Improv and Magic

My guest today is someone who I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know, he’s an excellent improv actor who hails from the great state of Nebraska.  Today’s guest is Dylan Oakes Rhode. Dylan is a graduate of Wayne State, and has trained and performed at UCB and iO.  He now travels the country and the world teaching improv at various theaters and festivals.  In 2011, Dylan founded Backline Comedy, which originally began teaching improv classes in the basement of a small art gallery.  They recently opened their new theater, and have since become Omaha’s destination for live comedy shows. Dylan is also the founder of the Omaha Comedy Fest, which began in 2013 and has since been offering fans access to intimate shows and hilarious experiences with established and emerging comedians from across the country. I had the opportunity to talk to Dylan just before one of his classes at Backline Comedy Theater.  In this conversation, he shares about his early beginnings in improv and the process of getting his theater started.  There’s a lot to learn in this conversation, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. Learn more about the Backline Comedy Theater by visiting backlinecomedy.com where you can find out about shows and classes.  And learn all about the Omaha Comedy Fest by visiting omahacomedyfest.com. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and share with everyone you know!

Today is the 1 year anniversary of the Improv and Magic podcast, and we are celebrating with a very special episode. Today we look back at everyone's answer to the final question: What's the one piece of advice that has served you well that you'd want everyone else to hear? A very special thank you to all of our guests who've come on the show and shared their stories, and an even bigger thank you to all of you listeners out there for tuning in! Don't forget to rate and review, and share the podcast with everyone you know.

Today I got to talk to one of the most respected and celebrated names in magic.  He’s the most versatile magician in the world.  He is Dan Harlan. Dan has invented, performed, and taught more magic than any other magician... ever!  In fact, he even updated the entire Tarbell Course in Magic, which is an eight-volume encyclopedia containing over 1200 tricks!  Dan is one of the most innovative modern magicians, and his cutting-edge miracles have delighted audiences in over 20 countries around the world. He has been featured at Caesar's Magical Empire in Las Vegas, headlined at the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, and guest-starred at Masters of Magic in Saint-Vincent, Italy.  Dan has also consulted for top professional magicians, including Kevin James, Jeff McBride, Keith Barry, and David Copperfield.  He is also co-founder of The Mystic Tower, which produces brand-new, mind blowing magic. If you love magic you’re definitely going to love what Dan Harlan has to say.  Whether you’re a magician or not, you’re going to be amazed by all of the incredible wisdom shared in this interview. Visit Dan’s website, danharlanmagic.com to learn more about him and his shows.  Be sure to also visit themystictower.com for unique, mind-blowing magic, as well as Dan’s Masterworks book project. And of course, don’t forget to rate and review the podcast and share it around!

My guest today is Patti Stiles. Patti is an actor, director, playwright and teacher who specializes in improvisational theatre. She is a former Artistic Director of Rapid Fire Theatre in California, and a founding member of the award winning show Die Nasty – the live improvised soap opera.  She is known as the “Queen of Improvisation” by the Canadian press.  Patti has been featured on the cover of the Spanish improv magazine Status; she is a contributor to the book The Art of Making Mistakes and has been interviewed for the books Something Like A Drug and The Improv Handbook. She’s also been interviewed for numerous podcasts and University papers, and her blog has been translated into French, Italian, German and Portuguese. Patti Stiles released her first book in 2021 titled Improvise Freely, which has received an enthusiastic response from improvisors, teachers and impro companies around the globe, and was even translated into Italian in 2022.  In Improvise Freely, Patti talks about throwing away the typical improv rulebooks, and encourages performers to be free to unleash their creativity. I highly encourage you to learn more about this fantastic person by visiting her website, pattistiles.com.  And be sure to also pick up a copy of her book Improvise Freely, which is available at Barnes & Nobel, Good Reads, Book Depository, Bokus, and Amazon. Don't forget to rate and review, and share the podcast around!

Today’s guest is beyond talented and a true inspiration to so many.  My guest today is Lisa Lynn. Lisa Lynn is a multi-talented performer.  She is an actor, singer, improviser, director, writer, and voiceover artist.  After receiving her Honours Degree in Musical Theatre in 2009, Lisa moved to London and has been working as a performer there, and around the world, ever since.  Lisa has been teaching and performing improv since 2015.  According to her she is a story teller; all of her emotions are readily available to her, always bubbling below the surface; and she loves the work. In 2018, Lisa brought her love of improv and musical theater together with the creation of Acaprov, an improvised a cappella musical show.  Every performance is unique. Acaprov takes a location and title from the audience before spontaneously creating a non-stop musical that will make you laugh, cry, dance in your seat, and sing all the way home! Visit Lisa’s website at lisalynn.co.uk, and learn all about the incredible show Acaprov by visiting acaprov.com. Like and review, and share with everyone!

My guest is someone who’s loads of fun to talk to and learn from.  Today, I’m talking to Chris Alvarado. He’s an amazing improv teacher and performer, and trained at The Second City Conservatory in Chicago, iO West, and UCB LA.  Chris created his workshops to provide a space for work that is fun, but also meaningful.  He believes in exploring beyond the rules so performers can find their own source of inspiration and make meaningful connections with others, which I’m also all about.  Chris currently performs at the Westside Comedy Theater in Santa Monica, California, and has also appeared two shows on HBO Max called “Minx” and “Hacks”.  He also co-created the web series "7p10e," about a couple who begin dating long distance. You’ll be able to tell how much he cares about what he does, and how fulfilled he gets in sharing this artform with his students.  There’s a lot of fun, and lots of great words of wisdom shared in this episode.  I really hope you all enjoy this as much as I did. Learn more about Chris and his workshops by visiting his website, chris-alvarado.com.  Find out how you can book him for workshops and sign up for his amazing classes.  And feel free to learn more about West Side Comedy Theater at their website, westsidecomedy.com. Don't forget to rate and review, and share the podcast with everyone!

I’m very excited to share that today’s guest is none other than Brad Sherwood! Of course you all know Brad from the Emmy nominated show Whose Line Is It Anyway where he performed for over 18 seasons as a regular.  He is truly one of the greatest living American improvisers, and also has many other television credits like the Drew Carey Show, Talk Soup, The Newz, Improv-a-ganza, VH-1’s: I Love The 80s & 90s, and The Tonight Show.  Brad also tours comedy clubs around the US with his fast and furious comedy show, and has also been touring with fellow Whose Line member Colin Mochrie in a live two-man improv show. I still can’t believe I had the chance to talk to this man!  If you’re a fan of Whose Line, you’ve definitely seen this guy before.  Brad was so cool to talk to.  He was very open and had a lot of great things to share. If you want to find out more about him and see what he’s up to, visit his website bradsherwood.com.  You can also follow Brad on Twitter and Instagram.  And, you can watch all episodes of Whose Line Is It Anyway on Pluto TV, Sling TV, Max, Amazon Prime, YouTube TV and Google Play, as well as new episode on The CW Network. Be sure to rate and review and spread the word about this podcast!

Today's guest is one of the busiest working magicians in the world, and his name is Nick Locapo. Nick Locapo is an internationally celebrated magician, instructor, and lecturer, and is also a regular performer at the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, California.  Nick also performs at other well-known magic venues, like Chicago Magic Lounge, House of Cards, Mystique Dining, and Kellars.  Nick currently stars in his own show called Masterpiece Magic, which NBC Universal calls “Absolutely Mind Blowing”.  In Masterpiece Magic, Nick performs impossible levitations, flawless sleight of hand, and super-powered mind tricks that blur the line between what's possible, and impossible.  Nick is also the official magician for Penguin Magic, one of the largest and most well-known magic shops in the world. I really enjoyed my talk with Nick today, and I was very fortunate to get him on a day where he wasn’t so busy.  We had fun talking about magic, as well as his process for creating his performances and how he continues to push himself to be at his best. Check out Nick Locapo's show Masterpiece Magic, now performing at the P3 Magic Theater in Columbus, Ohio. Learn more about Nick as his website, nicklocapo.com, and find tickets and info for his show at masterpiecemagic.com. And, if you’re magician looking for some great magic tricks, visit the world’s largest magic shop Penguin Magic at penguinmagic.com where you’ll find some of the greatest tricks, books, and lectures. Remember to Like and Review, and share the podcast around!

Today, I got the opportunity to talk to another great magician!  And, he is also a talented improviser as well! My guest today is Michael Dardant. Michael is an magician, actor, and comedian with over 30 years of experience.  He’s a New Orleans favorite, and is one of the highest ranked magicians in the United States. He’s been a featured performer at the Hollywood Magic Castle, The Chicago Magic Lounge, and tours theaters around the world.  Recently, he was named International Ambassador to the Quebec Magic Festival and was also inducted into the Magic Circle in London.  Michael Dardant has also competed in various magic competitions all over the world, including FISM, and has won 32 championship awards and 8 international titles.  As a magician, his original and stunning sleight of hand is enthralling and recognized with International accolades! And as a comedian, he catches any crowd off guard with a genuine Cajun flair. Michael Dardant has also been an accomplished improviser for many years, and currently teaches improv to various corporations and to high school students.  Through his improv workshops, he elevates a team's communication skills, foster creativity, and strengthen collaboration through engaging and interactive improv sessions. There’s so much joy in this interview, I loved it so much!  Michael was such a pleasure to talk to.  He was very kind, very friendly, and we just hit it off great.  This is a guy you’re going to fall in love with!  He has so much to share in today’s conversation; I enjoyed it all, and I’m sure you will too. If you all enjoyed him as much as I did, then please visit his website michaeldardant.com to learn more about his shows, booking information, and upcoming tour dates. Don’t forget to like and review, and don’t forget to stop taking yourselves too seriously!

My guest today is such a talented performer and a real fun guy to be around.  He loves what he does and he loves life, and he is Gregory Hollimon. Gregory is a veteran of the world famous Second City in Chicago, and performed with the National Touring company all over the United States.  Throughout his career, he has performed in so many great improv shows, as well as various plays and films. You may also remember him as Principal Onyx Blackman from the hit show Strangers With Candy on Comedy Central, which he co-stared along with Amy Sedaris and Stephen Colbert.  Gregory is also a cast member of the hit show Pimprov, an improv show in Chicago about 4 pimps who took improv classes by accident. Gregory was such much fun to talk to!  In our conversation today, we talk about his early beginnings as a performer, his time on Strangers With Candy, and his opinions about the art of improv and comedy in general.  I had a great time, and I believe you will too my friends! Be sure to look this guy up, he’s truly an amazing person.  Check him out on the show Strangers With Candy, which currently can be viewed on Paramount +, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Roku Channel and Google Play.  You can also watch it for free on Pluto TV.  And if you’re in Chicago, don’t forget to check out Pimprov.  It truly is an amazing show that you will love. You can find out all about the show at their website, pimprov.com.