Improv Interviews

Cheryl Sloane was literally raised at Second City Chicago since her mother, Joyce Sloane, was the beloved maternal powerhouse in the origins of The Second City. Joyce Sloane was the woman who found and nurtured such comedy giants as John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Chris Farley, and Bill Murray, She was described as a "den mother" to the actors and staff at this famed improv theatre. If someone needed a doctor, a lawyer, a wedding ring or to be bailed out of jail, Joyce was the person who made it happen. We also explore the last 20 years of Cheryl's life. She opened G-Boutique, an upscale women's shop where women could feel comfortable buying sexy lingerie and quality sex toys. Why lingerie? Well, Joyce Sloane always wore glamorous peignoirs. Cheryl thought everyone should have one. While owning the B-Boutique Cheryl consulted with physicians to explore sexual health and wellness for women. Since the store closed, Cheryl works in marketing and branding for Uberlube -, a silicone lubricant designed to enhance sex that has many uses including hair care. Joyce showed Cheryl to “always find the good in people” and that’s how Cheryl has lived her life. The people whose lives she touched love her and by the end of this interview, so did I!

Molly Erdman is a seasoned improviser, starting in high school and being on MainStage and cruise for Second City. She moved from Chicago to LA and pursued her acting career and continued in improv. She is currently getting a master's in counseling and working with children in a school city. We chat about her transition in life and what led her there. She is tons of fun and we had a wonderful time!

Jay Sukow - Part 2 by Margot Escott

Jay Sukow is one of the most respected and beloved improv teachers today. He shares his childhood with a nurturing family and how he became the man he is. His parents gave him a ticket to his first Improv class and he found his passion. He studied at Second City, IO, and Comedy Sports. Jay shares a wonderful story of spending an afternoon with David Shepherd. We chat about our admiration for the "mother of improv" Viola Spolin. Jay shares his ups and downs in the improv world. He is very funny and a truly humble person. #Iknowjaysukow

Peter Felsman, PhD - Improviser, Social Worker, Researcher by Margot Escott

Meet my brilliant friend, Amy Seham. She wrote the groundbreaking feminist look at Improv in her 2001 book “Whose Improv is it Anyway?” and is currently working on her updated sequel coming out this summer. Amy is a remarkable person, a historian, author, improviser, actor, director, playwright and so much more. In our interview, she talks about the amazing family she grew up in and her early love of all things theatrical. We met at a Patti Stiles improv workshop and she is really fun to play with. I know you will enjoy this special podcast. Amy Seham is a director, author, professor, and improvisor whose book, Whose Improv Is It, Anyway? Beyond Second City (2001) is a ground-breaking study of race, gender, and power in Chicago improv-comedy. Her writing on improv has been published in The Oxford Handbook of Critical Improvisation Studies and in Radical Acts: Theatre and Pedagogies of Change. In the last 20 years, Seham has created improv workshops for social workers and professional actors in India, college students in China, and children in the Dominican Republic. She has offered classes at Second City in Toronto, Fringe Benefits in LA, and the Playwrights Center in Minneapolis taught for Funny Woman Festivals in Minneapolis and Chicago and given workshops for colleges and universities across the country. Her 2016 keynote address for the Mellon Foundation Series on Comedy and Gender at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, launched a new book project, Improv for the 21st. Century, to be published by Routledge in 2023.

Meet the wonderful Matthew Tolliver PhD and his good friend Emily. He has been using applied improv with many groups, like First Responders and schools. He is a dedicated scholar and has created a model for Cognitive Complexity. I know you'll enjoy listening and learning from him.

Nathan Keeates on Improv and Anxiety by Margot Escott

Kenn Adams, author of 'The Story's Fine' and artistic director of Synergy Theater, shares his adventurous journey from Midwood, Brooklyn, to a vibrant life in the arts. He discusses the 'story spine' concept, which revolutionizes improvisation for young audiences, revealing the magic of narrative structure. The conversation dives into the delicate balance of spontaneity and structure in improv, exploring Joseph Campbell's storytelling principles and emphasizing emotional depth. Kenn also highlights the importance of props and physicality in enhancing theatrical experiences.

Meet the delightful Gare Ware, author of "Playful Rebellion" ! Gary Ware, the Founder of Breakthrough Play is a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and self-proclaimed Creative Catalyst. Gary has over 14 years of experience in the corporate world holding various leadership positions. Being a multifaceted individual Gary also comes with nearly a decade of experience as a performer in improv theatre. After experiencing burnout in his pursuit for success and happiness, he realized that what was missing was play. Committing to a life of play is what led Gary to discover his passion for facilitating.