May 5th was my birthday. I turned 56. It's been a tradition of mine, a week or so before my actual birthday, to get more depressed than normal, followed by a wave of self-pity. Thank God, with everything that has been going on in the world and that fact I have not left my house […]
George McAuliffe is the writer and star of the short film The Improv Guru, which is based on his popular Twitter account. Jimmy sits down and talks to him about his dark comedy, why it is so important for improvisers to make fun of themselves, what he hopes improviser get from the movie and advice about following […]
After six weeks of teaching improv classes online using Zoom, I wanted to share with you some scenic exercises that I have had success with in this whole virtual format. They are simple and straightforward, and I have found that they have helped the students become more comfortable with the format, which seems to be a concern […]
Rich Baker is an incredible improv teacher at Second City Hollywood, as well as an improviser and author of the book Improv Made Easy. He has performed with The Second City, iO-Chicago, and ComedySportz, and has toured the country with Mission Improvable. Jimmy talks to Rich about why you need to fail to get better, why […]
I recently watched a short film called The Improv Guru, written by improviser George McAuliffe and produced by former Second City director Scott Goldstein. It's based on McAuliffe's popular Twitter account @improvguru39, which I have always found extremely funny. The film is a dark comedy about an arrogant improv teacher, and his deranged students, as they desperately climb […]
Joe Liss is one of those improvisers whom Jimmy looked up to when he was coming up in the improv scene in Chicago back in the '80s. Jimmy says Joe is truly one of the funniest performers he has ever seen. His character work is incredible. Joe was in the National Touring Company, Etc. and […]
For most of us, this is the most serious time we have ever experienced in our lives. It is scary, unpredictable and stressful. And even though it may feel like the end of the world – in fact, because it feels like the end of the world – it’s crucial that we don’t lose our sense of […]
It is an understatement to say things have changed in the world, and improv is no exception. For the time being we cannot safely meet in person to do shows, hold rehearsals or attend classes. All the performing arts are in limbo. Some improvisers have moved fast, and have already started doing online classes, rehearsals […]
Shit. These are crazy times, wouldn’t you say? We are uncertain about the future while grieving the past. It is causing us to live one day at time. We are in survival mode: food, shelter, and staying healthy are our priorities. Most of us are just hanging on. I know I am. I have been […]
As you read this, you are most likely hunkered down somewhere, social distancing yourself from the rest of the world. You probably have not left your home in days, except to gather food supplies and hoard paper products. COVID-19 has changed our lives for the time being, and at this point, we don't to how […]