Improvisers have all heard that we need to add specifics to our improv scenes. Specifics are the fuel that keeps scenes going. The more specifics we use, the easier it is to figure out what’s going on. Without specifics, we’re in “Vaugue-land” — not a good place to take our scene partners or the audience. Specifics […]
Music is the space between the notes. Claude Debussy When people first start working with me and they begin to slow down in their improv, they notice the pauses or the space between dialogue. This can seem strange at first to people who are used to improvising very quickly, but I try to teach my […]
I have heard improv teachers over the years describe improv to the lay person as something that "gets us to play like when we were children -- like when we played house or on the playground – pure, spontaneous and no judgement." I have even used some of this language in my marketing. But lately, as the […]
Have you ever been back stage before a show and peeked out at the audience to see only a tiny crowd and your heart sank? Yes, it’s disappointing. We all want to play to packed houses all the time, but the reality for most improvisers and actors is sometimes that just doesn’t happen. Each group and […]
As a father of a two-and-a-half year old, I read a lot of children’s books. I mean, a lot. Not only does she have a bookshelf full of them, but she wants to read them over, and over and over. Some are good. Some are not so good. And some I’ve even memorized. So when […]
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Jon Glaser is a writer, actor and producer whose new show, Jon Loves Gear, premiers on TruTV on Oct. 26. He has written for Conan and Inside Amy Schummer and has acted in Trainwreck, Girls, and Parks and Recreation. Jimmy talks to him about starting out in improv in the '90s, his approach to comedy […]
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Micah Philbrook is one of Chicago's most thoughtful and innovative improvisers and teachers. He teaches at The Second City Training Center, he's a founder of pH Productions, and he performs in the Tim and Micah Project. Jimmy sat down to talk to him about joining a cult-like improv group when he first moved to Chicago, the importance […]
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Marty DeRosa is a comedian who is considered the king of Chicago crowd work, using a lot improvisation in his stand-up act. He is a founding member of Comedians You Should Know and he co-host the hilarious podcasts Marty & Sarah Love Wrestling, and Wrestling with Depression. Marty talks about experiencing the death of one of […]
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Jeff Quintana is the Artistic Director and co-founder of The Villain Theater in Miami. He is a respected teacher and improviser who has studied in New York and Chicago. In this episode, we recorded live at The Villain Theater and talked to Jeff about his dream of opening up an improv theater, being homeless in New […]
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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 […]