Hi, I’m Jimmy, and I’m looking forward to working with you.
I was 18 years old, I had no direction in my life. I was lost. Then, I took my first improv class.
Suddenly, everything changed. I learned a new way to express myself. I gained more confidence and made new friends.
As an improv teacher, I want to give that back to my students. I want to provide us place where you can experience that kind of freedom, acceptance, and friendship.
I have been teaching improv for more than 30 years and have taught at The Second City, iO Chicago and The Annoyance Theater. I was an original member of The Annoyance Theater, Jazz Freddy and Armando at iO Chicago. I created one of the first two-person improv shows, “Naked,” with Stephanie Weir.
I co-wrote the book Improvising Better: A Guide for the Working Improviser, with Liz Allen, and I am the author of Improv Therapy and The Inner Game of Improv. I host the podcast Improv Nerd and I have taught thousands of people in my Art of Slow Comedy classes in person and online. I have worked with colleges, Fortune 500 companies and improv theaters and festivals all over the United States.
I have also performed my own solo shows, such as the hit “I Am 27, I Still Live at Home and Sell Office Supplies,” “Living in a Dwarf’s House,” and “World’s Greatest Dad(?)."
You might have see me pop up on TV shows or in movies, such as in “Shinning Girls” (Apple+), “Chicago PD,” Public Enemies, “The Playboy Club,” Natural Born Killers, The Untouchables, “ER,” and “Early Edition.”
I live in Evanston, IL, with my wife, Lauren; our daughter, Betsy; Coco, the cat; and Lee Lee, the fish.
