The Backline - An Improv Podcast

In this epsiode, Rob and Adam discuss what to do if you are obligated to create the who, what, where in the first 30 seconds of your scene. How much information should you add? How much room should you leave for you partner to contribute? Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week Rob and Adam chat about improv festivals: how to run it, how to market it, and the small perks that make it all worthwhile. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

We all know the Harold, and The Montage - but what's in the in-between? Are there some formats better for new players than others? Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

In the final rundown of 2023, Rob and Adam share the gifts of what's making them feel thankful this holiday season. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Improv dogma tells us, "Mistakes are a gift" but are they always ... Certainly, there are miskakes you can make that derail, confuse, or even ruin a scene. So are there some moves that are better than others? Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Not making a team can be frustrating. Not being hired by your local troupe or theatre can be heartbreaking, but that doesn't mean you have to leave your improv journey in the hands of those theatres. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week Rob and Adam discuss team bonding, alternatives to rehearsals, and if you can get better at improv by just being friends with your team. Also, an important letter from THE BACKLINE MAILBAG, featuring John from Wisconsin. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week we open up The Backline Mailbag and answer your questions about the longform format The Deconstruction. Also discussed: Future Favors the Bold, types of longform openers, 2-person improv, Cubism, and so much more. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week, Rob and Adam open up the Backline Mailbag to answer your questions. In this episode, you'll learn about object work and why it's neccessary, building constructs from character, and why physicality can be so hard for new improvisers. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

We've all heard the expression "Support your partner", in this episode Rob and Adam discuss support, agitation, heightening through proximity, and dynamics.  PLUS Martin Short, comedy criticism, 2000 AD and Jeopardy.  Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Adam and Rob return for a new season of The Backline! This week Rob and Adam chat about beginning scenes, deals, the moment before, Johnstonian platforms, UCB initations, and so much more. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

For the final episode of the season, Rob and Adam discuss ending scenes from within the scenes, how to pull edits, and what a satisfying ending might look like. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Warm-ups are an essential part of any show or class. This week, Rob and Adam discuss types of warm-ups, why we do them, and what it means to warm-up before a show. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

What does it mean to go first in an improv show? How does it affect the way you play? This week Rob and Adam are back to discuss cold rooms, running orders, and the selfless act of going first Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week, Rob and Adam discuss the shortcuts improvisers use to make a scene work and how true creativity might be the cost of using these shortcuts. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

In this episode, Rob and Adam discuss feeling like you don’t belong, ego trips, and knowing your own worth. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

This week Rob and Adam discuss how to create characters, why space is necessary to find a character’s point of view, and the instant invocation known as the Mantra. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

In this episode, Rob and Adam discuss confusion around “energy”, what it means, and what happens when you direct your intention at your scene partner. Also, Adam reveals his recipe for the perfect breakfast sandwich. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

This week Rob and Adam talk all things duo! From finding the right partner, to making scenes work, to the dangers of playing a 2-person show! Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

There are thousands of improv theatres and schools across the globe, each with their own style of improv. How do you find common ground onstage? How much can you expect of your scene partner? Is anything constant on all improv stages? Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

This episode Rob and Adam, discuss burns, roasts, and barbs. Also, why we burn, who to burn, and why saying mean things isn’t always an act of cruelty. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

In this episode, Rob and Adam fantasize about building a training centre. What does it look like? Who are the teachers? Who are the students? Also: the internet is bad, The Secret of Mana, and improv shows where other performers heckle you. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

This week’s episode asks “Should improv jams be free?” and the result is a conversation about class disparity, improv whales, and the improv cape boys. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

This week Rob and Adam discuss: the First, the Second, and the Cross. As well as glue players, directors, and grinders. Also, Adam’s mind is blown when Rob tells a story about jumping in a lake. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

This week, join host Corey Whaley as he interviews Rob and Adam about improv, modern art, and everything in between as part of the DCC Pod. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

“Improv rules, but then also there’s improv rules.” This week Rob and Adam, discuss the history of improv rules, what’s necessary in an improv scene, and how to not get bogged by our artform’s long history. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

This week’s episode delves into the world of three-person scenes, how they differ from duoprov, and the power of team dynamics. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

“Improv rules, but then also there’s improv rules.” This week Rob and Adam, discuss the history of improv rules, what’s necessary in an improv scene, and how to not get bogged by our artform’s long history. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

In this episode, Adam and Rob look backwards to the origins of improv, how it spread across the world, and what’s the difference between an American and a Canadian improviser. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

In this episode Rob and Adam discuss the phenomenon of hack jokes, the ethics of stand-up, and comedy’s modernist sensibilities. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

This week Rob and Adam discuss what types of shows are marketable, how to sell them, and common pitfalls to avoid when advertising your production. Also, it’s the debut of CREAM. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

In this episode, Adam and Rob discuss the justification, why we need it, why explaining too much causes problems, and the need for mystery in scenes. Also: Flash baths, re-reading books, and updates on a very important URL. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

This week, Adam and Rob discuss their criticism of “grounded scenes”. In this episode: the reality of a scene, truth in improv, Norse creation myths, and how to make big, wild scenes work. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

An updated 2022 our list of all the characters we are ready to retire. Also: the 5th Anniversary of the Assembly, UCB’s new investors, the politics of accents, and why the mystery is a foundational cornerstone of science fiction universe. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

This week Rob and Adam discuss cornerstones of what conditions are necessary for improv mastery. Also discussed: teaching Improv 2, Malcolm Gladwell, migraines, and how to confront your improv partner if they miss an appointment. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

There’s a whole bunch of reasons why someone might feel frustrated: bad day at work, fight with a friend, doing your taxes … but what do you do if the source of your frustration is the person you’re improvising with? This week Rob (but mostly Adam) talk about what to do when things don’t go your way onstage. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

This week Rob and Adam open up The Backline mailbag to answer your questions about teaching, directing, coaching and the difference between all three. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

This week Rob and Adam discuss the ever-elusive nature of comedic timing. As well as the show Last One Laughing, and what it means for fellow improvisers affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

This week Adam interviews Rob about the process of creating the CBC podcast Limited Capacity. They discuss directing, improv as a writing tool, and why Rob wrote 5 full episodes, only to improvise through these scary stories instead. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

From the vault: Rob and Adam share a never-aired episode of the Backline where they share their thoughts on online improv, Irish paganism, and drinking orange cokes. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

With the return of the iO (formerly improvOlympic), Adam wonders if the Harold will return with it, or if improv’s most famous and psychedelic form should be retired from our classrooms and our stages. Kelly Clarkson – Since You’ve Been Gone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7UrF… Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIIxl… Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

In this episode, Rob and Adam answer a question from Estonian improv teacher Martin about chorus/verse, scenic structure, taking breaks, and how to build the skill in the classroom. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

In this episode, Rob and Adam discuss foundational support, what support looks like onstage amongst professionals, and how to avoid the creeping threat of resentment. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

It’s a whole new season of The Backline. In this episode, Rob and Adam discuss their 1-year hiatus, the NFL, definitions of improv, and how art criticism shapes our artform. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

It's the season finale!  LIVE FROM THE LONDON PALLADIUM in Soho, Rob and Adam celebrate 200 episodes of their award-winning, critically acclaimed podcast in front of a live audience.  Enjoy as Rob and Adam are delighted by a night of music, performance, and guests appearances from some of improv comedy's most famous faces.

In this episode Rob scours improv Facebook group for a series of conversation starting prompts and ambushes Adam with THE LIGHTNING ROUND!  Also discussed agendas vs deals, and savouring the small moments in a scene.

In this episode Rob scours improv Facebook group for a series of conversation starting prompts and ambushes Adam with THE LIGHTNING ROUND!  Also discussed agendas vs deals, and savouring the small moments in a scene. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

This episode Rob and Adam dissect the idea of "magic" within improv, feeling like an imposter, and trying to make good scenes.  Also group mind, subconscious priming, and cheating your way through scenes.

This week we bring you a pre-recorded live event from January 2020. Rob and Adam travelled to Hartford, Connecticut to perform and teach at the SeaTea Comedy Theatre. Enjoy this special episode of Questions Only.

This week, Rob sits down with Sean Geobey, Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo who specializes in financial collaboration and co-operative business models.    

In this episode Rob and Adam discuss the announcement of the Second City being put up for sale and what financial models make sense for theatres in a post-Covid world. Also discussed  changes at the UCB, charitable improv companies, and some big news for Rob's book Improvising Now.