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September 15, 2023
When To Ignore The Rules in Improv Class

My approach to improv keeps changing. That’s a good thing. When I was younger, I wanted to try to do improv “right.” I wanted to follow all of the rules that my teachers taught me, and when I became the teacher, I wanted my students to “get it” as well. But today, I realize that […]

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March 3, 2020
Guess What? I Love Teaching Improv

I really love teaching improv. There, I said it. I really do. And nothing reinforces this more than when I talk to other people who are also teaching improv. In the last week, I have had six (!) lengthy conversations with other improv teachers – David Razowsky, Bill Arnett, Kim Greene Hiller, Pat Finn, Dee Ryan and Justin […]

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October 3, 2018
Dealing with Taboo Topics in Improv Class

Today, many improvisers want to shy away from certain taboo topics. As artists that is their right, and as a teacher, performer and human being, I try to respect people’s individual boundaries to not do scenes about things they don’t want to talk about. But as a teacher, I also don't want you to miss […]

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June 28, 2017
3 Secrets to Being a Good Improv Teacher

One thing I have learned along the way is if you want to keep what you have learned, you need to give it away on a regular basis. That’s why teaching others how to do improv is such a privilege. I am grateful to have gotten to study, work and perform with some of the […]

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August 15, 2016
202: Joe Bill

Joe Bill is an international improv teacher and performer. He is a co-founder of the Annoyance Theater and tours with Mark Sutton in Bassprov. He has taught at Second City, The Annoyance and iO Chicago and continues to teach around the world. Jimmy sat down with him in this live episode to talk about The […]

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March 22, 2016
181: Kristy and Jethro Nolen

Kristy and Jethro Nolan are the co-founders of The Arcade Comedy Theater in Pittsburgh. They are incredibly accomplished improvisers and teachers who have performed at iO-Chicago and Boom Chicago in Amsterdam and taught at the Second City. Jimmy talks to then how they met in improv, why they moved from LA to Pittsburgh, and how […]

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January 19, 2016
172: Asaf Ronen

Asaf Ronen is the educational director at The Institution Theater in Austin, TX, and author of "Directing Improv." Asaf has been involved in improv since 1990 and has improvised and taught all over the world. In this episode, which was recorded at The Institution Theater, Jimmy talks to Asaf about growing up as a latch-key kid, why he […]

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November 3, 2015
162: Jen Ellison

Jen Ellison is a director, writer, teacher and performer who is best known for directing The Second City e.t.c.’s 38th revue, “Apes of Wrath.” Jen teaches at The Second City, DePaul University, and Columbia College. In this episode, Jimmy talks to Jen about discovering a passion for directing at a young age, the transition from DePaul’s […]

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