morgan

YouTube: @morgannormal

Web:  www.morganphillips.com

His new project to celebrate his 25th — Not a Bit Comedy Theater — is on Twitter @NotABitComedy.

Episode Webpage: wp.me/paJcZS-bj

This is the final session of the COVID-19 Summit. In this conversation, we focus on what the current season that may help us "re-start" for the betterment of improv and improvisers on the other side of quarantine.  While we discuss where we're at in the moment, this is more of a forward looking conversation with a high interest in the art of improvisation.  

Panelists: Joe Bill (USA), Beatrix Brunschko (Austria), Jimmy Carrane (USA), Omar Galvan (Argentina/Spain), Stacey Hallal (USA), Inbal Lori (Israel/Germany), Feña Ortalli (Aregentina/Spain), Patti Stiles (Australia), moderated by Whit Shiller (USA)

Our very first episode of Improv Comedy Connection features Andel Sudik!  Andel is an improviser and actor out of LA and Chicago, and also does sketch comedy.  She’s a sought after teacher of improv and sketch, and you can find her giving workshops all over the world.  She got her start at iO before getting cast with Second City’s touring company and then for one of their stages, but also spent time in Amsterdam with Boom Chicago.  She’s had an interesting journey along the way – more than can fit into a single episode – but I know you’ll appreciate hearing from Andel.

Find Andel on the web at www.yesandel.com.

She’s on Facebook at facebook.com/andel.sudik, on Twitter @AndelSudik, and Instagram at Amsudik.  She also has a YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/AndelSudik.

Episode webpage: improvcomedyconnection.com/2019/09/01/andel-sudik-se01-ep01/

Billy Merritt, along with Will Hines, came out with a book called Pirate Robot Ninja: An Improv Fable.  The book expands and explains a theory that Billy developed in his teaching that improvisers are either naturally Pirates (driven more by the right brain/emotion) or Robots (driven more by the left brain/logic and facts) — with the Ninja one who was able to access either tendency when needed in the moment.  It’s much more, though, than a discussion of that topic.  In fact, it’s almost an improv workshop in book from from two high level instructors.

This episode includes a discussion of Billy’s early days in improv, trying to figure out improv with some college friends out of Spolin’s book, Theater Games, and then with the National Improv Theater before connecting with the UCB.  Billy continues to improvise and teach at the UCB in LA — although he first began with UCB in New York.  He was a founding member of The Swarm, one of the best regarded improv teams from UCB in New York, and now performs with The Smokes at UCB LA.

You can find Billy on social media at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billy.merritt

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillyMerritt

Pirate Robot Ninja is available at Amazon in both a hardcopy and a Kindle version.  You can also learn more about the book at www.piraterobotninja.com.

In this episode, Whit has a conversation with Kevin Mullaney, who so many will know from the Improv Resource Center, the associated podcast, and his training that has impacted thousands of improvisers. He was the first Artistic Director of the UCB in New York, but is back in Chicago. The subjects include a consideration of what Kevin’s dream curriculum and approach to improv training would be and what characteristics might be found a transcendent improviser. In addition, we spent time discussing how improv might fit differently at different times in life.  

You can look Kevin up at kevinmullaney.com and @ircmullaney on Twitter to keep up with what he’s up to.

* Note that this conversation was recorded in early 2020, well before quarantine was instituted in most of the world.  

Michael Golding visits with Whit in episode 14 - and it's a deep dive into the history of improvisational theater in the US. In particular, we discuss Michael's mentor, David Shepherd, and his role in the very beginnings of the Compass Players, Second City, iO and the Canadian Improv Games. Michael has a wealth of insight into these early days and the mind of one of the more important people from the very beginnings of improvisational theater in North America.

In this episode, we talk with Patrick Rowland.  Patrick is a writer, comedian, and actor from Chicago, now residing in Los Angeles. He’s studied and taught at The Second City and iO Theater. His solo character work was featured in Alone, Chicago’s Best Solo Comedy at The TBS Just For Laughs Festival in 2013. Austin Comedy Short Film Festival nominated Patrick as Best Supporting Actor for his work in Mr. Mainframe.

He is the creator of The Patrick Rowland Sketch Show, a web series he writes produces, directs, and films himself on an iPhone. He is also a founding member of 3Peat, a critically acclaimed, award-winning sketch/improv troupe, who has several sketches with Comedy Central's Digital platform, their most successful, The Blackening, garnered over 15 million views, and is currently being made into a feature.

Patrick hosted a late-night talk show as former President Barack Obama called Barack All Night. Most recently, he participated in a virtual roundtable for Sony Pictures, which was led by Girls Trip producer and writer Tracy Oliver. Patrick currently writes for The Amber Ruffin Show.

Links:

PatrickRowland.net

The Patrick Rowland Sketch Show

Instagram

Twitter

The Amber Ruffin Show - YouTube

For this episode, Whit has a conversation with Jay Sukow — a US improviser based in LA, but in New Zealand traveling for this recording.  After catching up a bit, we jumped into an amazing conversation about his favorite (by far) of over 300 10-minute scenes that he’s been doing since early on in the pandemic.  This is all the more impressive given that his online series “10 Minutes with…” where he improvises a 10 minute scene with someone from anywhere on the planet, has over 100,000 views.

Jay is very much about positivity towards improv and saying yes within your improv. This has led to a continued desire and enthusiasm for improv and improv community online – something that we also spend some time talking about in this episode.

As far as Jay’s background, he’s been improvising for nearly 30 years.  A few of those he has trained with include Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, David Razowsky, Keith Johnstone, Del Close, Charna Halpern, Jeff Michalski and Mick Napier. He is a graduate of training centers of The Second City, The Second City NW, iO Chicago, and ComedySportz Chicago and the founder of Today Improv.  He also served as the Artistic Director/Head of Training at the Improv Comedy Copenhagen Theatre, where he taught improv and sketch comedy to expats from all around the world.

He previously taught for Second City Chicago, Second City Hollywood, Westside Comedy Theater, iO Chicago (where he was also head of its artistic committee), iO West and ComedySportz Chicago, and has taught at many improv festivals around the world, including the Oslo Impro Festival, the Copenhagen International Improv Festival, the Barcelona Improv Festival and the Chicago Improv Festival. He is the winner of The Golden Pineapple, awarded to the best visiting teacher at Improv Comedy Copenhagen.

At the Westside Comedy Theater, Jay is in the cast of Mission Improvable and Improv Famous, an Armando-style show featuring some of the best improvisors on the planet. He is also part of the duo Zer0 H0ur with Bill Chott and was an ensemble member of ComedySportz Chicago, several weekend “house” improv teams at iO Chicago and many other improv and sketch comedy groups. At least, that’s the in person stuff!  Also, Jay is the co-host of ImprovCast with Jay and Landon.

Follow Jay and Jay-related stuff at:

JaySukow.com

Today Improv

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Jay also appeared as a panelist on the first session of the Covid-19 Improv Summit and both sessions related to online improv in the Summit.

Our guest for episode 5 of season 4 is Felipe Ortiz - a performer, director and teacher based in Bogota, Colombia.  But that 's really not a full summary of what Felipe is as a performer or educator.  He blends in, exchanges, plays, interacts and shares tools techniques and insights with artists from around the world.  You can see his interest in the body in movement in his use and integration of acrobatics, improvisation, clowning, physical theater, object manipulation and more in his performances.

He's currently working as a clown, acrobatics and impro teacher at the Javeriana University in Bogota and is the co-founder and co-artistic director of La Gata Cirko (new circus company) for many years and co director for of the improv ensemble PICNIC.

In Episode 6, Season 1, Whit chats with Neil Mullarkey of the Comedy Store Players in London. Neil shares the story of starting what has become the longest running comedy show with the same cast along with Mike Myers and others. Since 1985, their team has performed with a remarkably consistent team of six improvisers at the same location with pretty much the same lineup of short-form games.

In addition, Neil and Whit discuss corporate training and using improv to improve interpersonal communication, and the importance of listening and affiliative humor.

You can learn about all that Neil does at www.neilmullarkey.com, and find him on FaceBook and Twitter. To learn more about his book, Seven Steps to Improving Your People Skills, click here.

Lastly, if you are reading this right after the episode drops and can get to London, look for the Comedy Store’s annual show at the Globe Theatre.

Sheri is an instructor at the Second City training center in the improv and music departments. She has performed at the Engaging Women Conference, been a guest on Vocalo Radio's Morning AMp Council of Feminist Thought show, and was a panelist for the Inside Jokes Comedy Conference hosted by Women In Comedy, and has appeared in numerous podcasts addressing wide-ranging subjects including art, equity, and criticism. Having performed in a variety of forms from Shakespeare to screen, Sheri is a member of the interracial, married sketch team FLANDERS, the head writer for CHOICE THE MUSICAL, was an ensemble member of Second City’s musical house ensemble, INFINITE SUNDAES, and founded the first and longest-running musical improv team CHEAP TRILLS at Just the Funny theater in Miami. She is represented by NV Talent.

A member of the American Theater Critics Association, her writing as a freelance journalist, critic, and humorist, has been featured in publications such as McSweeney's, the Chicago Defender, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Reader, Rescripted, Performink, NewCity, Chicagoland Musical Theater, and the Windy City Times. Sheri was invited to cover the 2020 Sundance Film Festival as part of their Press Inclusion Initiative.

There's more Sheri at www.sheriflanders.com or you can find her on Facebook and LinkedIn, too.

You can find a lot of Sheri's writing online, but here are a couple of articles to get you going if you don't know where to start:

Black Artistic Leaders Take Charge at Several Chicago Theaters -- The Chicago Reader

Inclusion in Improv: or How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Use the Bomb -- Rescripted

Nnamdi Ngwe is an actor, model, improvisor, teacher, and writer. He studied and teaches at iO Theater and The Second City and was recently awarded teacher of the year at iO Theater. He and his twin brother and writing partner, Amechi, wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed show Julius which earned him a trip to the New York Television Festival and a nomination for Best Screenplay at the Best Of The Midwest Film Awards among others.

Along with the rest of the cast of 3Peat, Nnamdi co-wrote and starred in The Blackening on Comedy Central. He can be seen as a cast member in You’ve Been Had Celebrity Edition and can also be seen in sketches for The Ringer. In addition to Film, TV, and Commercials, Nnamdi can be seen across the world touring with the award winning improv/sketch group 3Peat, and iO Theater.

To connect with Nnamdi, visit his website: thennamdi.com.

Find Nnamdi on Twitter at @NnamdiNgwe or on Instagram at instagram.com/nngwe17/.

Shannon Dale Stott is an improviser and instructor out of Austin, Texas. She’s brilliant, fun and thoughtful and was the inspiration I (Whit) needed to start recording interviews again. We spent a fair amount of time on matters of vulnerability and attunement in this conversation. In fact, we probably spent another hour or so afterwards discussing related topics. The notion of vulnerability training I think deserves space in every improv curriculum, and not just as a one off but something closer to the core – and I think that dovetails in with attunement as a discipline individually and within a community. But all that requires work and thoughtfulness. The net result is better improv, better community, and more joy – so it’s worth it. But it still requires doing the work.

This is definitely one of the longer episodes, and as jam packed as it was there’s a lot more we could have dove into. As much as you’ll get from the conversation, you’ll likely want to hear and experience more from Shannon. There are a number of ways to do that, including looking her up on social media (FaceBook, Instagram, and YouTube in particular), search for classes she might lead at The Hideout Theater in Austin, and on patreon too by going to patreon.com/shannonstottimprov/. Shannon posts some specific content there for supporters. Lastly, you can find out that much more at her website www.shannonunlimited.com.

Our guest on this episode of the Improv Comedy Connection is David Escobedo. David has been coaching and performing improv since 1994. In fact, he coached his first improv team, as there weren't any improv schools around! Later he took classes at iOwest, Second City and other improv schools around Los Angeles. He is quick to acknowledge the impact of his improv teachers during this time, including Jay Sukow (Jay was part of the COVID-19 Improv Summit and was interviewed as part of Season 4), Paul Vaillancourt (Paul was interviewed in Season 1), Liz Allen, Steve Green, Duncan Cameron, Vanessa Anton, and more that he would view as particularly inspirational.

One of the philosophies he firmly believes in is that the improv ecosystem is much more flat than we're led to believe. He rejects the notion that there is a dynamic hierarchy of "good improvisers" or teachers, and firmly wants to see people and institutions being put on pedestals. His goal as a teacher is to make you a peer, not a constant student (cash cow). That way there are more people to do good improv with!

David is pursuing his PhD in Chester, UK. He lives there with his super talented and creative partner Monica Escobedo and their adorable new child, Q.

You can find David and one of his most important projects at: www.facebook.com/BoostImprov.

In this continuation of a conversation among improvisers around the world, we discuss the implications and possibilities associated with increased globalization in improv - but also topics such as retaining one's cultural identity and context in their performance and the unique challenges of learning and performing in something other than your first language.  

Panelists in Part 2: Joe Bill (USA), Nick Byrne (Australia), John Gebratatose (USA), Hellena Jang (South Korea), Kaisa Kokko-Palmer (Finland), Sven Lanser (The Netherlands), Felipe Ortiz (Columbia), Patti Stiles (Australia), Cheng Zeng (China), moderated by Whit Shiller (USA)

Today's new episode features Jonathan Pitts! In this episode, Whit talks with Jonathan - an award-winning, international improv theatre artist, creator, director, producer, and teacher from Chicago. He's been improvising for over 35 years, and has been involved in founding and directing important festivals and experiences like the Chicago Improv Festival and the College Improv Tournament.  We talk tech, we talk the global improv community, we talk technique, and we talk about improv - all drawing on Jonathan's deep experience and interest in making connections across the globe with improv.

You can connect with Jonathan on the web at JonathanPittsImprov.com & GlobalImprovWalkabout.com or on social media:

Facebook: Jonathan Pitts

Instagram: @pitts5038

Twitter: @jpitts_28

In this episode, Whit sits down with Balasree Viswanathan. Bala is an improviser based in Bangalore, India, where she is also the co-artistic director of Improv Comedy Bangalore and a performer with The Adamant Eves, India's first and currently only all-women improv ensemble. Improv is newer in India, and particularly Bangalore - and we discuss its developments and distinctives, inclusive of the specific experience she's had with The Adamant Eves.

Bala has been improvising since 2016 and has performed in shows in the US, across India and more recently, in Sri Lanka - but has been very active in the global improv community online. She not only is performing with improvisers all over the world via Zoom, but she offers training herself as a facilitator of online workshops.

Social Media/Contact:
Facebook and Instagram : @ICBangalore and @adamanteves
Website: www.icbangalore.com

As we get ready to close out Season 3 of the podcast, Whit has a conversation with Jon Carr -- just a week or so out from the big news that Jon has been hired as Executive Producer at Second City.  Just prior, Jon was serving as Artistic Director at Dad's Garage in Atlanta.  Jon was not only a fixture for many years at Dad's, but also in the Atlanta creative community as a whole.  We discuss his start in improv at Dad's, his approach to the craft, and so much more.

In addition to his work at Dad's Garage, Jon impacted and connected with many other organizations.  He has had staged readings at Synchronicity Theatre, Happy Accident Theatre, and Stage Door Players. He worked with Alliance Theatre as their Audience Development Manager. Jon founded United Atlanta Improv and has helped improv theatres around the city come together through collaborative works. With his improv group Dark Side of the Room, he has been able to work with The Center For Civil and Human Rights and perform around North America. He has appeared in a number of Dad’s Garage shows such as: “Cannibal! The Musical,” “The Dad’s Garage Going Out of Business Show,” “The Wrath of Con” and “Effed Up Fairy Tales.” Dad’s Garage has also given him the opportunity to write shows as he has written “Wrath of Con 1,” “Wrath of Con 2,” and “Black Nerd” (Winner of the 2018 Suzi Bass Award for Best Orginal play).

You can connect with Jon on social media:

Instagram @joncarrjr

Twitter @JonCarrJr

And keep watching as he makes his mark on Second City in 2021 and beyond!

We're back for season 4 with Shaun Landry!  Shaun got her start in improv in the mid-1980s in Chicago and has been a strong, joyful, positive presence not only in Chicago, but then in San Francisco, LA and through her travels and online, all over the world.

It was a fantastic conversation - both what is being published and what followed -- and it's a great way to start off our next season.  We missed you, and if you didn't miss us, you certainly won't want to miss Shaun Landry.

More details on Shaun on the episode webpage at https://wp.me/paJcZS-xF.

You can find Shaun on the web at shaunlandry.com and also on social media at:

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube

In episode 8, Whit talks with Anna Ong.  Anna is a Singapore based Storyteller and Improviser. Anna's first exposure to live storytelling came while performing at an improv show in with The Magnet in New York City in 2018.  That experience led to others, including at The Moth in NYC and with the Story District in Washington DC. Today she is the creator, host and producer of What’s Your Story Slam, a live storytelling competition show based in Singapore that focuses promoting a culture of personal storytelling and a consultant using storytelling, applied improvisation, and other disciplines to assist businesses achieve more. 

We discuss what goes into a good story, but also what goes into a good show.  Given the basic human connection to story, these insights can impact improvisers, stand ups, and communicators of all types.

Feña Ortalli began his acting and improvisation career in 2001 in Buenos Aires. In 2006 he created Global Impro, an improv troupe dedicated to national and international collaboration and exchange. He's currently based in Madrid where he performs and teaches with the larger companies in that city. Feña also has been writing, editing, and providing the general direction of Status, a digital magazine about improvisation, since 2011. He's also the author of the book Impro: Dynamics of the Unexpected (2018) and has taught and performed in different cities in over 20 countries.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fena.ortalli
Global Impro: http://www.globalimpro.com/
Status Magazine: http://www.statusrevista.com/

This second of two episodes on online improv, guest hosted by Jules Munns, features a panel of Von Daniel, Amey Goerlich, Elana Fishbein, Roy Janik,  Whit Shiller, and Jay Sukow discussing technique, texture and tech in doing online improv.  In addition, the discussion provides an encouraging look at the role online improv can play in today's and tomorrow's global improv community.

Our second episode in Season 3* is with the incomparable, Patti Stiles! Patti learned improv and theatre at the famed Loose Moose Theatre Company in Calgary with Keith Johnstone as a direct mentor. She subsequently moved to Melbourne from where she works as an actor, improviser, director, instructor and playwright. 

Many in the improv community know all this, as few have traveled the world teaching and encouraging improv at the level that Patti does. This particular conversation occurred in early 2020, before COVID-19 and so much more -- so this is a rich and full conversation on the art of improv that I know you'll enjoy. But you can also hear more from Patti in the first, fourth, fifth and last sessions of the COVID-19 Summit. 

Patti has an infectious enthusiasm for improvisation that comes through, but is equally matched by her insight into improvisation technique, strong narrative skill and her spirit of play. Prepare to be inspired, and then be sure to look for more about and from Patti at pattistiles.com and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

* Note that what was to be Season 2 was pushed to Season 3 in light of the COVID-19 lockdown and the Summit that followed. This episode, and several others in Season 3, were recorded in January and February, 2020. No doubt that different conversations and topics would have been considered if this conversation had occurred later.

Born in Indonesia, and now based in Norway, Aree Witoelar is an improv teacher, director and performer who is also the founder and artistic director of Impro Neuf International.  Impro Neuf International is Norway’s first international improv community with over 1,000 members from over 50 countries.

Aree has been improvising since 2005, studying from many teachers and throughout his improv career has believed in bringing the global voice to the improv stage. In the new era of online improv, he is teaching improv to every corner of the world and regularly performing duos -- as of this episode he's played with over 120 players from 50 or more countries.  These scenes can be accessed at his facebook page

Aree also writes periodically on topics of improv on Medium and can pretty easily make the case as the lead foodie in the international improv foodie community.  Aree and Whit share a love of Beef Rendang, chilaquiles, snert and much more -- but conversation about foods from around the world will have to wait for a second episode.

For more on Aree, go to:

www.areewitoelar.com
Medium
Facebook

Our third episode in Season 4 is with Dr. Sophie Scott, the Wellcome Senior Research Fellow in Basic Biomedical Science and Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London.  She is part of UCL's Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and in the Division of  Psychology & Lang Sciences.  So of course we're having her on the podcast, right?  Well it is an of course because of her particular lines of inquiry do have quite a lot to say about a subject that all improvisers, comedians and communicators who use humor care about -- laughter.

More generally, Dr. Scott's work looks at the neural basis of vocal communication - how our brains process the information in speech and voices and correspondingly produce what comes out of us that's audible. Within that, is a very special and interesting focus that she has placed on laughter.  And her conclusions can -- if we let them -- be quite transformational, I think, in how we evaluate our work.  I don't want to give too much away, so I will leave it there -- but what for more follow up material on the topics addressed.

You are also welcome and encouraged to check out more of Dr. Scott's background and work product.  Here are a few places to get you started:

Official Site: http://ucl.ac.uk/pals/people/profiles/academic-staff/sophie-scott

Select Lectures and Resources from Dr. Scott:

Sophie Scott: Why we laugh | TED Talk

The Science of Laughter with Sophie Scott - YouTube

‎The Neuromantics on Apple Podcasts

In this episode, Whit and Flavien Reppert discuss Flavien’s beginnings in improv in the Match format to his current work at Le Théâtre de l’Oignon. This particular conversation includes a segment regarding the role that language plays in improvising – something that Flavien is particularly positioned to talk about as he not only has travelled to 27 countries, but has improvised in French, English, German, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish.

The theatre/professional improvisation company he founded in 2003 (Le Théâtre de l’Oignon) is still Flavien’s base. He is their artistic director, a performer and coach. There, he has created dozens of original formas, but the signature format of his and his theatre is Random which is performed by many groups worldwide.

We also talk a bit about Ohana, an international exchange platform that Flavien is a member of that focuses on improvisation and is comprised of 50 members representing 20 nationalities: ohanaproject.eu

You can get tons more info about Flavien at his website: flavienreppert.com (there is both French and English language versions) or follow him on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Flaviencomedien/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captainflav/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/improignon

Our guest for this episode is Tanine Dunais.  Tanine grew up in Iran, but discovered improv in the United Arab Emirates.  She later moved to Europe, and now resides in the Netherlands, where she pursues improv, bouffon, clowning, and more.  This episode features an interesting discussion on the theater traditions of  Tanine's homeland, and as well as an fascinating consideration of performing in a context of difference backgrounds and intersectionalities in an ensemble.

You can connect with Tanine in a number of ways:

Tanine Dunais is her website with many links to her varied work.

@tanindunais • Instagram

@tannin | Facebook

Episode webpage: https://wp.me/paJcZS-Eg

Season 3, Episode 7's guest is Omar Galvan - an improviser, workshop facilitator and author originally from Argentina, but now residing in Madrid. Omar is a sought after instructor not only throughout the Spanish speaking world but throughout the world, generally.  It is a treat to continue the increasing breadth of experiences in the improv world in the podcast with someone as thoughtful and insightful as Omar.

You can get access to Omar's Yes, But . . . essay and also an electronic version of his book, Del Salto al Vuelo through the Status magazine site -- with the essay available in English, French and Spanish.  Click here to go there.

Social Media/Contact:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/omarargentinogalvan

Our guest for this episode is Hellena Jang.  Hellena is an improviser, instructor and agile coach in Seoul, Korea, as well as the founder of Imfrog - likely the first Korean language improv troupe on the Korean peninsula.  She was introduced to improv through Seoul City Improv, an English language troupe established by ex-pats in the city.  That experience led to perhaps one of the most intense deep dives into improv - a couple of extended, immersive journeys that Hellena took to learn about a great many of the North American improv schools, traditions and communities - that helped shape the force of improv that is Hellena Jang.

In this episode, we talk about that journey, a bit about the European and Asian festival scene, leading in improv, her pioneering work, and the Korean language and culture and improv.  And Hellena is just fun to talk with!

You may recall Hellena from her contributions to the Covid-19 Improv Summit in the following two episodes:

   COVID-19 Improv Summit — The Globalization of Improv Part 1

   COVID-19 Improv Summit — The Globalization of Improv Part 2

You can connect with Hellena in a number of ways:

   hellenajang.com

   Facebook

   Instagram

Get ready for a college level conversation in this one credit symposium with Anne Libera.  Anne has worked with The Second City since 1986 and taught in their  Training Center since 1991, but is also the Director of Comedy Studies for the Theater Department at Columbia College in Chicago where she teaches History and Analysis of Modern Comedy and Comedy Survey I and II. She is the author of The Second City Almanac of Improvisation and is working on a new book on what it takes to be funnier and other aspects of comedy.  This is a wide ranging conversation that will provide you with a perspective on what makes improv and comedy work, aspects of the industry, and so much more.

You can find more about Anne at the Second City or find her on Twitter @AnneLibera1.

* Note that this conversation was recorded in early 2020, well before quarantine was instituted in most of the world.

In this, our 50th episode!, Whit has a conversation with Rachael Mason.  Rachael has been a mainstay of the Chicago improv scene for many years.  She has been a central figure in the Second City’s curriculum and performance and has moved to iO which is set to re-launch under new ownership in Fall of 2022.  There, she is the Director of Education and is involved in both the design of the theater’s improv curriculum and performance structures – and as you might guess, we spend some time discussing what is to come at iO.

Rachael’s teaching also extends to coursework at DePaul University and Columbia Chicago, as well as her own workshops that she has delivered all around the world.  Her performance credits are many, with many credits at Secondy City, iO, Annoyance, Baby Wants Candy, as well as regularly performing with her good friend and improv beshert, Susan Messing.

You can get access to drop in classes and more through ioimprov.com, which certainly will develop more fully in the months and years following the release of this episode.

Michelle Gilliam is a voice actor and improviser based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the founder of Improv MKE. She has been involved with improv since high school, and at various times has been immersed in the Milwaukee, Chicago, and Boston improv scenes.  With the pandemic, she adeptly stepped into the global, online improv community where her skills and thoughtfulness about the art and the community aspects of improv have garnered her world-wide respect.

Her emphasis on being human applies to both the art and community, and can be seen quite clearly in everything Michelle does. Her experiences are easily accessible and welcoming, and you can find many of them by going to www.improvmke.com or to the World's Greatest Improv School.  You can also find Michelle and Improv MKE around social media - including: Improv MKE | Facebook.

Ken Davis joins Whit for episode 12 of the podcast. Ken has been a motivational and inspirational communicator, comedian, humorist, trainer, and mentor who has impacted millions of lives over the course of his 50 year or more career. With respect to communication, specifically, Ken has developed the SCORRE Method and related materials to help speakers communicate more clearly and powerfully. While the focus of communication and improv or stand up might be different, establishing goals for a show or performance can be just as important for setting things up for success. It’s a real treat to get a generous amount of wisdom and insight from a successful, veteran communicator like Ken.

Ken’s main website is at www.kendavis.com. There you will find links to SCORRE Training, an archive of episodes for the Secrets of Dynamic Communication podcast, information on his 12 books, at least as many DVDs, and his one man performance of Fully Alive! which you can also find on Netflix, and much more.

You can Ken on social media at Facebook and Twitter.

Episode 7 of the Improv Comedy Connection features Will Hines! Will has been improvising with the UCB since 1999, where he started with them in New York. He's now in LA, and performs, teaches and coaches improv with the UCB in LA while also acting, writing, and doing a lot of other things as well. Recently, along with Billy Merritt who was on epsiode 2, Will released the book Pirate Robot Ninja - An Improv Fable -- a very different book from his highly regarded How to Be the Greatest Improviser on Earth. They're both great, so be sure to pick them both up! Will shares some great stuff in our conversation that will be interesting and meaningful for the working improviser, as well as someone earlier on in their journey. Some great insights on teaching are shared in our conversation as well, so you'll want to listen to this one more than once! You can find Will at www.willhines.net, on Twitter @willhines, and Instagram @williebhines. We also talked about his Tumblr account and how it was being ignored -- but you can help solve that problem by visiting his site there at improvnonsense.tumblr.com.

In this episode, we get to spend time with a true improv pioneer -- Oluwadamilola Apotieri-Abdulai.  Damilola is one of the few improvisers in Nigeria and in West Africa. He has an amazing background in using theater, improv, and other techniques and structures to positively impact individuals and communities throughout the region and indeed across the world.  The work he's done and is doing will inspire you - and is reason enough to listen in to this conversation.

Damilola is the founder of Playback Nigeria which focuses on using art for social transformation and is a leader in the region in promoting mental health awareness, using the arts to support those impact of disasters and dislocations, and otherwise.  He also has a drive to spread the practice of improvisation and other similar arts throughout the continent of Africa and continues to create online fesitvals and other opportunities for people from different countries, particularly children, to connect with each other.

You can follow Playback Nigeria by looking up @PlaybackNigeria on IG, Facebook and Twitter. They are also on the web at www.playbacknigeria.com.

Our penultimate episode of Season 3 is with Aretha Sills - the granddaughter of Viola Spolin - widely considered the mother of modern improvisational theater) an daughter of Paul Sills (founder and initial director The Second City in Chicago, as well as Story Theater).  Aretha studied for many years with her father and is an outstanding instructor in her own right, having worked with Tony- and Emmy-Award winning actors and having trained faculty from Northwestern, DePaul, Columbia College, The Second City, The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, LAUSD, CETA, and many other institutions and schools. Aretha is presently the Associate Director of Sills/Spolin Theater Works and directs The Predicament Players.

In our conversation, we look at the whole of improv.  In re-considering the genesis and revolutionary utilization of theater games and the experiential learning approach of Viola Spolin against the backdrop of a variety of narratives about what improv is, it becomes apparent that not only are some unaware of the impact and importance of Viola Spolin, but that the Mother of Improv has been written out or ignored to our detriment. Hopefully we help right some of that wrong in this episode.

Episode Webpage: wp.me/paJcZS-uE

Jules Munns in an improviser, teacher, and co-founder of both Slapdash International (London's longest running festival of improvisation) and The Nursery Theatre in London, UK, and also director of Impromptu Shakespeare. He has performed and taught at festivals across the UK and in countries including the US, Pakistan, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Finland. He also hosts an excellent podcast for the Nursery.

In this episode, we discuss the rapid growth of improv in London, various styles and influences on the art there, and even the purpose of improv itself. The conversation may be a bit intellectual and improv nerdy, but it also explores the notion of improv perhaps being at its best when it feels like "coming home."

You can connect with Jules at julesmunns.com or the Nursery Theatre at thenurserytheatre.com.

Andy Goldberg is one of the founding member of Off the Wall — a short form team that has been performing since 1974! — and is also the author of Improv Comedy which is now in its second edition. Andy and has been featured in such TV and films hits as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Golden Girls, The Goodbye Girl, Full House, and the Practice.

Over the course of his improv career, Andy has improvised with scores of fantastic improvisers and well known entertainment personalities. One of them, Robin Williams, comes up a bit in this conversation — which gives an interesting window into the experience of working with someone who might not exactly follow the traditional improv performance models.

Andy continues to teach workshops, and you can find the most current info on those on Facebook.

In this episode, we get to hear from Luana Proença - an improviser from Brazil, presently studying for a PhD in theater/improvisation in Lisbon, Portugal. Luana is a known quantity in much of the global improv world, but not nearly well-known enough in the English-speaking, North American improv community. Listening in will help change that if that's where you're based, and you'll thank me for the experience later.

Luana has some very interesting, and clear observations and understandings of the various roles an improviser plays within any performance. I recommend her book on that subject highly, and you can find a link to get your copy below - with very friendly pricing arrangements so that you can be as generous as you can be to Luana while taking advantage of her wonderful work.  We also consider the impact other voices can have on each of us -- first through the lens of the documentary she produced with contributions from 60 improvisers from all over the world -- to just each other's voices.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts or go to the episode webpage at https://wp.me/paJcZS-AP.

Dave Razowsky joins Whit for the finale episode of Season 1 -- and it's a great conversation! Dave shares from his long, deep history and thoughtfulness in the art of improv and acting -- with his history going back to Geese Theater Company and its programs for prisoners, moving on to Second City, Improv Olympic, an involvement with the predecessor to the Annoyance and so much more. We also get a sneak peek into Dave's upcoming book - "A Subversive’s Guide to Improvisation" - and how it pulls together Dave's philosophy and methodology related to improv.

Be sure to check out Dave's website at www.davidrazowsky.com for further information, video clips and more. You'll also want to check out his award winning podcast - A.D.D. Comedy with Dave Razowsky - which can also be found just about anywhere you'd get your podcasts.

This is the first of a two-part conversation among 13 improvisers from 10 countries and 6 continents about the impact and implications of globalization on the art of improv. Recognizing that we are still under unusual circumstances and that live, in person, in theater improv will return, the panel discusses how we all might consider the world of improv which we now know is both smaller and larger than we understood before the present health crisis.

Panelists: Oluwadmilola Apotieri-Abdulai (Nigeria), Joe Bill (USA), Tandi Buchan (South Africa), Nick Byrne (Australia), John Gebratatose (USA), Hellena Jang (South Korea), Kaisa Kokko-Palmer (Finland), Sven Lanser (The Netherlands), Felipe Ortiz (Columbia), Katy Schutte (UK), Patti Stiles (Australia), Cheng Zeng (China), moderated by Whit Shiller (USA)

In this episode, we get the joy of talking with Stacey Hallal - founder of the Curious Comedy Theater in Portland, Oregon where she serves as Artistic Director as well as a regular performer, writer, director and teacher. We talk a bit about her leadership at Curious, but she's also known for her Ruby Rocket, Private Eye character and much, much more.  We discuss her affinity for "cross-training" - which dates back to her experience in Chicago in going through the training at iO, Annoyance, Second City along and others, along with experiencing a host of different approaches to improv from the scores of comedy festivals she's been a part of in one capacity or another.

Keep up with Stacey at:

Instagram: @thestaceyhallal

Curious Comedy Theater

Ruby Rocket, Private Eye

Episode 5 of the Improv Comedy Connection features Paul Vaillancourt! Paul’s been improvising since college and grew up in the artform at a really interesting time in Chicago before moving to LA to co-found iO West. He’s an author of the book the Triangle of the Scene and has a rich catalog of tips on improv on YouTube. In other words, Paul has tons of content that he’s produced that can help you grow in improv and you should take advantage of all of them!

The conversation in this episode covers a lot of ground — from the basic, atomic level of improv to the artform in general. In it, you’ll find a lot of rich insights and things to think through.

You can connect with Paul on social media at:

FaceBook:  @pvimprov

Twitter: @whatsupwithpv

Instagram: @whatsupwithpv

Check out http://improvcomedyconnection.com/2019/09/22/paul-vallaincourt-se01-ep05/ for more info.

Episode web page 

Laura Hall is someone who improvisers, in the US anyway, will all know. She’s been a consistent and amazing presence as an improvising musician on Whose Line is it Anyway? in the US right from the start of the series. But Whose Line wasn’t her first gig, and it’s not all she does. In Episode 8, Laura shares more of that story, about music and improv, and so much more.

You can find a lot of information about Laura at laurahall.com, including information about the workshops see and her husband, Rick Hall, do on Music Improv, her Improv Karaoke tracks for download and use in improv performances, and her book, The Improv Comedy Musician, which should be required reading for any improv musician – but also any troupe leader where music will be a part of the troupe’s performances. You can follow Laura on FaceBook, Instagram, and Twitter, too.

Listen in to a fire side chat with Joe Bill -- widely regarded as one of the best teachers of Scenic and Comedic Improvisation in the world today. He is one of the founding members of Annoyance Theater Chicago where, for 12 years, he performed in and/or directed more than 60 different shows. He was the Director of Corporate Training at iO Chicago for 15 years and a Teacher & Guest Artist in Residence at The Second City Conservatory & Training Center for another 15 years. Joe first learned Improvisation and in 1977 studied and worked with Del Close from 1985 through the mid 90’s.

Joe is ½ of the original improvised Monoscene, BASSPROV with Mark Sutton, . They have been heralded by the NY TIMES: "BASSPROV refreshingly has the feel of a quiet character study...jokes emerge organically, using wordplay, character quirks and quicksilver wit."

Joe tours all over the world, teaching and headlining with extremely talented Duo partners like Mark Sutton (Annoyance Theater Co-Founding Member and Artistic Director for Training and Development at The Second City) in the long-running BASSPROV,  Jill Bernard (Huge Improv Theater – Mpls.) in their hit show SCRAM!, with Lee White (CRUMBS – Winnipeg, Berlin) in their heroic Duo show PARADIGM, with International Improv Legend Patti Stiles (AD - Impro Melbourne) in their groundbreaking show Our Play, Stacey Hallal (Curious Comedy Theater – Portland, OR) in Stacey & Joe and We Slept Together, Heather Urquhart (Improviser/Director The Maydays & Showstopper The Improvised Musical – London/U.K.) in their magical improvised Musical Blues Hammer (with the stupendous Joe Samuel on Improvised Orchestra) and with David Razowsky (Host A.D.D. Comedy Podcast) in Razowsky & Bill. He’s played with many other Duo partners, in the U.S. and abroad, in many Festival Ensemble shows and in every improvised format and/or style imaginable. For the last 6 years he has also been teaching and performing in French, in many cities in France, Belgium & Luxembourg. He is living his dream!

He has played as a guest in Play Unscripted with ImproTheatre L.A., Grand Theft Impro at Impro Melbourne (Australia), The Scene at The PIT in New York City and UCB in L.A., with Let’s Have A Ball and ASSSSCAT 3000 at UCB Theater in New York & L.A. and with Kornfeld & Andrews at Magnet Theater in New York City.  And, of course, he has performed, directed, taught and served as an Artistic Adviser for a number of Improvisation/Comedy Theaters & Festivals on every continent except Antarctica (but he’s working on that!) and at every major Improv Festival in The United States.

You can find Joe on facebook at Joe Bill Teaches! | Facebook, which is also the best place to get connected with the Story Chain sessions that Joe hosts.

This conversation hosted by Whit Shiller with Joe Bill, Holly Mandel, Ed Morgan, Rebecca Northan, David Razowsky, Patti Stiles, and Jay Sukow, is simply a conversation about how each is doing individually and how our improv communities and the global improv community are doing in the face of COVID-19.

Our ninth episode is our first with someone from outside of improv. Bone Hampton joins Whit to discuss comedy more broadly, and his experience and approach to stand up comedy. There are a number of insights that Bone shares that are applicable to any performer, and he also shares some great career advice along the way.

Bone was on Season 13 of America's Got Talent, a recurring guest on The View, and has many other comedy credits on his resume along with roles in film, including in All About Steve and Woodlawn. Bone’s has also appeared on ABC’s “Less Than Perfect,” NBC’s “My Name is Earl,” BET’s “Comic View,” and Comics Unleashed.

You can find a lot of information about Bone at bonehampton.com, including his upcoming show calendar. And be sure to follow Bone on FaceBook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Holly Mandel has a diverse career — she is a speaker, inspirer, creative consultant, improviser, director, teacher, writer and entrepreneur. One town isn’t big enough to contain her, so you she splits her time between LA and New York.

In this episode, we start with a conversation about improv — including an exploration of character-based improv, which Holly grew up in at the Groundlings and continued in Improvolution in New York and Los Angeles. This episode also goes into Holly’s highly-regarded Good Girls Aren’t Funny workshops and presentations, which explores and seeks to understand differences in gender experiences in improv and beyond.

A great place to survey all the things that Holly does is at hollymandel.com, where you can also get links to Good Girls Aren’t Funny and Improvolution.

We're back with Patti Stiles in our first episode of Season 5.  Listeners know Patti from episode 2 of Season Three as well as panelist in the first, fourth, fifth and last sessions of the COVID-19 Summit. Our focus in this episode, though, is her wonderful book - Improvise Freely.  It's a timely book, as well as an encouragement and challenge to improvisers - no matter how seasoned.

Patti has an infectious enthusiasm for improvisation that comes through in everything she does. You'll no doubt be encouraged to pick up a copy of the book after this interview, but you'll also likely want to find out more and follow Patti.  You can do so at pattistiles.com and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

In this first of two episodes on online improv, the panel (Von Daniel, Amey Goerlich, Elana Fishbein, Roy Janik,  Jules Munns, Jay Sukow, Paul Vaillancourt, with Whit Shiller as moderator) discuss the "why" behind doing online improv.  We consider the community, performance and training aspects of putting improv and improv training online, and talk a little bit about how this medium might stay in play when we can return to on stage improv and training more fully.

The Improv Comedy Connection kicks off Season 2 with Jimmy Carrane! Jimmy and Whit discuss what the early days of improv can teach us about the art form today, what the Art of Slow Comedy is all about, and how to grow in your career. Jimmy’s perspective on improv is an important one, given his many contributions to the art and his history going back to his time in iO, the Annoyance, his time with Jazz Freddy, work with Del Close, his podcast, Improv Nerd, his books (Improvising Better and Improv Therapy) and his award winning Art of Slow Comedy workshops and intensives. It’s a long list, and that’s not all of it!

Be sure to check out Jimmy’s website at www.jimmycarrane.com for further information, his blog, schedule for his classes, and so much more. And if you haven’t already, you’ll want to check out the Improv Nerd podcast which can also be found just about anywhere you’d get your podcasts.