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March 10, 2021
What I Like About You: 6 Improvisers I Admire

Working with great improvisers is exciting and fun, and usually I ended up learning a lot from them. Over the years I have been fortunate enough to get to play with some of the best improvisers out there, and because I am still doing Jimmy and Johnnie on Zoom, I still get to do so. Here are […]

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September 10, 2018
254: Why is Chicago the Mecca of Improv?

Jimmy is really proud to share with you this piece he did for Curious City on WBEZ, Chicago Public Radio, answering the question, "Why is Chicago the mecca of improv?" In this episode you will hear several people’s theories about why this is. Jimmy interviews old friends TJ Jagodowski, Susan Messing and Jonathan Pitts to […]

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January 31, 2018
Why is Chicago the Mecca of Improv?

Have you ever thought about why Chicago is the mecca of improv? Well, I recently had the chance to explore this question in depth when WBEZ, the public radio station in Chicago, contacted me about doing a story about it for their Curious City show. If you ask me, Chicago really has all the right […]

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June 14, 2016
Must-see Improv shows in Chicago this Summer

Every summer, improvisers from all over the country and the world flock to Chicago to take summer intensives and immerse themselves in Chicago’s vibrant improv scene. And every year, without fail, I get emails from these out-of-towners about what improv shows they should see when they’re here. So this year, I thought I’d make it […]

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November 3, 2015
Going Outside of Improv To Get Better At Improv

Lately, I have been trying my hand at stand-up and storytelling, doing some open mics around the city. So far, the results have been mixed, but where I am starting to see it pay off is in my improv. Doing things outside of improv only makes you a better improviser. A lot of times I […]

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January 21, 2015
3 Tips for Creating Instant Improv Characters

By far the thing I hear most from improv students when they first start working with me is: "I want to do characters. Teach me how to do characters. My last teacher said I need to do more characters." I get it. I have struggled with this myself. There was even a time when I […]

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May 15, 2014
Facebook intervention

I have been involved in a bit of controversy around some of my Facebook posts. I have heard through others people that some of my friends are concerned, they think I am ruining my reputation, sharing too much information or having another break down. On the most recent episode of Improv Nerd podcast, we turned […]

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June 24, 2013
How to Deal with Fear Before a Show

How to Deal with Fear Before a Show Fear before a show is unpredictable. Sometimes I have it, and sometimes I don't. Last month, I had it before doing "Messing with A Friend" with Susan Messing. I love Susan as much as a person as I love playing with her. Having Susan ask me to play with her […]

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