Improvising is about creating something beyond your imagination with the help of other people. It takes humility, it takes courage, it takes faith. We are creating something out of nothing on a regular basis. And to do it, we have to stop pretending that we know what we are doing and get comfortable in the […]
I’ve been traveling around the country a lot lately, teaching improv in all different cities. And one thing I’ve noticed in some communities is that improv can feel like gang warfare. There are theaters that don’t want their students studying or performing at other venues. They are protecting their turf. I get it, they are […]
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Jordan Klepper is a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Jordan has taught and performed at The UCB New York, where he is a member of legendary group The Stepfathers, as well as at iO-Chicago, where he in the the original cast of Whirled News Tonight and a member of Carl and The […]
If you want a bigger career in improv you are going to have to network. If you want to climb the improv ladder, you will not be able to able to avoid this step. You are going to have to play the game. You are going to have to schmooze. If you don't want to, fine. Maybe […]
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Kelly Leonard is the Executive Vice President of The Second City, and President of The Second City Theatricals. He’s also co-author of a new book with Tom Yorton, “Yes, And.” (How Improvisation Reverses “No, But” Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration–Lessons from The Second City) Jimmy talks with Kelly about how he got started at […]
If you’re an improviser, you’ve probably thought about it: How do I get a writing job on TV? That, my friends, is a very good question, and the answer is not as simple as you may think. Unlike a regular job where you just send in your resume and cover letter, when you apply for […]
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Joe Canale has done it all in the improv world. He’s an alumni of The Second City Main Stage in Chicago, and has performed too many shows to list at iO and Boom Chicago. Jimmy talks with Joe about why he’s so comfortable being “a lighting rod,” what he learned from hosting an improv jam […]
When you get to be an improv teacher as respected as Will Hines, former head of the UCB Training Center in New York, who happens to write a great blog (http://improvnonsense.tumblr.com), you get flooded with questions from improvisers all around the country. When you’re me, you just tag onto Will’s questions to make yourself sound […]
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Dana Quercioli, respected teacher & improviser at the Second City & iO, talks with Improv Nerd podcast host Jimmy Carrane about where she's been & where she's going.
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Brad Morris is a writer/actor/improviser. He wrote for three seasons on Cougar Town, he's an alumni of The Second City Mainstage, and a member of the legendary iO Harold team, The Reckoning. Jimmy sat down with Brad to talk with him about his journey from iO to Second City, to LA as writer, actor, and everything in […]