Improv and Magic

This week is the 2024 Miami Improv Festival! To start the celebration, my guest today is the guy who makes it happen every year, my dear friend David Christopher. David is the first return guest here on the podcast.  You may remember he was on the very first episode of Improv and Magic.  We had such a great time, but unfortunately there wasn’t enough time to get into everything.  So today, we pick up right where we left off and continue our conversation, where we talk a lot about the Miami Improv Festival as well as his role as a Manager of Just The Funny and his business Interactive Training Solutions. Be sure to visit interactivetrainingsolutions.com to learn more about David’s business and find out how you can take your communication and leadership skills beyond.  And as always, visit justthefunny.com to learn more about Miami’s home for improv and sketch comedy. If you are in the Miami area this week, I invite you to attend the 2024 Miami Improv Festival at Just The Funny.  The festival runs this week in January from Thursday the 11th through Sunday the 14th, and will feature amazing improv acts from across the country. I’ll be performing 2 shows at the festival this year: on Friday at 7pm I’ll be doing my solo show Together/By Myself in the Spotlight Bar, and on Sunday at 9pm in the Mainstage I’ll be performing my brand new show David Magnifico-The World’s Stupidest Magic Show.  If you’re around, come on by, I’d be happy to say hi to you!  You can find a full show schedule, tickets, and workshop information at the festival’s website, justthefunny.com/miami-improv-festival.

I’ve had the opportunity to talk to a lot of inspiration people on this podcast, but I have to say today’s guest has one of the most inspirational stories I’ve ever heard.  He lives by the motto “being different is your superpower”, and his name is John Kippen. John is a magician, a motivational speaker, and a master storyteller.  He’s a performer at the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, and has been featured in various publications such as International Magic Magazine, Genii, CEO Weekly, and Redx, and in July 2019 John appeared as a speaker for TEDx. In 2021, John Kippen’s documentary titled “John’s Ultimate Illusion” was voted Best Inspirational Documentary at the Doc LA Film Festival.  His documentary is a glimpse into his life and features appearances from other amazing people including Jamie Lee Curtis. In our conversation today, you’ll hear how in 2002 John’s life was changed forever.  But thanks to magic, he regained his self confidence and learned to love life again.  In his performances, he uses his life experience to show how anyone can turn their differences into super powers.  John was such a pleasure to talk to, and he shares a couple of amazing moments in his career. And he also shares his love for improv, and how the techniques and tools of improvisation can be very beneficial to magicians. Be sure to visit his website johnkippen.com, where you can learn more about his performances and talks, find information for his documentary “John’s Ultimate Illusion”, and his show Inside the Magician’s Studio featuring many amazing and well-known magical performers.

Today I get to talk to another improv legend, Mick Napier. Mick is known both nationally and internationally as an innovator and creative force in comedy, improvisation, and theater. His belief in the element of risk-taking is what influences his work and his direction.  He is one of the founders of the world-famous Annoyance Theater in Chicago, where Mick has spent more than 20 years developing and cultivating a style of work and production that has been both acclaimed and imitated.  Mick Napier is also a Director and Artistic Consultant for the internationally renowned Second City, and has made his mark having directed more than 10 revues there.  He’s written 2 acclaimed books called “Improvise: Scene from the Inside Out” and “Behind the Scenes: Improvising Long Form”, both of which are considered some of the best books on the craft of improvisation. In addition, Mick Napier is also a magician!  He and his wife Jennifer have been performing mentalism for over 20 years, and he’s also a regular performer at The Chicago Magic Lounge. If you love improv and if you love magic, then this gentleman is definitely someone you’ll want to hear from. You can learn more about him by visiting his website, micknapier.com.  You can also learn all about The Annoyance Theater by visiting their website, theannoyance.com, and The Chicago Magic Lounge at their website chicagomagiclounge.com. Don't forget to rate and review!

Today, I’m talking to an old friend who I’ve had the pleasure of learning with, shared the stage with and have watched develop into an amazing performer.  My guest today is Diane Jorge. Diane has been a comedic performer for over 13 years in South Florida, and has performed with various theaters including Just The Funny, Front Yard Theater Collective and ImprovU.  Diane performs improv and stand-up comedy all across the United States, and she’s become one of the top female performers in South Florida. Diane has developed 2 amazing one-person improvised shows.  Her first show is Mercado de la Fortuna, inspired by the famous astrologer Walter Mercado, where she gives improvised fortunes to audience members. Her second show is called Solovela, a solo improvised telenovela that she creates based on audience suggestions, and plays all of the characters. Diane was actually a student of mine at Just The Funny, and since the first time I met her I could tell that she had an energy level unlike anyone else I’ve ever met.  Her energy, her passion, her drive is so infectious, she knows how to get herself out there and go big. Here’s a fun little drinking game you can all play.  Take a drink every time Diane hits the microphone!  You’ll understand what I mean later! Find out more about this amazing woman by visiting her website at diangejorge.com, and follow her on Instagram at dianeisloud, mercadodelafortuna, and solovelaimprov.

Failure can be a tough thing to deal with, but it's only a failure if we don't learn from it. In today's tip, I talk about having to deal with failure as a performer, and how it's only part of the performer's experience. It's also part of the human experience.

My friends, today’s guest is Bruce Gold. He is by far one of the greatest comedy magicians today.  He has performed all over the country as both a magician and a stand-up comedian, and has performed in various venues in Las Vegas, aboard the world’s largest cruise ships, and he’s a regular at the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood.  Bruce has also had many television appearances, including Oprah, Full House, Masters of Illusion, and Penn & Teller Fool Us.  You might remember Bruce from his award winning “Got Milk” commercial, where he plays the magician at a retirement home birthday party and makes the elderly people’s milk disappear.  (Spoiler alert: it doesn’t end well for him!) Bruce is also the host of his own TV talkshow called The Bruce Gold Show, a weekly comedy, variety talkshow with fun and fascinating interviews presented with family friendly humor. Bruce Gold was an absolute blast to talk to.  He was very warm and friendly, and he shared so much knowledge about the art of magic and comedy.  I felt like I was listening to a very wise teacher.  This was such a fun time, and I’m happy to share this fun time with you, my friends! You can watch his demo video here, which includes clips of some of his performances as well as his famous "Got Milk?" commercial.

Today I’m talking to Douglas Widick. Douglas is a professional actor, and is a veteran of UCB Theater, PIT Theater, and Magnet Theaters in New York City.  He has performed in various shows and festivals across the country, and has also had multiple television appearances including on Comedy Central and ESPN.  Douglas is also a founding member of the world-renowned improv group, North Coast, a hip hop improv group that has been named one of Timeout NY’s top 10 comedy shows.  In addition, Douglas Widick is also a musician and audio producer with over 20 years of experience.  He has his own studio in Brooklyn called Suite Tea Studios, where he provides everything from voiceover reels and jingles, to mixing and mastering services. Douglas was such a blast to talk to!  We get into a lot in this conversation, including his beginnings in improv, his deep love of music, and how he got to appear on the Rosie O’Donnell show. You can learn more about Douglas Widick by visiting his website, douglaswidick.com.  And, learn more about the world's best hip hop improv comedy show, North Coast by visiting their website, northcoastnyc.com.

Today we go outside the norm with my guest who is not an improv actor or a magician. But he's someone I admire tremendously. He's my best friend of 30 years, he is Jose Prendes. Jose is a director, writer, and producer of various films that include The Monster Man, Corpses Are Forever, The Haunting of Whaley House, Mega Shark vs. Mecha Shark, Unspeakable Horrors: The Plan 9 Conspiracy, The Legend of La Llorona, and the Headless Horseman.  His latest film is called The Exorcists, which he wrote and directed with an amazing cast that includes Kayla Fields, Denice Duff, Victor Maraña, and Doug Bradley (Pinhead from the Hellraiser movies). In The Exorcists, Jose managed to do the impossible: shoot an entire movie in just 6 days! Jose Prendes is also an author, and his books include The Harbinger, Sharks of the Living Dead, Viewer Beware – The Goosebumps TV Companion, The Are You Afraid of the Dark Campfire Companion, Sharkcano, and Elementary, My Dear Watson #1 - The Astounding Adventure of the Ancient Dragon. Movies are in this man’s DNA, and he has a strong passion and love for making films that people will enjoy and remember.  In our conversation, we talk about how movies have always played a big role in his life, and he also shares very honestly his enjoyments and frustrations with becoming a director.  I am proud to call this man my friend, and I’m especially proud to share our conversation with you today. The Exorcists is available to buy or rent on Apple TV, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video. Visit IMDB.com for a full list of Jose's movies, and goodreads.com for a full list of his books.

My guest today is Will Luera. Will is a comedic actor, presenter, writer, trainer and director, with a varied tool set that adds so many layers to his performances.  He is currently the Director of Improvisation at Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota, Director of Big Bang Improv and serve as the Artistic Director Emeritus of ImprovBoston.  His professional skills also include corporate training, workplace mediation, IT generalist, personal trainer, and wedding officiant.  Will has also been seen at numerous improv festival across the country and around the world, including the Phoenix Improv Festival, Curious Comedy Theater Lovefest, Twin City Improv Festival, Countdown improv Festival, Miami Improv Festival, and Finland International Improv Festival.  And that’s only partial list of the many festivals he’s done. I’ve had quite a few opportunities to meet this guy.  You can tell that he is someone who loves to have fun, and help everybody else have fun too.  He’s kind, he’s warm-hearted, he’s an absolute pleasure to be around.  This was a great opportunity for me to learn more about him, and now you will too! To learn more about Will Luera, visit his website at will-luera.com, and learn all about Florida Studio Theater at their website floridastudiotheatre.org.

Today's guest is one of the current top magicians.  He’s become an international sensation, and his name is Javi Bentiez. Javi is a master of sleight of hand, but more importantly he performs with such a high level of charm, beauty and passion.  What Javi presents aren’t simply tricks; they are pieces of art.  He hails originally from Sevilla, Spain, and was a student of some of magic’s biggest influencers like Arturo de Ascanio and Juan Tamariz.  He’s a regular performer at the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, and has performed and lectured at various stages in Las Vegas and around the world. He’s also performed on many national and international tv shows, including Penn & Teller: Fool Us.  And yes, he also won his very own Fool Us trophy, and has since been described by Penn & Teller as “the best sleight of hand artists we’ve ever seen”. To find out more about Javi Benitez and upcoming shows, visit his website at javibentiez.com.