Improv Interviews

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.

Blue Cavell-Allette is a veteran improv performer who has been invited to perform and facilitate workshops all over North America. She is the producer and creator of several popular, long running improv shows both online and in person, including Tastemakers and the Newlywed Game. Blue is a founding member of two nationally and internationally award winning all black improv teams including Cakewalk and Casually Dope. She is a comedian, writer, and director of both traditional and improv theatre and a passionate advocate for building intentional and equitable communities. She has coached several nationally award winning teams including It's Improv Baby and Cakewalk. Blue is a corporate trainer working with such companies as Youtube and S.C. Johnson. She is currently a professor at Morgan State University where she teaches applied improv.

What a great chat with the lovely Beth Melewski! After a successful path in acting and improvisation, she chose a new path and is now in graduate school training to be a psychotherapist! We had such a fun time, laughing and sharing experiences. I know you'll really love this interview.

David Pasquesi is considered one of the greatest improvisers today! He is very humble and accepting spirit and his quick wit is phenomenal. With with his partner T.J. Jagodowskie, their show, T.J & Dave, ,has been delighting audiences for many years, around the world. David is an actor, producer, writer and director. We chat about his time at Second City learning from legendary artist such as musical director, Fred Kaz and teacher Del Close. He was greatly impacted by Del Close and uses that education today. You may have seen him as Andrew in "Veep" and was Bobba Fett in a series created by Jon Favreau as a spin off from the series The Mandalorian. His films credits are amazing including Caddy Shack, What a wonderful experience getting to know David!

Improv Intrviews Jane Morris by Margot Escott