Improv Nerd With Jimmy Carrane

Zach Ward is the owner, founder and executive producer of DSI Comedy Theater, as well as the artist director and executive producer of the NC Comedy Arts Festival. Jimmy sat down at talked to him about starting improv classes in North Carolina, while he was still living in Chicago improvising, what it takes to run an improv theater and why he considers himself a comedian who does improv.

Lance Barber is best known for his role as Pauli G on the short-lived TV sitcom The Comeback on HBO, as well as Jimmy Speckerman in The Big Bang Theory. He studied at The Second City and iO-Chicago where he worked with the legendary Del Close. Jimmy sat down with Lance to talk about what he learned from Del, turning down Second City to move to LA and playing Pauli G.

Jeff Bouthiette is currently the Head of the Music Program at the Second City Training Center in Chicago. As an improviser, he was a longtime member of the musical improv troupe Jazz Hands Across America and currently performs with the Second City Training Center musical improv house ensemble, Infinite Sundaes. Jimmy sat down with him at the Chicago Musical Improv Festival and talked to him about how musical improv is growing up, what the next frontier is for musical improv, and why studying musical improv can you make you a better improviser.

Dan Telfer is stand-up comedian who has opened for Maria Bamford, Brian Posehn and Patton Oswalt. He's performed at the Just For Laughs Festival in both Montreal and Chicago and his writing has appeared in Paste Magazine, The Onion, and The A.V. Club. Jimmy talks to him about starting out in theater, how quickly he made the transition from improv to stand-up, and how he's always been a nerd.

Paul Vaillancourt is the author of the new book Triangle of the Scene, as well as a teacher at iO West, a member of Beer Shark Mice and one of the most respected improvisers around. Jimmy sat down with him to talk about his specific approach to long form scene work, playing with Beer Shark Mice and all the great opportunities he's had along the way.

Jeff Griggs is a teacher at iO-Chicago and The Second City Training Center in Chicago and is the author of Guru: My Days with Del Close. Jimmy sits down and talks to Jeff about his experience with Del Close, improvising with Deep Schwa and what it is like to getting into the Second City directing program later in life.

Rush Howell has been improvising in Chicago since 1999. He has performed with groups such as 3033, Atlantis, CUFFS, The Scene and ARMANDO DIAZ at iO-Chicago. Rush has coached and taught at many theaters across the country and at dozens of festivals. Jimmy talked to him about how he balances being a full-time lawyer, why he still loves to improvise and creating your own projects.

Rashawn Nadine Scott is the cast of The Second City e.t.c.'s 39th revue, "Soul Brother Where Are Thou?" She is a recipient of the Bob Curry Fellowship, and she's performed in The Art of Falling with Second City and Hubbard Street Dance. Jimmy talks to he about her amazing confidence, how she got the Bob Curry Fellowship, and how having a background in singing and musical theater helps her at Second City.

Zach Bartz and Kevin Gerrity are the masterminds behind Shit Hole, one of Chicago's most popular underground comedy shows. Jimmy talks to them about why they have such a big following with their anti-marketing approach, the expectations they have for their audiences and performers, and why building community has been so important to their success.

Jorin Garguilo is an incredible teacher and improviser living in Chicago. He performs with Revolver, Felt and The Scene at iO Chicago and was part of the legendary group Rainbow Deli at CIC. Jimmy sat down with him and talked about starting out improvising when he was 17 in North Carolina, performing with Revolver and why he think he did his best work with Rainbow Deli.