In this episode I talk with Brian James O'Connell of the Pack Theater and Camp Improv Utopia all about Position Play. If you've never heard of position play, then you're in for a real treat.

Improv Town Podcast

19: Brian James O'Connell Talks Position Play

In this episode I talk with Frederic Barbusci all about the French-Canadian improv scene

18: Frederic Barbusci Talks About the French-Canadian Improv Scene

Bruce Springsteen loves Improv Town. And America. Thanks to Stuart Moses of the Improv London podcast for getting us in touch with the boss. Check out his podcast for more great conversations about improv.

Bruce Springsteen Listens to Improv Town

In this episode of Improv Town I talk to longtime UCB teachers and performers Ben Remeaka and Doug Moe. Ben is a longtime member of UCB weekend time Airwolf and Doug is the co-author or the NYT bestseller "How to not get shot and other advice from white people" with D.L. Hughley. Don't forget to rate and review us wherever you're listening.

17: Ben Remeaka and Doug Moe Talk Improv in 2018 Plus Improv Tips!

When justice calls, 3 mild-mannered men become improv team CRISIS and create the origin story of a made-up superhero in the form of reading a comic book. CRISIS: AN IMPROVISED COMIC BOOK is a unique fusion of variety show and pulp superhero story, with all of the strengths of both mediums but none of their weaknesses. And remember, all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do not see this show. Ever since that fateful night when Matt Kerstetter, Kevin Tully, and Mark X Guinn witnessed the murder of all of their parents at once in an alley behind an improv comedy theater, they swore together to become more than men. They have traveled through time and space, honed their improv skills among wolves, kidnapped by a secret organization that conducted terrible experiments on them, augmenting their "Yes, And" skills beyond the normal human limit and after escaping, a wizard sent them to the past, when they all punched Hitler at the same time brining them to present day America. By day they are millionaire playboy-philanthropists, and by night they are the improv team CRISIS! When their powers unite they are able to accomplish what no one of them can do alone, and improvise the origin story and adventures of a never-seen-before superhero in the style of reading a graphic novel. They also team up with Superfriends in the comedy community who perform sets inspired by comic book tropes. FRIENDS, PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW THIS PODCAST!

16: Crisis: An Improvised Comic Book!

In this episode I interview Will Luera. Will Luera is the former artistic director of Improv Boston, where he created the “Free Form” improv style, also known as Boston or Big Bang style improv, which is known for its fast yet seamless transitions between scenes. Will is now the Director of Improvisation at Florida Studio Theatre, which is a 5-stage theater in Sarasota that also does scripted work. Among other things, Will is also the Director of Big Bang Improv, Artistic Director of the Pilsen Improv Festival, Artistic Associate of the Chicago Improv Festival, Artistic Advisor to the Women in Comedy Festival and Part-time Faculty at Boston College. Will tours globally as an improv and theater actor, director and instructor.He performs and teaches regularly all across North America, South America, Europe and Asia.

15: Will Luera Teaches Me New Edits! Plus Free-form/Boston/Big Bang Style Improv

Jim Foley is a veteran member of the Bit Players, Rhode Island’s most award-winning comedy troupe. The plan was to talk about genre and compare genre work across short-form and long-form but as that “sound check” suggests, we spend a lot of time just geeking out about what we love about improv. Don’t worry though, eventually we do get around to talking about both short and long-form genre work and after a few afternoon drinks we even do a ridiculous sci-fi scene for y’all at the end. As always, if you like this podcast, please rate and review us wherever you listen and like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

14: Jim Foley Talks about Genre Work (Short and Long Form) Plus a Sci-Fi Scene

This episode’s interview is with the legendary Joe Bill. Joe is one of the co-founders of the Annoyance Theater, and is one half of the award-winning improv duo Bassprov, along with Mark Sutton. Joe talks about studying with Del Close and how Annoyance Theater got started. We also talk about the various schools of improv thought and his feelings on Chicago vs. Johnstonian Improv (Impro), plus lots of other great improv tips.

13: Joe Bill Talks About The Different Improv Schools of Thought

It’s season 2 of Improv Town and we are back at the Ocean State Improv Festival! In this episode I interview Christopher Simpson. In addition to running the fest, Chris is the artistic director of the Contemporary Theater Company in Wakefield RI, a theater that does both scripted and non-scripted work. We talk about how his theater started doing improv, why he thinks Johnstonian improv (impro) is the best fit for them and their community, and tons of other fun stuff. As always, if you enjoy this podcast please rate and review us wherever you listen.

12: Chris Simpson Talks About Doing Johnstonian Improv at a Scripted Theater

In this episode I talk with Justin Wilder about the importance of being a lifetime learner of improv and why he thinks that even veteran improvisers can improve their game by revisiting the improv basics. You might know Justin from his starring role in the trailer of everybody’s favorite Andy Samberg movie Celeste and Jesse Forever, or from his titular role in the yet unannounced but totally (absolutely, definitely) happening Wes Anderson movie, The Omniscient Owl. Or maybe you know him as the un-sung, un-credited, and off-screen hero of literally every Judd Apatow movie – after all, as you will learn in this awesome interview, not only is Justin Judd’s personal improv teacher and guru, but dare I say, his muse. Justin teaches improv at the Providence Improv Guild, as well as at Rhode Island’s newest improv comedy theater Wage House. He is a longtime member of Up in the Attic, which has performed at the Del Close Marathon, and he is also a member of Jackpot!, the Providence Improv Guild’s new Saturday night house team. They’re fantastic and obviously you can check them out every Saturday night at the aforementioned Providence Improv Guild (see improvpig.com for more details). I had a ton of fun doing this interview, as I’m sure you’ll be able to tell. If you enjoy this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts.

11: Justin Wilder Talks About Revisiting the Basics

Kate Teichman and Casey Calderiso are the co-founders of Wagehouse, an improv comedy theater in Pawtucket, RI. In this episode we talk all about opening your own improv theater!

10: Opening Your Own Improv Theater with Kate Teichman and Casey Calderiso

During my interview with Kate Teichman and Casey Calderiso about about starting their own improv theater, we went off on a bit of a tangent about doing 2 person improv. Here it is!

Minisode 1: Kate and Casey Talk About Doing 2 Person Improv

In this episode I talk with Mike Amaral of the Providence Improv Guild. We talk a lot about position play, which is the idea that there are four basic scene types (straight/absurd, character, realistic, alternate reality) each with its own broad game construct, and that if you know what type of scene you're in, then it makes it easier to play. Here are my notes on position play! https://www.dropbox.com/s/kvdvw4b6cygzhmh/Position%20Play%20and%20the%20Deconstruction.pdf?dl=0

9: Mike Amaral Talks About Scene Types and Position Play

In part 2 of my conversation with Tim Thibodeau we go inside baseball, talking at length about Improv Forms. We talk Harold, openings, getting suggestions, creating your own forms, engaging the audience, and lots more! You might know Tim as a member of Improv Jones, Providence's longest running improv troupe or as the director of the Providence Improv Fest.

8: Tim Thibodeau Talks Improv Forms (Tim part 2)

Have you ever wanted to put on a full-length improvised murder mystery but don’t know where to start? In this episode, I share everything you need to know to create a high-quality full-length improvised murder mystery show from scratch. FYI, unlike previous episode, this one is just me talking.

7: I Talk About Improvising a Full-Length Murder Mystery

Welcome to Improv Town, the podcast where I interview my favorite improvisers about an improv topic I think they’re great at! Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/improv-town-podcast/id1251040692?mt=2