

Off Book: The Improvised Musical
Jessica McKenna and Zach Reino
It takes years for a Broadway musical to hit the stage, but on OFF BOOK: The Improvised Musical, you get a brand new original musical every week! Each episode, Jessica McKenna, Zach Reino and a special guest create a new musical on the spot. Accompanied by Scott Passarella, King of Pianists, Pianist of Kings.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 6, 2025 • 1h 20min
348. Lighthouse! (LIVE from Madison)
The following was recorded LIVE on March 21st at the Bur Oak in Madison WI. It features keys by Scott Passarella (K.O.P.P.O.K) and Jack Harris, hometown hero of an Ann Arbor who drove all the way here to crush it again on the drums. Have you ever wondered about who works in that old lighthouse? Why they work in that old lighthouse? WHEN they work in that old lighthouse? This is the show for you. Why yes, we had been listening to an Agatha Christie novel on this tour, why do you ask? COME SEE US ON TOUR! Tickets at: OffBookLive.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 17, 2025 • 1h 26min
347. Peter Man! (LIVE From Chicago)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Park West Theater in Chicago on March 20th, 2025. It features K.O.P.P.O.K. Scott Passarella on the keys and the legendary Chris Ditton hit-on the Drums. This show is important for many reasons: 1. We get to correct the lore of Peter Pan, 2. It's the largest show we've ever done. 3. At the end we all make Scott try malort for the first time. IYKYK. ALSO we're still raising money for our Mock Trial movie kickstarter and still going on tour! All links at Linktr.ee/offbook. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 2, 2025 • 1h 8min
346. Snapple Facts! (LIVE from SF Sketchfest)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Marines' Memorial Theater as part of San Fransisco Sketchfest on February 1st 2025. It is accompanied by the consistent brilliance of the entire FAM BAND (Scott Passarella on Keys, Brett Morris on Guitar, and Dana Wickens on drums.) We're flying too close to the sun with this one. Join us to find out who writes all the facts under those Snapple caps, and learn some 100% accurate science. ALSO: We're going on tour! ALSO ALSO: We're making a mock trial movie! Get tix and join our newsletter for updates at Linktr.ee/offbook!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 17, 2025 • 29min
345. 15 Year Old Portal (Act 1 Demo Tracks)
This is all the 15 Year old Portal Act 1 Demo tracks, compiled with no long prelude or advertisements for your listening convenience. If you've stumbled across this with no context, check out the episode directly before it, or any of the earlier ON BOOK episodes if you want the full lore/process. TLDR: We're writing a musical and these are the demos for the songs in act 1! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 17, 2025 • 43min
345. On Book: A Tour! A Movie! An Act of Music!
This episode of Off Book is not an improvised musical, but it does have ALL the special announcements you didn't know you were waiting for! We're going on tour! We're making an improvised movie about MOCK TRIAL! We've got demo tracks for all the Act 1 songs of our original musical "15 Year Old Portal. Thank you so much for all of your support. We couldn't do any of this without you. Join our movie mailing list: buttondown.com/zachandjess Get Tour tickets: linktr.ee/offbookSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 3, 2025 • 1h 17min
344. Pure Michigan! (LIVE from Ann Arbor)
The following was recorded LIVE from The Ark theater in Ann Arbor Michigan on 3/19 2025. It is accompanied by Scott Passarella (KoP. PoK) and hometown hero JacK Harris on drums! It is rare that we do an episode of this show that almost entirely about the city we happen to be touring in, but it DOES happen and in this case it DID happen. What does it mean to be PURE MICHIGAN? Join us and find out!Archive Video footage of this episode will be available for clubhouse subscribers at OffBookClubhouse.com within the next week or so. Thank you for supporting the show! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

6 snips
May 13, 2025 • 1h 33min
343. Enuiiiiiiiii! (LIVE from Toronto)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Royal Theater in Toronto ON on December 10th 2024, and features masters of their craft (instruments) Eric Gersen on keys and Nick Fraser on the drums! Due to some technical difficulties the audio quality of this recording is unfortunately slightly distorted, but don't let that stop you from enjoying the story of two teenage boys as they navigate a museum(?) full of tricks and traps!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 22, 2025 • 1h 18min
342. The Pyramid of Needs (LIVE from Brooklyn)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Bellhouse in Brooklyn NY on December 7th 2024. The brilliant Eric Gersen (keys) and also brilliant Sarah Mullins (Drums) played such a fantastic show the night before we decided to let them play this one too, and ya know what? They killed it. Never has a bowling alley been filled with SUCH ROMANCE. Come for string cheese and bananas, stay for Sherry from Shoes. Then stay with Sherry from shoes for the rest of your life.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

7 snips
Apr 8, 2025 • 1h 17min
341. One Great Day on Mount Olympus (LIVE from Brooklyn)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Bellhouse in Brooklyn NY on December 6th 2024. It features the combined majesty and genius of Eric Gersen (keys) and Sarah Mullins (Drums). For legal reasons we've been told we can't call this one Hadestown, despite the fact that both Hades and a Town are involved. Also at one point the keyboard instrument patch is so funny to us that we basically stop the show to march around for a while. You will know it when you hear it. GODS, they're just like us maybe? Listen and find out! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mar 25, 2025 • 1h 22min
340. Spark of Salvador Dali (LIVE from Philly)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Theater of the Living Arts in Philadelphia on December 5th 2024. It features the massive talents of Eric Gersen on the keys and Sam Pasternack on drums. I know we frequently say "this one gets wild" but would be believe, this one in fact does get wild? Come for the historical accuracy, stay for the pocket dimensions. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.