The Improv In Action Podcast

This week Jim Karwisch and Sebastian Ruf discuss what it is to lose well in improv. 

This week Sebastian Ruf and Jim Karwisch discuss the thought process and options available to improv students who are graduating from an improv training school. 

This week Sebastian Ruf and Jim Karwisch discuss wants and emotions in improvisation. 

This week Sebastian and Jim discuss what it is to be a good scene partner. 

This week Sebastian Ruf and Jim Karwisch discuss how we attain flow in improv. 

This week Sebastian and Jim discuss what it is to have an improv worldview and how that affects your progress as an improviser. 

What is it to be coachable? What is it to coach so that others can more easily accept your coaching?

Sebastian and Jim sit down with Harrison Brookie of Alchemy Comedy Theater and discuss what it is to run an improv theatre in Greenville SC. 

Sebastian and Jim dive into side support concepts and wrangle with how energy and focus are affected by edits. 

Welcome to the second half of our side support episode. The original ran almost an  hour and half so we split it in twain. Enjoy!

This week Sebastian and Jim discuss character choices... how to make them and what makes them stick.

What makes a great character choice? Once you have made a choice, how do you keep it going and bring it back in the show when you need it? This week Jim and Sebastian discuss how the make choices stick. 

Sebastian is exhausted. Jim has the worst allergies of his life. Together they talk kind of about heightening and miss some major points that should have definitely been included. Enjoy!

Early on in this podcast we probably should have had an introduction to ourselves giving a bit of background about the project and what we are all about. Better late than never right?

This week Sebastian Ruf and Jim Karwisch break down the experimental workshop style called "the flow" that is workshopped at the Atlanta Improv Dojo. We had the luxury of recording with Atlanta actor Savannah Rose Scaffe who both provides the space for the dojo and improvises with us on several projects. 

This week Sebastian and Jim discuss what it means to be in a Toxic Improv situation and what you can do about it. 

This week Sebastian and Jim discuss getting the suggestion that works for your team and show. 

This week Sebastian and Jim discuss show openings and how they connect with suggestions. 

I got a chance to sit down with improviser and creator of FarmProv, Katie Elkins. A great time talking about her project, improv, and life! Check out Katie's project at www.farmprov.com.FarmPROV came to life when a group of like-minded strangers moved onto The Farm in the Riverside neighborhood of Atlanta. Katie Elkins, founder of FarmPROV, noticed the diverse abilities of her roommates and friends and realized they had all the components of a successful production crew. They enthusiastically assumed different roles, and just like that, FarmPROV came to life!

Jim sits down with the legendary Amanda Rountree to talk about sincerity in improv.

Mark Kendall is a writer, actor, and comedian. While he is an Ensemble Member at Dad's Garage Theatre he performs all over Atlanta and the country.

A Chicago Improv veteran of almost 20 years (People of Earth, 3033, Armando & Atlantis) Ryan Archibald is now the Artistic Director of the Village Theatre in Atlanta, GA. We talk about Harold, Chicago, his transition to Atlanta, and how he got so darned handsome.

On today's episode I speak with Jill Bernard, writer of "The Cute LIttle Book of Improv", performer of the solo musical improv show "Drum Machine", and education director of Huge Theatre in Minneapolis.

Billy Merritt is the co-author of the new book "Pirate Robot Ninja: An Improv Fable" with Will Hines. The book is available on Amazon. He is on Twitter and Instagram as @billymerritt. FULL BIO: Billy has been a performer, teacher, and director with the UCB Theatre since it first opened in New York. He is a founding member of improv groups The Swarm, and The Stepfathers in New York, and The Smokes in Los Angeles. As a teacher, Billy has developed many improvised long-form shows. Such as The Documentary, Improvised One Acts, The Ninja, Murder Murder, Robot Theatre, and the Holiday Spectacular. His TV credits include MTV's Boiling Points, Best Week Ever, Reno 911, Law and Order, Workaholics, Happy Endings, Weeds, Parks and Rec., Brooklyn Nine Nine, and Another Period. He was the host of "Uncorked" with Billy Merritt, a food, wine and travel show that can still be seen on Hulu. Billy's voice can be heard on the new Cartoon Network show Steven Universe, and can currently be seen on IFC in the Divorced Dad Cooking Show shorts as well as Rob Riggle's Ski Master Academy coming soon on Sony Digital's Crackle.

Scared Scriptless is the longest running #improv comedy troupe in Alaska. They routinely perform sold-out shows to a devoted local audience. The members of Scared Scriptless all share a unique passion that makes their performance feel more authentic than your typical #comedy routine. You can find out when Scared Scriptless is performing next by visiting their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/ScaredScriptlessAlaska/

Jay Revis has performed improv for 13 years and taught for 8. He currently performs at Spitfire Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he developed the curriculum for and teaches the eight-week level five class “Advanced Scenework”. Prior to his work with Spitfire, Jay served as Associate Director of Education at Jackpie Theater Workshop in Atlanta, GA. He has performed at festivals around the United States and taught workshops at Blackbox Improv Festival and Spontaneous Combustion Improv Festival in Atlanta, GA and San Diego Improv Festival in San Diego California. Jay lives with his 5-year-old daughter, Mila and their cats Henry and Piper. Sometimes he's funny.

Today on the podcast we have a myth and a legend in the improv world Stephen Nachmanovitch. If you have never read his book “Free Play” please stop whatever you are doing right now and go pick up a copy. Today we talk about his newest book "The Art of Is"

Today on the podcast we have a myth and a legend in the improv world Stephen Nachmanovitch. If you have never read his book “Free Play” please stop whatever you are doing right now and go pick up a copy. Today we talk about his newest book "The Art of Is"

Jonathan Pitts is the executive director of Chicago Improv Productions. He's the co-founder & original producer of Chicago Improv Festival and he's also the founder & producer of the College Improv Tournament. He taught at The Second City Training Center for 16 years. Jonathan now tours the world teaching and performing improvisation in countries most of us only know by name. We're excited to have Jonathan on this episode of Improv in Action with the topic of Empathy.

From Humorology Atlanta to Gina's Garbage Hour, this amazing human and improviser knows how to give and how to laugh. Gina Rickicki is a gift to the planet.

Marcia Marcia Marcia loves Cassidy Russell. Jennica Hill, Brittany Wilkerson, and Muretta Moss join Lucas Isbill and Jim Karwisch to talk women in improv and have a Cassidy Russell love fest.

This week we talk with Meg Ansteensen and Cole Wadsworth, two amazingly talented improvisers, models, parkour enthusiasts, photographers, and downright nice people.

Jim and Lucas sit down with Ga Tech professor Brian Magerko to talk about Improv, Robots, DJing, and the Expressive Machinery Lab https://expressivemachinery.gatech.edu/