Improv Interviews

Part 2 of my podcast with Gary Schwartz, an award-winning TV and film actor, director, comedian and a master improvisational acting coach whose 30 years as a performer and improv teacher has helped transform the lives of thousands of people, both on- and off-screen. He studied and worked with Viola Spolin,the mother of modern improv, and is the only master teacher to have ever earned an endorsement from both Viola Spolin and her son, Paul Sills, the co-founder and director of The Second City.

I met John Dawson through our mutual friend Nick Johne from Chicago's Second City. They had worked together at Toronto's Second City before they both immigrated to Chicago & Dublin. His first foray into using improvisation for improved mental health was 7 years ago when he was approached to design and facilitate a series of Dramatic Arts for Wellness Workshops for D.C.U. (Dublin City University) in association with St. James Hospital Dublin’s mental health division. John’s taught his improv-based workshops in Critical thinking, Creativity and Effective Communication/Collaboration Skills for corporate and institutional clients such as Google, Airbnb, DropBox, Twitter Ireland, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin City University, H.S.E. (Health Service Executive, Ireland) and political party Renua Ireland. He has served as writer, story consultant and script editor on many film and TV projects. He lectured on screenwriting at Trinity College Dublin and has taught acting and improvisation for over 21 years in three countries. This has included facilitating for Toronto’s Equity Showcase Theatre, The Actors Center in London, Ireland’s Animation Skillnet and Screen Training Ireland, well as for employees of Ireland’s Academy Award nominated animation companies Brown Bag Films and Cartoon Saloon. You can learn more about John Dawson at: www.dawsondramaworks@gmail.com Email: dawsondramaworks@gmail.com

I met John Dawson through our mutual friend Nick Johne from Chicago's Second City. They had worked together at Toronto's Second City before they both immigrated to Chicago & Dublin. His first foray into using improvisation for improved mental health was 7 years ago when he was approached to design and facilitate a series of Dramatic Arts for Wellness Workshops for D.C.U. (Dublin City University) in association with St. James Hospital Dublin’s mental health division. John’s taught his improv-based workshops in Critical thinking, Creativity and Effective Communication/Collaboration Skills for corporate and institutional clients such as Google, Airbnb, DropBox, Twitter Ireland, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin City University, H.S.E. (Health Service Executive, Ireland) and political party Renua Ireland. He has served as writer, story consultant and script editor on many film and TV projects. He lectured on screenwriting at Trinity College Dublin and has taught acting and improvisation for over 21 years in three countries. This has included facilitating for Toronto’s Equity Showcase Theatre, The Actors Center in London, Ireland’s Animation Skillnet and Screen Training Ireland, well as for employees of Ireland’s Academy Award nominated animation companies Brown Bag Films and Cartoon Saloon. You can learn more about John Dawson at: Email: dawsondramaworks@gmail.com Website: www.dawsondramaworks@gmail.com

Margot Escott speaks with improv master Craig Price who is using his 30+ years of experience (including training with the great Del Close)in wellness classes that use improv to improve the lives of those who are differently abled. Craig shares with us the wisdom he learned from both Second City and IO with Del Close - To always play at the top of your intelligence, to encourage each other, to play intelligently and to lift each other up.

Marshall C Stern by Margot Escott

Nancy Walker Podcast by Margot Escott

Cameron Algie - Improv for Anxiety by Margot Escott

Beth Boynton - Medical Improv by Margot Escott

Join me to listen the the fascinating and very funny improv master Nick Johne. An alumnus of Toronto’s award-winning Second City Main Stage cast, Nick Johne has been teaching improvisation in various capacities since 1983. He is currently teaching at The Second City Chicago and in the Theater Department of DePaul University where he is adjunct faculty. He has performed all over the world and was an original member of the workshop production of the Tony award-winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone. Nick Johne currently lives in Chicago with his wife and daughter.

Improv Interview Dave Razowsky by Margot Escott