The ComedySportz Podcast

Steph DeWaegeneer has spent the majority of her professional life entertaining audiences by embracing humor and the creative imagination of the human spirit. She is a graduate of Chicago's Second City Conservatory Program and the iO Training Center, and has been fortunate to perform on numerous stages throughout the US & UK including: The Manchester Comedy Festival, The Traverse City Winter Comedy Festival, and numerous ComedySportz World Championships. She is also the reigning Ms. Plus America Lifetime VII, and former 2009 Ms. Plus America. Each weekend, she can be seen performing with CSz Houston.

Tim Harrison has been a player and referee with CSz Indianapolis for twenty-five years. Tune in as we discuss Tim's role as a workshop instructor and Rec League Coach, examine how improv helps in his highly analytical day job, dissect his deep love for puns, and—perhaps most exciting—explore Tim's brilliant show format in which he combines short-form improv with the world's most popular board games.

Beginning as a founding member of CSz Spokane, Rick Steadman would go on to perform on the CSz Los Angeles roster for nearly two decades—including serving as their Education Director and Rec League Coach—and become the Artistic Director of CSz Seattle. In today's episode we have the distinct honor of not only examining Rick's extensive improv and acting career, but we get to hear both his experience taking an improv class with Alan Arkin, as well as Rick's authentic vs. ComedySportz German-accent.

A co-owner of CSz Portland, Ruth Jenkins has been improvising for over thirty-five years and has been a speech language pathologist for nearly thirty years. She soon learned to combine the two, frequently using improv activities with people who have speech and language disorders connected to Parkinson's disease or the after effects of strokes and head injuries. Not only do we chronicle the trajectory of Ruth's improv career, but she shares numerous case studies describing how the uniqueness of her practice has changed hundreds of lives for the better.

Performing ComedySportz since 1986, Glenn Packman is a co-owner and co-manager at CSz New York City. Join us as we chart Glenn's voyage from the East Coast to the West Coast and back again, in which he performed on the mainstage roster with 5 distinct CSz locations. We also get to hear his reflections on attending the first ever ComedySportz World Championship, as well as Glenn's thoughts comparing and contrasting long-form improv with short-form.

An original ComedySportz player, John Leicht performed with CSz Milwaukee from 1984-1987.  Tune in as we explore what it took to bring the original troupe together, how John became Playwright-in-Residence with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater for ten straight years, and why looking back he calls his time at ComedySportz “the University of Life.”

Join us in Season 3 as we celebrate 40 years of ComedySportz! Recorded live at the 2024 ComedySportz World Championships in Milwaukee, Christine interviews Dick Chudnow—the creator of ComedySportz—reminiscing on our collective four-decade long journey, followed by a Q&A with the audience.

Courtney Pong is the Owner and General Manager of CSz Boston, and the owner of The Rozzie Square Theater. Courtney has been performing and teaching improv and ComedySportz since 2001, starting with CSz San Jose and moving to Boston in 2016 to co-own CSz Boston with Betse Green, until Pong took over full ownership in 2019. A Northern California / Bay Area native, she loves crossword puzzles, running, and is dust-intolerant. The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Mike Kauth was baptized into the world of improv in 1999 at CSz Milwaukee, where he currently works as a full-time improviser and coach. In addition to ComedySportz, he's studied and performed at Improv Olympic in Chicago, and trained at Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles. In today's episode we explore the importance of supporting our teammates, celebrating our failures, and living in the moment; and to boot, we learn what Mike regards as the #1 most important thing to do before a show. The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Alan Guszkowski has performed with CSz Milwaukee for over 20 years, but has been weird for attention for much longer than that. He is a member of the Midnite Show, Voyager, and has been honored to guest with many other improv groups around Milwaukee. He has been an improv instructor at every level from ComedySportz Kidz Camp to the High School League and all adult workshops. He currently teaches improv for the UW-Milwaukee Theatre Program. The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Brainne Edge has been running CSz Manchester since its inception in 2001. As well as performing improv with ComedySportz, she is also a full time lecturer in performance at the University of Salford and regularly performs and teaches around the United Kingdom. Tune in as we examine the enchanting nuances of British vocabulary and investigate the differences between ComedySportz matches in the United States vs. England. The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

A member of CSz Chicago for 22 years, Matt Elwell has served as their Artistic Director, President and CEO, and would go on to be the Executive Director of CSz Worldwide from 2015-2022. Join us as we explore everything from the liberating power of perceiving our teachers as guides rather than sages, to how improv enables us to show up as our true selves, celebrate others, and be a force for good in our community. The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

On the podcast today we delve into the importance of putting the audience first, dissect the rules of improv and when to break them, and analyze how knowing one's (and other's) strengths and weaknesses is a gateway to success. Initially hired by Dick Chudnow as a ballet-parker at CSz Milwaukee in 1997, Dave Nelsen would go on to be a player, referee, workshop instructor, and Applied Improvisation facilitator. He's also a copyeditor who does business as The Grammar Geek—but more importantly, he's married to the host of The ComedySportz Podcast, Christine “Rolo” Capriolo. The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Beth Melewski has performed with CSz Milwaukee, CSz Chicago, and CSz New York City. She's also performed with Improv Olympic, including the renowned improvised musical group Baby Wants Candy, and has been a performer/writer with The Second City for nearly 15 years. What's more, she was the host of Cash Cab Chicago and has appeared on both Arrested Development and Work In Progress. She's currently finishing her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling so she can therapize (not a word) all comedians. The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Tim Higgins co-founded The Midnite Show in 2001, and founded the stand-up/improv hybrid show Voyager in 2016. Tune in as Tim and Christine chart their beginnings on the same High School League team, to Tim joining CSz Milwaukee and teaching High School League himself; and for good measure, Tim shares strategies and techniques for streamlining our improv. The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Dave Gaudet joined the CSz Chicago roster in 1988, served as their Artistic Director from 1989-1992 and 2006-2007, and is currently a co-owner, President, and Chairman of the Board. He initially found his love for improvisation as a member of the Burpee's Seedy Theatrical Company, the nation's oldest collegiate improv troupe, developed by Steve Carell. In addition to ComedySportz, his list of theatrical credits include several performances with the Annoyance Theatre and various teams at iO Chicago. When he grows up, he wants to be just like Dick Chudnow. The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

In this episode our host becomes the guest as Kyle interviews Christine Capriolo. With over thirty years of improv experience, Christine shares her start in CSz High School League, her first official show in CSz Madison, and her return to Milwaukee. She discusses being a female comedienne in a male dominated group, how improv has helped her become a better teacher in the classroom, and reveals her unique approach to audience suggestions and character development. Some may argue this is the longest game of Switch Interview ever played. The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

With initial dreams of being a dinosaur-cowboy-rider, Al Oldham would go on to be an educator for over twenty years. In this episode we dive into everything from the transformational effects of excellent teachers, to letting go of failure, to how confidence and commitment grant us the ability to face any challenge head-on. The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Peter Alberts joined CSz Milwaukee in 1990 and would go on to form The Dead Alewives alongside the likes of Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab. After moving to Los Angeles, his troupe Old Milwaukee won 67 consecutive cage matches at Improv Olympic, with an uncontested reign lasting over 2 years. Let's dig in. The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Buckle up for this incredible improv odyssey. Tune in as we chronicle Mike Rock's remarkable theater career, beginning as an original member of CSz Madison, to founding CSz New York City and co-creating The Bert Fershners, to his extensive acting career with credits that include Chelsea Lately, Black-ish, Modern Family, and much more. Mike has served as the Artistic Director and Producer of both CSz Madison and CSz New York City, and is currently a director/producer at Impro Theatre in Los Angeles. For more, he's @itsmikerock on social media. The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

To kick off Season 2, we've brought back Dick Chudnow, the creator of ComedySportz. Join us for a trip down memory lane, reminiscing on the long journey from the original Milwaukee players to the establishment of dozens of other CSz locations worldwide.  Dick describes what he would do differently if he could go back in time and do the whole thing over again, and shares what it was like doing stand-up and improv with the one-and-only Robin Williams. The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

David Bogan is the Educational Director, Roadshow Manager, and a current performer at CSz Seattle. Prior to moving across the country, David performed, taught improvisation, and managed the ComedySportz Rec League at CSz Milwaukee for nearly twenty years, and has been co-managing CSz Seattle since 2015. He has performed in thousands of shows, and has also taught thousands of individuals the art of improvisation in a wide variety of skills, including improv comedy, Applied Improvisation for the workplace, public speaking, and CSz Seattle's Improv For Anxiety.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand. To all of our listeners, thank you so much for 20 joy-filled episodes. New episodes coming 2022.

PJ Rockwell has held a broad spectrum of jobs spanning a quarter century of theatre work. First introduced to CSz in 1992 as both Field Manager and Mr. Voice, PJ would go on to play music, run the lights, perform sound effects as well as Voice, and act as stage manager—all simultaneously. In this episode we discuss the importance of a proficient production team, and their unsung ability to take CSz matches to the next level.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Tom Clark has been a member of ComedySportz since 1995, starting in Milwaukee and currently in Los Angeles. You've seen him do stand up on both Conan and Comedy Central, and he's also the co-creator and host of the I'm A Rescue Podcast. Let's dig in.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Mark Redlich is a chemist, guitarist, singer and improvisor, and has performed with CSz Milwaukee since 1992. Join us as we chart Mark's journey from starting a High School League team with Dan Harmon, to becoming a member of The Dead Alewives, all the way to the present day.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Having performed with CSz Milwaukee since 1992, Rollie Cafaro has not only become an in-house mainstay, but also co-founded Millenium Theater in Madison (now defunct), helped develop Comedy Court (also defunct), and performed with The Dead Alewives (equally defunct). It's safe to say Rollie has put the “fun” in defunct.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Mia Roberts is a co-founder of CSz Indianapolis and served as the CEO from 1993-2016. Tune in as we chart Mia's thirty year comedy career, including the creation of both the Gal Pal Comedy Festival and Women's Weekend, performances celebrating the empowerment of female and non-binary improvisers.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Holly Ignatowski started taking ComedySportz workshops, by accident, in 1989 and began playing professionally with CSz Milwaukee, on purpose, in 1990. In this episode we investigate the life-changing power of improv to open doors and knock down walls, how improv provided the best possible training for her voiceover career, and to boot, we hear Holly's one-of-a-kind gibberish.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

A founding member of CSz Madison, Brian Kapell would go on to found CSz Berlin and co-found CSz Washington, D.C. Join us as Brian shares his 35 year journey, including his experience working with the Theatre of the Deaf and creating the first-ever deaf ComedySportz team.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

James Thomas Bailey is the Founder and Artistic Director of CSz Los Angeles, the longest running show in the city's history. In this episode we dive into everything from James' journey to Tinseltown, to CSz LA's vast 75-school High School League, to the joyous and liberating possibilities within musical improv.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Jeff Kramer is the Founder and Artistic Director of CSz San Jose, the Silicon Valley's longest running show. Join us as we explore Jeff's early years as a founding member of CSz Madison, the nuances of fostering instinctual teamwork, and the crucial tenet of always putting the audience first.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Mark Mohelnitzky performed with ComedySportz from 1989-2007 in 3 different cities: Madison, Milwaukee, and Los Angeles. He is currently the Executive Producer of “On Air with Ryan Seacrest” which is heard on KIIS-FM in LA, as well as hundreds of radio stations worldwide. Most importantly, he is one of the people responsible for putting Christine Capriolo on a ComedySportz stage. So if not for him, this podcast would not exist.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

With a ComedySportz career spanning over thirty years, Kurt Scholler has performed with both CSz Milwaukee and CSz Los Angeles, toured nationally with Wayne Brady And Friends, and has appeared on a wide variety of television shows including Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Sarah Silverman Program, The Office, and much, much more.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

A co-founder of The Brady Street Comedy Group in 1984, Joe Cortese would go on to co-found The Midnite Show and join CSz Milwaukee for nearly three decades. Tune in as we explore Joe and Christine's Italian roots, tips and tricks when reffing, and the power of facing your fears head-on.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Patrick Short served as the Executive Director of CSz Worldwide from 2002-2014, as well as President in 2019, and is a founding member of both CSz San Jose and CSz Portland. In this episode we dig into as many topics as Patrick has credentials, everything from the formation of the World Comedy League to the capacity for improvisation to elevate the human spirit.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Dianah Dulany, a native Texan, has worked as a professional improvisor, instructor and trainer for over thirty years. Tune in as we chart Dianah's theatrical journey from New York, to founding CSz Houston in 1990, to serving as the President of CSz Worldwide in 2015, and beyond.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

A professional musician for more years than she cares to think about, Paula Foley Tillen has served as a lead teacher of musical theatre and improvisation, as a music director for hundreds of productions from grade school to professional levels, and has been active at CSz Milwaukee since 1985. Join us for a joyous exploration of the role music plays in the realm of improvisational theatre generally and ComedySportz specifically.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Over the course of many years, Bo Johnson has worked as an actor, director, musician, improv performer, and technician for over a dozen different theatre companies, including being a co-founder of Theatre Tesseract, The Dead Alewives, and Umbrella Group Theatre. At this point, Bo is close to being considered a "fixture" of the Milwaukee theatre community, like a sink or maybe a shower stall.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Brian Green started ComedySportz in 1984 and has been trying to get it right ever since. In this episode we explore Brian's multi-decade long career doing improv and stand up, his love for the culinary arts, and we learn which of Brian's strengths is Christine's greatest weakness.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

An original ComedySportz player, Bob Orvis has played in over 7,000 shows, booked 15,000 road shows, and has changed even more diapers. Tune in as we chronicle his time writing for radio and advertising, to how CSz Milwaukee branched out and established themselves in a competitive market, and learn which Brewers player Bob takes a fancy to.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Dick Chudnow is the creator of ComedySportz and the co-founder of Kentucky Fried Theater. Join us as Dick shares everything from his secrets to succeeding as a substitute teacher, to his unexpected encounter with improv-goddess Viola Spolin, to the formation of the World Comedy League.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.