Charm Scene: Improvised Musicals

Time to hit the road, deer listeners, as we welcome charming guest Dave Lyzenga for another fully improvised musical! A rambunctious road trip, a burly bartender, and a catastrophic conclusion await you on this week's Charm Scene. Follow your dreams! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Dave Lyzenga Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

We're breaking into the backrooms in this week's fully improvised musical! Charming guest Jonathan Allsop takes us on a liminal journey through flickering fluorescents, ethereal elevators and haunted hallways. Get lost in this week's Charm Scene! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Jonathan Allsop Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Disco will never die as charming guest Mo Phillips-Spotts RETURNS, following her incredibly successful, lost to time first episode recorded just minutes before. Sashaying salesmen, dangerous dances, and tremendous technical difficulties on this week's Charm Scene! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Mo Phillips-Spotts Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Are you ready for a revolution? Charming guest Jessica Joy is back again - this time for a less miserable (and very french) fully improvised musical! Murderous monarchs, frying frogs, accidental accents, and more! Don't lose your head! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Jessica Joy Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Calling all pranksters! Charming guest Mike Gospel returns for a spongebob-heavy, fully improvised office musical! Collective costumes, serious supervisors, and goofy goobers galore. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? We do! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Mike Gospel Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

It's our first ever CHICAGO LIVE SHOW! Take the jump with us as we take on the Annoyance Theatre with another fully improvised musical - and a surprise? Confused comas, purchased Portugals, grumbling grannies, and more on this week's Charm Scene! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Special thanks to Sam MacNerland, Christian Pitsch, Kathryn Courtney, Rockie Wenrich, John Moore, James Salvatore, Jennifer Estlin, and everyone at our home - The Annoyance. Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Welcome to the world wide web! Brandon Michael Thomas RETURNS for a net-spanning adventure through cyberspace. Digital denizens, bashful "bugs," flirty feet pics and more on this week's fully improvised Charm Scene! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Brandon Michael Thomas Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

It's our 40TH EPISODE! We're blowing the roof off this one-room schoolhouse in this week's Charm Scene! Charming guest Kaitlyn Nibbelin joins us for a coming-of-age story like none other. Selfish students, troublesome tree-people, handsome haberdsashers, and more! Who are you taking to the dance? Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Kaitlyn Nibbelin Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

It's TIME for another Charm Scene! This week, charming guest Bryan Duff takes us on a race against the clock in this time jumping fully improvised musical, with scintilating cyberpunks, brotherly bachelors, notable Newtons and more! The clock is ticking! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Bryan Duff Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

It's our 4/20 spectacular, and we're just DYING for you to hear it. Keenan Camp returns, with snacks in tow, for a high flying, afterlife-spanning, fully improvised musical. Bestest buds, dope dances, troublesome trips, and more! Smoke 'em if you've got 'em for this week's Charm Scene! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Keenan Camp Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Donut touch that dial! Daryn Robinson RETURNS in this fully baked improvised musical! And that's muffin to joke about. Foxy fritters, leading long johns, berefect bagels, and more! It's a bearclaw of an episode on this week's Charm Scene! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Daryn Robinson Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

It's our APRIL FOOLS switch-em-up spectacular! We tied Sam to a microphone and brought in LEGENDARY Chicago Music Director - Lisa McQueen! Filled with precocious pigeons, adversarial ad-men, infantile improvisers, and more - we're headed back to an extremely accurate 1960s Chicago in this week's Charm Scene! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Sam Scheidler Music Director: Lisa McQueen Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Yo ho! Yo ho! It's a pirate's life for charming guest Devan Seaman in this week's fully improvised musical! Inspired by her time in pirate dinner theatre, join us as we enter a pirate restaurant inside a pirate ride inside a pirate themed amusment park. Batten down those betas, guzzle that grog, and prepare to be piratized in this episode of Charm Scene! Dead dolphins tell no tales! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Devan Seaman Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Things are HEATING UP! Charming guest Jono Mammel RETURNS, this time taking us all the way back to early human history in this fully improvised musical - complete with ferocious fires, time travelers in training, smoldering sweethearts, and more! Welcome to the stone age! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Jono Mammel Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

The doctor is IN. Join charming guest Liz McCreight in our sexiest improvised musical yet. Hot healers, infectious friendships, rambling reporters, and more! Can this doctor heal his patients, and more importantly... himself? Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Liz McCreight Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Are you single and looking to mingle? Amiss and looking to kiss? Look no further than this week's fullly improvised musical! Charming guest Christian Torres takes us to a pop-up dating game, complete with bachelorettes, bodies of water, and the Bechdel Test. Find your special someone in this week's Charm Scene! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Christian Torres Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

We're "hanging on by a thread" in this week's fully improvised musical - with charming guest Derek Demko! Jealous Jacks, preoccupied parents, dirty dodos, and more. It's a jungle out there in this week's Charm Scene! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Derek Demko Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

It's time to impress your mom as charming guest Natalie Younger takes us back to our collective theatre-kid childhoods in this week's fully improvised musical! Captivating cousins, impractical plays, juicy jugs, and more! It's time for the show! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Natalie Younger Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Brush up for this week's fully improsived TOOTH-sical as we welcome charming guest Deshawn Mason! Killer cavities, bumbling bicuspids, wisdom-toothed wizards, and more! It's all smiles on this week's Charm Scene! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Deshawn Mason Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Our FIRST LIVE SHOW! We took to the cobbled streets of Williamsburg, Virginia for the second annual Last Word Comedy Festival for our first in-person fully improvised musical - inspired by audience member Kate's real life college story. Break-in baddies, burgeoning board gamers, basketted balls, and more in this week's Charm Scene!   Special thanks to the city of Williamsburg for sponsoring the event, and to everyone at The Last Word Comedy Festival. Learn more at lastwordfestival.com Recorded January 30, 2025 at PBK Hall at The College of William and Mary   Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Adam Eleven   Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Escape the stacks. Burn the books. Trail the Oregon. Charming guest Ben Hebert (host of the phenomenal podcast - "Bite-Sized") takes us to a public library in this week's fully improvised musical. But can his thirst for a life outside sway the legacy librarian, the sad sixth grader, or the mad mean Mr. Murray? It's a monoscene spectacular in this week's Charm Scene! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Ben Hebert Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Your wish is granted! It's charming guest Will Nicholson - but at what cost?? A magical monkey, a seasoned shopkeeper, his distant daughter, and so much more in this week's Charm Scene. Let's go go! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Will Nicholson Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Live from Sam's apartment - it's Charm Scene! Charming guest Nathan Jansen recounts his time on a mysterious podcast at Edinburgh Fringe and takes us deep into the world of late night variety television in this week's fully improvised musical. Puppet performers, stunt spectaculars, exacting executives, and more! We're on in 5... 4... 3... 2... Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Nathan Jansen Music Director: Sam Scheidler Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Tween theatre ghosts, metaphysical four square, and a janitor with big original dreams. All this and more in the first Charm Scene improvised musical of 2025 - featuring Team Starkid's Ali Gordon! Happy BoOoOo Year! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Ali Gordon Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Happy New Year from Charm Scene! Raise a glass as we round out 2024 with old acquaintance Keenan Camp! What do a grizzled detective, a bowl or oatmeal, and a mansard roof have in common? Absolutely nothing. Cheers! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Keenan Camp Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Welcome back to PART TWO of our Christmas two-parter, featuring charming guests Ben Auxier and Allen Lucas! Will we make it out of Santa's underground Christmas garage? Will our friends finally fulfill their festive wishes? And just who is the mysterious Holly Rose? These answers and more in this week's Charm Scene! Happy Holidays!   Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Ben Auxier, Allen Lucas Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton   Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Happy Holidays from Charm Scene! We've brought together TWO of our favorite charming guests for a TWO ACT Christmas musical! Ben Auxier and Allen Lucas take us to a world of winter whimsy, where trials about. Christmas wishes, crises of faith, a problematic Santa Claus, and more. And don't forget to tune in next week for act two! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Ben Auxier, Allen Lucas Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Hear ye! Hear ye! Charming guest Haley Karlson takes us back in time in this renaissance era improvised musical! Are you sexy? Cool? BItey? All of the above? See where you fit in in this week's Charm Scene! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Haley Karlson Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

An alien dog, a spy mom, and a scandalous mayor? What else could go wrong in this week's fully improvised musical, with charming guest Sage Huston! We're pulling back the curtain on local politics, so get in line now behind these 14 Colin Josts for the emotional ride of your life. Welcome to Charm Scene! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Sage Huston Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

It's a time jump jamboree! If you like "Merrily We Roll Along," "The Last Five Years," or that one episode of "Phineas and Ferb," you'll love this week's fully improvised musical - featuring charming guest Tyler DeLoatch! Explore the dynamics and psyche of Chicago's beloved "Blue Man Group," and discover the many things to do in Lakeview! Don't miss this heartwarming family story, or you're gonna be blue, man.   Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Tyler DeLoatch Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton   Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

It's a classic tale of backyards and bears in this week's fully improvised musical - featuring charming guest Cat McDonnell! Join us as we discover the true nature of paternity, immortality, and Philadelphia. The door's always open (and freestanding in the middle of yard)! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Cat McDonnell Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Some assembly required in this week's fully improvised musical! Inspired by charming guest Andrew Baldwin's real life family ties, we visit a family reunion, a nintendo-aided falling out, and a... re-reunion? Listen now! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Andrew Baldwin Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Names must be EARNED in this week's fully improvised musical! Charming guest Beth Nelsen, alongside a heavenly host of characters, takes us through the big bang, phone calls between realms, and the REAL origin of Christmas. Our most Biblically Accurate™ episode yet! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Beth Nelsen Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Happy Halloween! Get trick or TREATED to a two-guest spoOoOoky episode with Amber Linde and Alex Garday! Did you know the bathroom is the most haunted room in the house? Find out why there are so many damn ghosts in there (and how to get rid of them) in this fully improvised musical. Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Amber Linde, Alex Garday Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Picture this: it's the summer of 8th grade and you and your friends are exploring Spain, unsupervised. In this fully improvised musical inspired by Alex Garday's real-life adventures, join a ragtag group of teen boys as they discover music, architecture, and themselves. Also there's an unnecessarily nasty song about the Phillie Phanatic. Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Alex Garday Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Strap in for a cross country road trip with Anna Bortnick! There are so many places in between Chicago and LA and we visit all of them. If you like rhyming names, unconventional marriages, and rare dollar bills, then come move with us in this fully improvised musical! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Anna Bortnick Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Charm Scene goes VIRAL. Get your camcorders ready as charming guest Mike Gospel takes us back to the world of high school internet stardom in this fully improvised musical, all inspired by his real life 2009 YouTube sensation "Calculus Rhapsody!" We think you'll find it a-PEALING #teambanana Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Mike Gospel Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

All aboard! This week, charming guest Jen Connor takes us to the magical land of Hoboken, New Jersey, and things are HEATING UP. Can two distant siblings transform their relationship in time for the big audition? Can our grizzled director make art in a world of participation trophies? Can squirrels swim? The path to answers is this way! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Jen Connor Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

ISU forever! Charming guests Brandon Michael Thomas and Jessica Joy are back for another fantastical improvised musical, this time inspired by Brandon's real life experience with college standup and greek life show choir. With wizards, prophecies, and Hugh Jackman, it's just another day at Iowa State University. Go Cyclones! Cast: Austin Packard, Jessica Joy, Brandon Michael Thomas Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Do you believe in magic? Watch as we turn one guest into two in this back to back double guest extravaganza! Charming guest Jessica Joy, alongside Brandon Michael Thomas, takes us into the world of magic, castles, and more in this fully improvised musical. Listen now, and remember - there's no improv in magic (unless we put it there). Cast: Austin Packard, Jessica Joy, Brandon Michael Thomas Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Surprise! We're off this week, but we didn't want to leave you without your recommended dose of charm. Here are some of our favorite early test recordings, including a surprise appearance from our very first guest - Amber Linde! You just got CHARMED. Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Amber Linde Keys: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

He was an improv kid. He was a jock. Can I make it any more obvious? Just us this week with a self-indulgent, improvised romp through the world of collegiate comedy, sports, and the forces that I guess try to keep them apart for some reason. Talk about a quad conflict! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard Keys: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

What's that over there? Why it's the future president of the United States of America. How timely! Chicago comedy legend Daryn Robinson joins us for an improvised musical filled with political intrigue, dubious debates, and two very charming gerbils. Cast your vote today! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Daryn Robinson Keys: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Gather round, kids. You know what's cool? Friendship. You know what's not cool? A big ol' bag of drugs. Charming guest Allen Lucas helps us finally be the people that we wanna be in this week's completely improvised musical. See you at camp! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Allen Lucas Keys: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

A curse. A castle. An ingenue. And so. many. books. Can charming guest Heather Scholl help us cross the moat in this fantastical improvised musical? The first rule of the pod is you gotta be confident. Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Heather Scholl Keys: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Follow the shenanigans and triumphs of your city's newest superhero, MetroMan! He's great at lots of things in this improvised musical, like rounding up a rogues' gallery of wacky criminals, getting philosophical and sad, and maybe even accepting a new sidekick??? Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Jono Mammel Keys: Sam Scheidler Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Inspired by special guest Ben Auxier's experience in a murder mystery show, the gang improvises a musical in a mysterious vineyard, featuring Clue-like characters and their eccentric pets deep in the Ozarks. Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Ben Auxier Keys: Sam Scheidler Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

In Charm Scene's very first episode, Austin, Lily, and special guest Amber Linde improvise a cruise-ship-themed musical featuring triplets yearning for their first kisses, a pharmacist who sells questionable remedies, and...Chuck E. Cheese? You're gonna want to be at your muster station for this one. Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Amber Linde Keys: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Here's a sneak peak at what's to come from Charm Scene! Featuring a completely improvised song from episode 1 with Amber Linde. Join Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, and Sam Scheidler as they create brand new musicals — completely on the fly — alongside some of Chicago's most charming music improvisers and performers. Welcome to the scene!