Podcasts about Brave New Workshop

A Show Director and writer whose clients includes Disney, Disney Cruise Line, SeaWorld, the Tribeca Film Festival and the World Science Festival. Other clients include the BBC, TLC, ABC, Carnegie Hall, Scholastic Publishing, South Africa Tourism, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Light the Night for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of New York.  As an improviser Greg has worked with some of the premiere sketch comedy troupes in the country including the Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis and the Who, What and Warehouse Players at Disney's Comedy Warehouse. He also co-produces and appears with the MAC Award Winning Ensemble of Broadway's Next Hit Musical. Triggs regularly teaches improvisation, trust and teamwork seminars for The Disney Institute, the American Council of Mayors, Microsoft, the United States Navy, and Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals. 

Ryan Robert Nelson joined us on today's show!  You've seen him in local TV commericals, in local productions for many years at Brave New Workshop and Yellow Tree Theater and now Ryan joins us to talk to us about his current project, the Folsom Prison Experience and original Johnny Cash tribute show that is touring and will arrive at the Fitzgeral theater in Saint Paul in October.  Ryan is hilarious and we highly suggest you buy tickets to anything he's involved with.  

Submitting work to your first workshop or critique group is nerve-wracking - these aren't your supportive friends or family, but strangers with opinions. Yet honest feedback is the lifeblood of growth for writers. The problem? Workshops are expensive, inflexible, and the quality of feedback varies wildly.What if you could get thoughtful critique on your terms, anytime day or night? That's the promise of AI writing assistants. In this episode, Renee is the guinea pig as she submits a chapter draft from her memoir to Claude and compares its insights against feedback she previously received from human critics.The results? According to Claude, they are “Surprising, illuminating, and potentially game-changing for writers everywhere.” We'll let you be the judge of that. Remember, we have a Writers Process meetup every Wednesday. Check us out.

Brave New Workshop had prepared a comedy show titled ‘No Country for Two Old Men' a fun play on the upcoming 2024 Election but there is one hiccup - Joe Biden dropped out of the race on Sunday so we talked to Caleb McEwen, Artistic Director of the Brave New Workshop about what adjustments they are making as we draw closer to the election and changes are made to their show!  

Brave New Workshop had prepared a comedy show titled ‘No Country for Two Old Men' a fun play on the upcoming 2024 Election but there is one hiccup - Joe Biden dropped out of the race on Sunday so we talked to Caleb McEwen, Artistic Director of the Brave New Workshop about what adjustments they are making as we draw closer to the election and changes are made to their show!  

Paul Eiding played Ambassador Loquel on the seventh season Star Trek TNG episode, "Liaisons," but if you grew up in the 80s and 90s, you know him better as Perceptor from "Transformers," Colonel Roy Campbell in the Metal Gear Solid video game series, and Grandpa Max Tennyson in "Ben 10," among hundreds of other voiceover roles in cartoons, anime, and games. Besides telling us about his time in Trek, Paul explains how his time in the army led him towards acting, being a clown and improv performer, what he learned from Dudley Riggs' Brave New Workshop, and how a chance meeting with Gordon Hunt changed the course of his career and brought him into the world of animation. Plus, his time with Betty White on "The Golden Girls," "Martial Law" with Sammo Hung, delivering the line in the 1986 Transformers movie that broke a generation of kids' hearts, his unusual time working on the "Toxic Crusaders" cartoon, the most meaningful role he ever played, and performing with Anna Nicole Smith in "Skyscraper." Watch "Frank and Emmet" here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwWQ4gvDkRE&ab_channel=OmeletoPlease subscribe to our brand new YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@trekuntold . There, you will see all the old episodes of this show, as well as new episodes and all of our other content, including shorts and some other fun things planned for the future.Visit my Amazon shop to check out tons of Trek products andother things I enjoy - https://www.amazon.com/shop/thefightnerd View the Teespring store for Trek Untold gear & apparel- https://my-store-9204078.creator-spring.com Support Trek Untold by becoming a Patreon at Patreon.com/TrekUntold.Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating if you like us!Follow Trek Untold on Social MediaInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/trekuntoldTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/trekuntoldFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/trekuntoldFollow Nerd News Today on Social MediaTwitter: Twitter.com/NerdNews2Day Instagram: Instagram.com/NerdNewsToday Facebook: Facebook.com/NerdNewsTodayTrek Untold is sponsored by Treksphere.com, powered by the RAGE Works Podcast Network, and affiliated with Nerd News Today.

Paul Eiding played Ambassador Loquel on the seventh season Star Trek TNG episode, "Liaisons," but if you grew up in the 80s and 90s, you know him better as Perceptor from "Transformers," Colonel Roy Campbell in the Metal Gear Solid video game series, and Grandpa Max Tennyson in "Ben 10," among hundreds of other voiceover roles in cartoons, anime, and games. Besides telling us about his time in Trek, Paul explains how his time in the army led him towards acting, being a clown and improv performer, what he learned from Dudley Riggs' Brave New Workshop, and how a chance meeting with Gordon Hunt changed the course of his career and brought him into the world of animation. Plus, his time with Betty White on "The Golden Girls," "Martial Law" with Sammo Hung, delivering the line in the 1986 Transformers movie that broke a generation of kids' hearts, his unusual time working on the "Toxic Crusaders" cartoon, the most meaningful role he ever played, and performing with Anna Nicole Smith in "Skyscraper." Watch "Frank and Emmet" here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwWQ4gvDkRE&ab_channel=OmeletoPlease subscribe to our brand new YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@trekuntold . There, you will see all the old episodes of this show, as well as new episodes and all of our other content, including shorts and some other fun things planned for the future.Visit my Amazon shop to check out tons of Trek products andother things I enjoy - https://www.amazon.com/shop/thefightnerd View the Teespring store for Trek Untold gear & apparel- https://my-store-9204078.creator-spring.com Support Trek Untold by becoming a Patreon at Patreon.com/TrekUntold.Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating if you like us!Follow Trek Untold on Social MediaInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/trekuntoldTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/trekuntoldFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/trekuntoldFollow Nerd News Today on Social MediaTwitter: Twitter.com/NerdNews2Day Instagram: Instagram.com/NerdNewsToday Facebook: Facebook.com/NerdNewsTodayTrek Untold is sponsored by Treksphere.com, powered by the RAGE Works Podcast Network, and affiliated with Nerd News Today.

Take a dive into comedic history in this story about the beginnings of the Brave New Workshop. The Brave New Workshop was founded by a former circus former named Dudley Riggs. In the mid 20th century, a new kind of humor was taking the world by storm, and Riggs tapped into the zeitgeist of improvisation that had no limits. KFAI's Sheila Regan weaves together the voices of past and present company members, archival audio, and an interview with Riggs himself in this celebration of comedy that speaks to its time. MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI has been provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Katie Carter is an art lover and former arts reporter for Northern Community Radio. Recently, she made the drive to the Edge Center for the Arts in Bigfork, Minn., where she says she was blown away by Terry Leinbach's show “Wonder.” The show includes 39 large, abstract paintings, which Carter calls “a feast of texture and color” that offers layered imagery whose meaning and emotion seemed to evolve the longer she looked. Leinbach leaves room for this wonder-led interpretation: she numbers — but does not title — each piece. At the center of the gallery space are small wood block creations marked with words that invite the viewer to stop and contemplate. “It struck me in my cells, when I looked at her art,” Carter says. “It just had such a vibrancy and energetic-ness to it ... To me, her stuff could be right next to Helen Frankenthaler.” Leinbach lives near Blackduck, Minn. A retired Head Start teacher, she taught herself painting during the pandemic, working on large canvases repurposed from secondhand stores or stretched by her husband. “Wonder” runs through Sept. 30.  Jim Robinson is co-founder of Table Salt Productions and an alumnus of the Brave New Workshop. He's a big fan of writer and performer Josh Carson. Robinson is looking forward to seeing Carson's show “The (Almost) Complete and (Mostly) Accurate History of Alcohol" which opens Friday at Bryant Lake Bowl in Minneapolis.  Best known for co-creating “A Very Die Hard Christmas,” Carson has also dived into history to create plays on John Wilkes Booth and Nellie Bly, among others. This show explores the way alcohol has shaped our lives, causing — and occasionally solving — problems from ancient Greece through today. “You walk away from these shows breathless because they are so packed with comedy and information,” Robinson says. “He's a brilliant writer.” The show runs through Sept. 30. Poets & Pints marks its 100th show next Wednesday, and poet Charles Curry of Apple Valley says he “wouldn't miss it for the world.” The monthly poetry event takes place at Sisyphus Brewing. Curry describes it as "an exceptionally welcoming show for poets," fostering a friendly environment. Both seasoned and novice poets are invited to perform a wide array of styles, including formal and free verse poetry, as well as spoken word and rap.Poet Tony Plocido is the host and curator of the events. At a typical event, poets fill out a quick form ahead of time for an opportunity to present their work; an open mic follows the scheduled readers. The 100th show features Minnesota poets Shane Hawley, Thadra Sheridan, Joe Davis and Khary Jackson, as well as Shawn Pavey of Kansas City.  The nonprofit show is part of the League of Minnesota Poets, whose local chapter is Cracked Walnut. Shows take place on the third Wednesday of the month. Register to read at future events here. 

After two years on hiatus, the Brave New Workshop is back with their holiday show.  Actor Doug Neithercott tells us about the process of bringing the show back to the stage and what you can expect to see.

Jim Robinson has a dual career in psychology and improvisation. As a professor, he has taught Lifespan Development and Psychopathology at St. Catherine University and the University of St. Thomas. He's also an alumnus of the Brave New Workshop—the longest-running satirical comedy theater in the United States—and of the Off-Beat Comedy Club onboard the Disney Magic. Along with Dennis Curley and Rachael Flanery, Jim is a founding member of Table Salt Productions, an independent theater company in the Twin Cities dedicated to producing original works (https://tablesaltproductions.com). As a Fulbright Specialist, he worked with Islamabad's Theatre Wallay and taught his course “Improvisation and Mental Health” to various psychology training centers in Pakistan. Jim hails from Riverside, California.Links from the EpisodeJim's website: https://jimrobinsonmn.com/index.htmlUniversity of Minnesota's College of Continuing and Professional Studies: https://ccaps.umn.edu/The Theater of Public Policy: http://t2p2.net/Table Salt Productions: https://tablesaltproductions.com/Join the Twin Cities Wellness Collective™: https://www.tcwellnesscollective.com/

On this week's edition of Center Stage, Jearlyn speaks with: Brave New Workshop artistic director Caleb McEwen "Moulin Rouge!" performer Amy Quanbeck Singer/musician Chris Castino Singer/musician Becky Kapell

We are so excited to bring you our conversation with Emma Goldman-Sherman today! Emma Goldman-Sherman is a neurodivergent, genderqueer writer who believes in the power of theatre to confer healing and agency on audiences. Her plays have been produced on four continents and include Counting in Sha'ab, produced by Golden Thread and as a podcast at Playing On Air, and Abraham's Daughters. Her plays have finalized at BAPF, Bridge Initiative, Campfire, Cutting Ball, Henley Rose, and Unicorn. Emma earned an MFA from the University of Iowa, where she received three Norman Felton awards and the Richard Maibaum award for plays addressing social justice. Perfect Women, published and licensed by Next Stage Press, received the Jane Chambers Award. Emma has been a resident of the Millay Colony, Ragdale, and twice at WordBridge, where she also worked as a dramaturg. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild, Honor Roll, LPTW, and LMDA. Emma runs the Brave New Workshop for new play development through Brave Space. More resources: Emma's Work on New Play Exchange Emma's Twitter Brave Space Counting in Sha'ab at Playing on Air This episode was produced on the unceded ancestral territory of the Kiikaapoi, Peoria, Bodéwadmiakiwen, and Miami. This episode was edited by Emery Lade, with original intro and outro music by Marc Young. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/prints-unedited/support

Episode 63 and Wendi and Dfernando's guest interview is actress, writer and producer Melissa Peterman. Melissa Peterman is best known for her roles on the long-running comedy series REBA (as Barbra Jean) and the ABC Family/Freeform comedy BABY DADDY (as Bonnie Wheeler).  She currently can be see on the CBS comedy YOUNG SHELDON (as Brenda Sparks). Upon graduating from Minnesota State, Peterman was cast as Madeline Monroe in Hey City Theater's production of TONY N' TINA'S WEDDING. After more than 600 performances, she went on to write and perform at Brave New Workshop, the improvisational comedy theatre in Minneapolis. The theater boasts such alumni as Louie Anderson, Cedric Yarbrough, Mo Collins, and Al Franken. While with the Brave New Workshop, she also performed at the Chicago Improv Festival and the Big Stink Comedy Festival in Austin, Texas.While still in Minneapolis, Peterman made her feature film debut in 1996 as "Hooker #2" in the Oscar-winning classic Coen Brothers' film FARGO. Soon after, she decided on making the major move to Los Angeles where she quickly found work playing small roles on television.  Everything changed in 2001 when she was cast as Barbra Jean Booker-Hart in the now-classic comedy series REBA, opposite country music legend Reba McEntire and television veteran Christopher Rich. The series was the most-watched comedy on The WB on its debut season.  In 2007, the series ended its run after six seasons but continues to air in syndication on multiple networks and has continued to gain a new generation of fans. During her summer hiatus from REBA, Peterman began her now-annual THE SOUND OF MUSIC Sing-a-Long at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and her debut comedy special, Melissa Peterman: AM I THE ONLY ONE? premiered March 12, 2010 on CMT.  The special was taped before an audience in Nashville, Tennessee.In 2012, Peterman joined the ABC Family/Freeform sitcom BABY DADDY.  Originally cast for only one episode, she was upgraded to a series regular immediately.  The pilot was the highest-testing comedy pilot in the network's history and BABY DADDY finished its debut season as the highest-rated comedy in key demographics. The series ended on May 22, 2017, after six seasons.Along with her reoccurring role on CBS' YOUNG SHELDON, she is also a regular guest on the syndicated game show 25 WORDS OR LESS.In 2020, Peterman began co-hosting with her former REBA co-star Reba McEntire on a new podcast titled LIVING & LEARNING and works with The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company, a non-profit organization helping at-risk youth in the Los Angeles area.Also on Episode 63, Wendi and Dfernando are back and chat about Wendi's recent trip to Costa Rica, Dfernando's cat-sitting, and Wendi bringing on a coach to get her creative mojo back on track.  On THE RIPE REPORT, there's the Hulu Original Series ONY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez; the biopic THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE starring Oscar nominees Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield as Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker; and the film adaptation of the British musical hit EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE (click here to watch the original British stage production of EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE, starring John McCrea).  Also, Wendi shares a ROTTEN: Etsy sellers who pack their shipments with confetti.  Watch Wendi and Dfernando and their Team GENERATION RIPE: Greg Covey, Shelley McLendon and Ponciana Badia on Season 7 Episode 2 of CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD - now on ABC OnDemand and on the GENERATION RIPE website.  Follow us on our Instagram:Wendi McLendon-CoveyDfernando ZarembaGENERATION RIPE... and our guest Melissa Peterman, her Facebook and her Twitter.  Remember to subscribe, rate & leave a review for GENERATION RIPEVisit Dfernando Zaremba's website: dfernandozaremba.com

This week's storytellers are One-woman stunt show Martika, Sketch Improv Comedian Greg Triggs, Mario the Maker Magician, and mentalist Jonathan Pritchard. Here's what you'll hear this episode. Martika shares some touching experiences doing driveway shows during the pandemic, Greg shares a heartwarming moment with a 90 year old woman while performing at Disney World, Mario shares about a child juggler who opened his show and a special moment that meant so much to Mario, and Jonathan shares a couple fond memories having worked with The Amazing Randi.   Martika: Heartwarming experiences performing during the pandemic The first story is told by Martika, an international variety entertainer based in Kansas City, MO. and is the C.E.O. of KC Entertainment Services, LLC. Having left a career as a veterinary technician more than ten years ago, she's toured the world solo, performing fire art stunts, escapes, and other sideshow danger acts. In fact, she's Kansas City's only woman sword swallower, and the only one woman show of this kind in the Midwest! She also teaches a variety of workshops in these disciplines establishing her even further as an expert. In her story, Martika tells about some heartwarming experiences she's has while performing driveway shows during the pandemic.  Here's where you can find out more about Martika:  Martika's Website:  https://themartikashow.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/themartikashow/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/martikamd   Greg Triggs: Reminicing About Adventurers Club & Streetmosphere Performing at Disney World The second story is told by Greg Triggs, a show director, writer, and improv sketch artist who's appeared with top sketch comedy troupes like The Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis and the Who, What, and Warehouse at Disney's Comedy Warehouse at Walt Disney World in Orlando. In this story, Greg reminices about his times performing at the world famous Adventurer's Club and as a streetmosphere character both at Walt Disney World. Here's where you can find out more about Greg:  Greg's Website http://www.gregtriggs.com/ Broadway's Next Hit Musical http://www.broadwaysnexthitmusical.com/   Strategic Entertainment NYC http://www.strategicentertainmentnyc.com/    Mario the Maker Magician: A meaningful experience from a young juggler that opened for him The third story is told by Mario the Maker Magician, who's zaney family magic and hand built robotics have have garnered him an appearance on Sesame Street and a residency with Maker Magazine doing a fun digital live show for families. You may have also seen some of his crazy awesome magical robotic short videos on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. In his story, he tells about a meaningful moment from a young juggler that opened for him at a fair. Here's where you can find out more about Mario:  Mario's Website: http://www.mariothemagician.com/ Mario's Instagram: @mariothemagician  www.instagram.com/mariothemagician   Jonathan Pritchard: Remembering The Amazing Randi The final story is told by Jonathan Pritchard, a mentalist, author, speaker, and trainer who focuses on the power of applied psychology helping businesses improve their marketing, sales, and delivery. In his story, Jonathan recalls some fond memories having worked with James "Amazing" Randi. Here's where you can find out more about Jonathan: Jonathan's Website:  http://jonathanpritchard.me/   Elite University:  http://elite.university   Game of Imagination:  http://gameofimagination.com/     Share Your Own Stories!  Do you have comments, suggestions, or want to share your own stories? Drop me a line! performerstories@gmail.com   Exclusive Content!  Would you like exclusive content nobody else will hear? Consider supporting the shown on Patreon. You'll get the full interviews with each performer as I record them that includes all their stories all in one place with all the chat in between!   Facebook Group Come hang out in our Facebook Group! Click here to join and jump in the conversation!

In today's episode, Heather chats with Lisa Beth and Phoebe about their book “Mom Jokes: Like Dad Jokes, but Smarter”. The pair discusses how they came up with all the great jokes for the book, and their time writing the book in Phoebe's mother's basement during the beginning of quarantine. The pair wrote the book in hopes it would bring light and laughter to people, especially moms, raising children amid a pandemic. Heather also talks about raising kids and all the ins and outs of raising a boy vs a girl. Phoebe and Lisa Beth speak about what the future looks like for them both, their new endeavors, podcast and comedy shows.   About the Guest: Instagram - @phoebebottoms Twitter - @phoebebottoms Instagram - @peanut_lbj Twitter - @ladybirdj Meet the Guests: Lisa Beth Johnson grew up in Texas and attended college there. Lisa Beth graduated from the University of North Texas obtaining a bachelor's degree in English and Linguistics. After graduation, Lisa Beth worked as an editor and writer for many years until finding her true passions. Currently, Lisa Beth is a comedian, TV producer and a writer. She lives in LA full time while continuing her work as a producer and creating new comedy content for shows. Phoebe was originally raised in Minneapolis where she spent the first part of her life entrenched in theater. In 2006 she started performing improv at The Brave New Workshop, then studied with Second City founder Paul Sills, Upright Citizens Brigade and trained for the Henson Company's touring improv show Puppet Up! With Patrick Bristow. Then transitioning to primarily stand up in 2007, she produced notable shows in LA and New York, toured internationally and was featured in festivals such as Bridgetown, High Plains 10k Laughs the Jewish Humor Festival and Akumal Comedy Festival. Phoebe has also worked in film and television. This includes A Serious Man, the Adult Swim shows On Cinema and Decker, as well as MTV's Greatest Party Stories Ever. She was able to play a role on a Court TV show. She has even written and produced shorts featured on the Cannes Film Festival and has done ad campaigns for Fox, JASH, TimeHop and Oxiclean's Orange Glo International.   About the Host: Following the crumbs in the chaos is a full-time job. As a busy mom of three, a wife to a traveling hubby, and keeping it weird in Austin, Texas, it's safe to say that my life is never boring. In addition to running my coaching business as C'N'C's CEO, I'm a certified coach for a premier virtual fitness and nutrition program helping others feel better while sustaining a healthy lifestyle. My mom and dad are thrilled that I'm putting my Exercise Science degree to good use. Along with my experience training pro athletes, S.W.A.T. members, and a high school football team, I gained 10+ years of experience as the Director of Marketing building multiple court reporting companies. Lastly, I am a published writer, Content Coordinator, and Account Executive for a publication by Best Version Media. They even gave me a monthly “How to” column where I teach others how to be more self-sufficient with common household tasks. Every woman should know how their home functions and what to do if something malfunctions, man or no man. With my husband on the road, searching “How To” on the internet has transformed me into a “Mommy MacGyver”. “I don't know how you have the time.” “You're like a Supermom!” These are common things that people say, but the truth is that life hasn't always been easy or pretty. Even with the bumps, I always try to find the humor in everything because laughter is good for the soul and you should never take life too seriously….where's the fun in that?   https://chaosncookies.com/ https://www.instagram.com/heathersteinker (https://www.instagram.com/heathersteinker) https://www.facebook.com/heathersteinker (https://www.facebook.com/heathersteinker)...

This week's storytellers are improv comedian, writer, and show director Greg Triggs, One Woman Stunt Show Martika, Billboard topping pianist Tom Ameen, and Comedy Magician Shawn McMaster. This episode is a "grab bag" of stories, meaning that there's no central theme tying the stories together.   Greg Triggs: Reminicing About Adventurers Club & Streetmosphere Performing at Disney World The first story is told by Greg Triggs, a show director, writer, and improv sketch artist who's appeared with top sketch comedy troupes like The Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis and the Who, What, and Warehouse at Disney's Comedy Warehouse at Walt Disney World in Orlando. In this story, Greg reminices about his times performing at the world famous Adventurer's Club and as a streetmosphere character both at Walt Disney World. Here's where you can find out more about Greg:  Greg's Website http://www.gregtriggs.com/ Broadway's Next Hit Musical http://www.broadwaysnexthitmusical.com/  Strategic Entertainment NYC http://www.strategicentertainmentnyc.com/   Martika: Busking Encounter with a Parentless Kid The second story is told by Martika, an international variety entertainer based in Kansas City, MO. and the C.E.O. of KC Entertainment Services, LLC. Having left a career as a veterinary technician more than ten years ago, she's toured the world solo, performing fire art stunts, escapes, and other sideshow danger acts. In fact, she's Kansas City's only woman sword swallower, and the only one woman show of this kind in the Midwest! She also teaches a variety of workshops in these disciplines establishing her even further as an expert. In her story, Martika tells about a time she was busking and encountered a young child that appeared to be without his parents. This story also leads to a short discussion about some of the things she's had to deal with as a black woman in the variety entertainment space.  Here's where you can find out more info about Martika: Martika's Website https://themartikashow.com/ Instagram @themartikashow  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/martikamd   Tom Ameen: Becoming JJ Abrams' "Go To" Pianist The third story is told by Tom Ameen, a Billboard Topping Pianist who's collaborated with top names in the industry like Jim Brickman and has frequently performed at many of JJ Abrams' private events. He's well-known among the Disney fan community having arranged and performed wonderful renditions of Disney classics from the theme parks and the movies. His most recent album is Stories From The Sea (Inspired by “The Outlaw Ocean” a book by Ian Urbina which is out now and can be purchased and streamed wherever you listen to your music. In his story, Tom talks about how he ended up becoming JJ Abram's "go to" pianist for his private events. Here's where you can find out more about Tom: Tom's Website http://tomameenmusic.com/   Shawn McMaster: A Card Trick that went Completely Awry aka "Penny's Story" The fourth story is told by Shawn McMaster, a comedy magician who's unequaled blend of sophisticated magic and hilarious comedy has made him a highly sought-after act all over the world. His ability to blend the astonishing with the absurd has delighted countless audiences both here and abroad. Shawn tells about the time one of his signature performance pieces went completely awry on stage, in a story we like to lovingly refer to as "Penny's Story." Here's where you can find out more about Shawn: Shawn's Website http://shawnmcmaster.com/   Share Your Own Stories!  Do you have comments, suggestions, or want to share your own stories? Drop me a line! performerstories@gmail.com   Exclusive Content!  Would you like exclusive content nobody else will hear? Consider supporting the shown on Patreon. You'll get the full interviews with each performer as I record them that includes all their stories all in one place with all the chat in between!   Facebook Group Come hang out in our Facebook Group! Click here to join and jump in the conversation!

This week's storytellers are Greg Triggs, Edie, Ran'D Shine, Tom Ameen, and Suzanne. In this episode you'll hear stories about "Entertainers In Real Life." How our art can have a profound effect on people after the show is over, and entertainers having to perform after receiving difficult news.  You'll hear about an unexpected gesture of gratitude from someone who saw the previous night's show, a heartfelt letter to the cast of Cirque du Soliel's Zumanity, a mild stalker situation, and two stories about having to perform a show after receiving tough news…losing a loved one, and receiving a cancer diagnosis.  The first story comes from Greg Triggs, a show director, writer, and improv sketch artist who's appeared with top sketch comedy troupes like The Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis and the Who, What, and Warehouse at Disney's Comedy Warehouse in Orlando. Greg tells us about a time when having a great show helped him get his car fixed, a time when something he said rubbed an audience member the wrong way, and what he learned about being true to his audience.   The second story comes from Edie, a stage performer, dancer, and actor, most notably known for portraying the Emcee of Cirq du Soliel's Zumanity. In this story, Edie talks about when the cast of Zumanity received a touching, heartfelt letter from an audience member. The third storyteller is Ran'D Shine, the face of the new millennium magician who's magic has taken him around the world from Cape Town South Africa performing his one-man show, "Mysterious Ways," to Presidential Inauguration banquets at the White House. Listen to RanD talk about audience members that really believe the entertainers really have special powers, and how easy it is to pick up a stalker.  Our fourth story comes from Tom Ameen who is is a Billboard Topping Pianist that's collaborated with top names in the industry like Jim Brickman and has frequently performed at many of JJ Abrams' private events. His most recent album is Stories From The Sea (Inspired by “The Outlaw Ocean” a book by Ian Urbina which is out now and can be purchased and streamed wherever you listen to your music. In this short story, Tom talks about having to perform a concert just after losing a beloved pet.  Our final story comes from Suzanne. Suzanne is a wonderfully talented magician based in Minnesota. She's a favorite performer at the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, and fooled Penn & Teller on their show, Fool Us. In her story, she talks about having to perform a show after receiving a cancer diagnosis earlier that day.  Here's where you can find out more about this week's storytellers.  Greg Triggs Greg's Website Broadway's Next Hit Musical Strategic Entertainment NYC Edie Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube Ran'D Shine  randyshine.com Tom Ameen Tom's Website Tom's New Album Suzanne  SuzMagic.com Do you have comments, suggestions, or want to share your own stories? Drop me a line! performerstories@gmail.com Would you like exclusive content nobody else will hear? Consider supporting the shown Patreon. You'll get the full interviews with each performer as I record them that includes all their stories all in one place with all the chat in between! Come hang out in our new Facebook Group! Click here to join and jump in the conversation!

Wendi and Dfernando's fifteenth episode and their guest interview is with actor, comedian, voice artist and singer Cedric Yarbrough.  Known for his revered role of Deputy S. Jones on the now-classic comedy series RENO 911!, Cedric Yarbrough has been making people laugh for years. Past television credits for the Minneapolis native include SPEECHLESS as Kenneth Clements, THE GOLDBERGS as Vic, CAROL'S SECOND ACT as Nurse Dennis, RAKE, CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND, BALLERS, THE SOUL MAN, KEY AND PEELE, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM and DICE.For years he has appeared on the big screen, including the feature film THE BOSS, opposite Melissa McCarthy. Other credits include THE 40-YEAR OLD VIRGIN, MEET THE FOCKERS, GET SMART, FOUR CHRISTMASES, the animated film JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON TWO EARTHS and the Sundance favorite BLACK DYNAMITE.Having a powerful and distinctive voice, he is recognized for the role of Assistant District Attorney Tom Dubois and Colonel H. Stinkmeaner in the Peabody Award-winning series THE BOONDOCKS. He is also heard as Officer Meow Meow Fuzzyface in the series BOJACK HORSEMAN, as Gerald Fitzgerald on PARADISE PD, as well as Broccoli Guy in SKYLANDERS ACADEMY. Additionally he is the voice of Neil Degrasse Tyson in MIKE TYSON MYSTERIES. Other animated shows include FAMILY GUY, AMERICAN DAD, BLAZE AND THE MONSTER MACHINES, MILO MURPHY'S LAW as well as WE BARE BEARS.  Additionally, Cedric is proud to be a part of the long-running sensation THE BLACK VERSION, an improvised show that started at The Groundlings in 2010. The LA Times calls this show "A Winner" and Rolling Stone calls it a "Comedic A-Team."  He is also an alumnus of Dudley Riggs' Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis.  And Wendi and Dfernando discuss Britney Spears' trending Instagram postings, whipped coffee and the weekly RIPE & ROTTEN REPORT has Sam Wasson's acclaimed Bob Fosse biography FOSSE, lack of self-awareness, musician Cory Henry and Wendi's personal message to Mark Zuckerberg.  Follow us on our Instagram: Wendi McLendon-CoveyDfernando ZarembaGENERATION RIPE... and our guest Cedric Yarbrough, his Twitter and his Facebook page.  Remember to subscribe to GENERATION RIPEVisit Dfernando Zaremba's website: dfernandozaremba.com

Our goal in life is to be happy, yet so many of us allow other things in our lives to take precedence over the things that make us happy. Elena Imaretska, the Chief Innovation Officer of Brave New Workshop joins us to talk about how we can recognize the patterns of our happiness and bring … Continue reading Recognizing the Patterns of Happy →

“Be sure to laugh today” I think improv is an essential mindset for innovation and design. In this episode of The Iowa Idea Podcast, I sit down with John Sweeney. John, along with wife Jenni Lilledahl, are the co-owners of The Brave New Workshop (BNW). The Brave New Workshop is the nation's longest running satirical […]

In this episode, Minneapolis based Drag Queen, Lala Luzious chats with Minneapolis actor, writer, and director, Denzel Belin! They discuss the Denzel's career and the struggles of being black queer men Follow Denzel on his social Media Twitter: @from_washington Instagram:@from_washington   Learn more about The Brave New Workshop at https://www.bravenewworkshop.com/ Need another snack? Head on over to www.snacksizepodcast.com If you are a new listener to Snack Size, we would love to hear from you! Don’t be afraid to say hello at lala@snacksizepodcast.com Follow Snack Size: The Podcast on Twitter: @podcast_snack Follow Lala on Instagram: @lalaluzious Intro and Interlude Music for "Snack Size"  is Lioness (Instrumental) by DayFox https://soundcloud.com/dayfox

In this episode, you'll find a wonderfully engaging conversation between Jenni and Drew. Jenni is co-owner of the nation’s longest-running satirical comedy theatre, the Brave New Workshop, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jenni shares what was meaningful for her at the Process as well as how the Process is alive in her life today. She touches on her business and how the work she did at the Process helped her to navigate a difficult experience, as well as parenting and even the current pandemic we're facing. Find out more about Jenni here. Subscribe on iTunes

We’re happy to welcome Jon Pumper and Elise Joyce to the podcast. Jon has been creating and sharing piano covers/tutorials and comedy sketches on YouTube sine 2016. His channel has 129K subscribers and over 50 million views. Jon is also Musical Director at the Brave New Workshop comedy improv theater in Minneapolis. Elise Joyce is a film technician with production and camera credits on a number of projects for film and television including the Food Network show “Girl Meets Farm” and the award-winning 2017 feature thriller “Tolerance.” We talk about how to create online worship and some do's and don'ts. And Brian and Rebecca ask questions about creating in the midst of Covid-19 and other ideas.

Amy and Javier are joined again this week by Lauren Anderson of Brave New Workshop, and by Jeremy 'The Otter' Estensen. Iran, Iran, Iranna Danna. Lauren calls foul on more inside baseball discussion. And what's the deal with Beltrami County?  

Brian, Amy, and Javier are joined by Brave New Workshop's, Lauren Anderson. So we're pretty much getting into another war, right? It's Census time! Redistricting could be coming down the line. And what's with the recent Klobo-surge?

The gang is LIVE at the Great Minnesota Gettogether, and they're joined by Senator Karla Brigham, Brave New Workshop’s Lauren Anderson and comedian Brandi Brown to celebrate!

Episode 106: Building you tool box. This week my guest is comedian, Improvisor, & Brave New Workshop instructor, Sarah McPeck! We had a great conversation about learning new skills to add to your tool box, improv vs. Stand-up, formal training, and giving back to your community. Plus lots more! Please subscribe, rate & review!

John Sweeney is the author of Innovation at the Speed of Laughter: 8 Secrets to World Class Idea Generation, corporate keynote speaker, improvisational impresario, the actor known for his character Jiggly Boy, a brainstorming and innovation maniac, and the owner of the Brave New Workshop, an improvisational theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota for more than 20 years. More importantly, John is an accidental behavioral scientist. His worldview is based on observations he has made about human interactions in group settings and those interactions are, as you guessed, behaviorally based. John and his colleagues lead workshops on innovation that leverage principles from behavioral science and they do it with lots of laughter. In our conversation with John, we talked about things he’s passionate about. We talked about how his character, Jiggly Boy, that was created to raise awareness for Minnesota’s professional basketball team, became a conduit to raise money for the Smile Network, an international humanitarian organization that provides life-altering reconstructive surgeries. The 11 million YouTube hits have contributed, via a link on the Jiggly Boy page, to raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Smile Network. Very cool, indeed. John also shared stories about how an in-person knife throwing demonstration was used in pitching his book at a book buyer’s convention (talk about vividness!) and how he brings new and novel ideas to corporate clients. Aside from being gut-splitting funny, we discovered John shared important behavioral science principles to groove on after our conversation. One was the power of “Yes, and…” and how, with practice, it can become a way of life. Another was the importance of psychology safety and how it’s sorely missed in the corporate world today. The last topic we grooved on was the concept of how you practice improv when it is unpracticable and how we can use narrative to engage and persuade.  This episode was recorded LIVE during our Behavioral Grooves meetup at John’s theatre, the Brave New Workshop. We wanted to bring John’s outsized personality to life, so a live audience seemed most fitting and we are grateful that he offered up his theatre as the venue. Thank you to John, Renee Scott, Matthew Vichlach and Craig Anderson for their support. We laughed and laughed. A LOT. And we suspect you will, too. We hope you enjoy our conversation with John Sweeney.   Links John Sweeney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsweeneybrave/  Brave New Workshop: https://www.bravenewworkshop.com/  Motto: “Promiscuous hostility, positive neutrality.” Jiggly boy: http://www.jigglyboy.com/ Smile Network: http://www.smilenetwork.org/ Innovation at the Speed of Laughter: 8 Secrets to World Class Idea Generation, (2007) Aerialist Press.  https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-Speed-Laughter-Generation-Paperback/dp/0976218437/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549486513&sr=8-1&keywords=innovation+at+the+speed+of+laughter Brainstorming: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainstorming According to Wikipedia, “…brainstorming is a situation where a group of people meet to generate new ideas and solutions around a specific domain of interest by removing inhibitions.” A dozen top websites echo this requirement to remove inhibitions, but none really address it. Sweeney does. Yes, and…: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes,_and... On role-playing and brainstorming: “Take it to the next stage: the roles of role-playing in the design process” by Kristian T. Simsarian, IDEO (2003) published in CHI '03 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pages 1012-1013. https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=766123  Role-playing is complementary to traditional design techniques providing additional team dynamics and insights that bring the process and designs to another level.  Project Aristotle: https://rework.withgoogle.com/print/guides/5721312655835136/ Bell, David A., “Regret in Decision Making Under Uncertainty,” Operations Research Society of America, 1982. http://www.people.hbs.edu/dbell/regret%20in%20decison%20making%20.pdf Davis, Miles: Kinda Blue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fC1qSxpmKo Or, if you can, check out the 1997 reissue of the record featuring an alternative version of “Flamenco Sketches” to compare to the one released on the original 1959 recording. This comparison provides great insight into the tremendous improvisational power of Davis and his talented band. Dr. Dimento: https://www.drdemento.com/ Dr. Science: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KUEg8rwzUA Kurt and Tim help companies positively apply behavioral insights into their organizations - let's have a conversation about how we can help your company. You can reach us at Kurt@lanterngroup.com or Tim@behavioralchemy.com. We’d love to help your organization improve your bottom line with a behavioral lens. Subscribe at: https://behavioralgrooves.podbean.com/   

In this episode three transplants to our state discuss topics ranging from Minnesota Nice to racism to political change. With: comedian and actor Miss Shannan Paul (from Arizona); Shauen Pearce, Mayor Frey’s director of economic development and inclusion policy (from Chicago); and Elena Imaretska, the Brave New Workshop’s director of innovation (from Bulgaria).

Denzel Belin joins Andy to talk about impostor syndrome and finding his way through the Performance Art worldDENZEL BELINSeattle-born graduate of St. Olaf College, Denzel Belin is a director, actor, writer, and improviser currently based in Minneapolis, MN. His work ranges from comedy to drama and has a strong interest in new work development and production. He has worked with Uprising Theater Company, Phoenix Theater, Gadfly Theater as well as various other companies in the Twin Cities area.​He is a cast member on the mainstage at The Brave New Workshop and works as an actor/presenter at the Science Museum of Minnesota. In 2017, Denzel joined the Minnesota Tonight writing and performing cast. twitter: from_washingtoninstagram: from_washingtonYOUR HOSTI'm Andy Mattfield, a comedian, writer, and am finally putting my psychology degree to good use. You can find show updates and my comedy musings at www.andymattfield.com. Follow me on social media below. Thanks for listening! twitter: mattfailedinstagram: mattfailedsnapchat: ohswellyoutube: https://www.youtube.com/user/anders1017

Denzel Belin joins Andy to talk about impostor syndrome and finding his way through the Performance Art world DENZEL BELIN Seattle-born graduate of St. Olaf College, Denzel Belin is a director, actor, writer, and improviser currently based in Minneapolis, MN. His work ranges from comedy to drama and has a strong interest in new work development and production. He has worked with Uprising Theater Company, Phoenix Theater, Gadfly Theater as well as various other companies in the Twin Cities area. ​ He is a cast member on the mainstage at The Brave New Workshop and works as an actor/presenter at the Science Museum of Minnesota. In 2017, Denzel joined the Minnesota Tonight writing and performing cast. twitter: from_washington instagram: from_washington YOUR HOST I'm Andy Mattfield, a comedian, writer, and am finally putting my psychology degree to good use. You can find show updates and my comedy musings at www.andymattfield.com. Follow me on social media below. Thanks for listening! twitter: mattfailed instagram: mattfailed snapchat: ohswell youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/anders1017

Denzel Belin joins Andy to talk about impostor syndrome and finding his way through the Performance Art worldDENZEL BELINSeattle-born graduate of St. Olaf College, Denzel Belin is a director, actor, writer, and improviser currently based in Minneapolis, MN. His work ranges from comedy to drama and has a strong interest in new work development and production. He has worked with Uprising Theater Company, Phoenix Theater, Gadfly Theater as well as various other companies in the Twin Cities area.​He is a cast member on the mainstage at The Brave New Workshop and works as an actor/presenter at the Science Museum of Minnesota. In 2017, Denzel joined the Minnesota Tonight writing and performing cast. twitter: from_washingtoninstagram: from_washingtonYOUR HOSTI'm Andy Mattfield, a comedian, writer, and am finally putting my psychology degree to good use. You can find show updates and my comedy musings at www.andymattfield.com. Follow me on social media below. Thanks for listening! twitter: mattfailedinstagram: mattfailedsnapchat: ohswellyoutube: https://www.youtube.com/user/anders1017

Episode 41: Our guest is John Gebretatose! John rose from the ranks of a HUGE Improv Theater student, to a HUGE Improv instructor. He trained and worked at Brave New Workshop. He has performed stand-up comedy in the Twin Cities for over nine years. He is currently part of one of the hottest new improv groups, Blackout, and also a founding member of Late Nights Minneapolis With Joe Rapp. John has taught improv workshops internationally, coached improv groups and currently teaches at HUGE in addition to heading up diversity and inclusion programs. He is the founder and creator of the Black and Funny Improv Festival

Andrew Wegleitner drops by the Magnodome to talk Burger King, Experimental Thinking at Brave New Workshop, and finishing 2nd or 3rd in most comedy competitions

“Often times an assumption of most people is that I am white.” Taj Ruler talks about being bi-racial but mostly being perceived as white. She talks about the differences between time in her mother's house where Sri Lankan culture was prominent and in her father's house SpaghettiOs where more common and explains the feeling of not quite fitting in either space. Taj talks about her own, ongoing quest to understand her identity. And she explains the challenges of being a person of color who doesn't fit into the black/white dichotomy that often dominates conversations of race. Taj Ruler is an actor, improviser, voice over artist, comedy writer and teacher in the Twin Cities. She has performed at Pillsbury House Theatre, Mixed Blood Theatre, The Playwrights’ Center, HUGE and the Brave New Workshop. Taj studied improvisation at the Groundlings in Los Angeles and Second City in Chicago. 

“By having a plan B, it weakens your plan A.” Kory LaQuess Pullam was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. He earned his BFA at Stephen F. Austin State University in 2013. Leaving the collegiate nest, Kory moved to Chicago and worked with Raven Theatre, Light Opera Works, The Gift Theatre, and Porchlight Music Theatre in their Jeff-nominated production of Pal Joey. Since moving to the Twin Cities, he's worked with Guthrie Theater, Children's Theatre Company, Pillsbury House + Theatre, Park Square Theatre, History Theatre, Brave New Workshop, Walking Shadow Theatre Company, Theatre Pro Rata, HUGE Improv Theater, Minneapolis Musical Theatre, and Paul Bunyan Playhouse. Kory is a founding member of Blackout Improv, the premier Black comedy troupe in the Twin Cities. Also, Kory is founding artisric director of Underdog Theatre. He makes his Ten Thousand Thing's Theatre debut as Perkich in Fiddler On The Roof this winter. Keep up with Kory on social media platforms: @laquess      

This week on Solcanacast Lucia and Hannah bring on the delightful human that is Lauren Anderson, actor with Brave New Workshop, improvisor at Huge Theater and so, so, so much more. Tune in to learn about how Lauren came to join Solcana Fitness, what brought her to a path of finding and embracing her health […] The post Lauren Anderson | You Have A Body Podcast: Episode 18 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.

Featuring inside information on the Minnesota State Fair, Nicollet reconstruction, Minnesota Vikings, U.S. Bank's Community Possible Tour, Minnesota Renaissance Festival, Brave New Workshop's "Lady and the Trump", Minnesota History Center's "Gridiron Glory" and the Selfie Sweepstakes! For further event information visit minneapolis.org/insider Music: http://www.bensound.com

“Although I fly the flag for ‘yes, and' it's okay to say no.”   Madde and Levi have known each other for a number of years. Which is part of why this episode is full of silly bits and goofy nonsense. But Madde also talks about relationships, making work, living in new cities and where she is in her life. Madde also talks improv theory, working in education and shares a bit about her new project “Down & Out.”   Madde Gibba is a New York-based actor and comedy writer who most recently could be found slinging funny haha's on the high seas with Second City Theatricals. She is a contributor to the online satirical magazinereductress.com and regularly writes and performs all over the country. Originally from Minnesota, she has performed at Tony Award-winning theaters such as The Guthrie and Children's Theater Company and is an alumni of the country's oldest satirical comedy theater Brave New Workshop. In addition to the stage, Madde co-hosted Mike and Madde, a weekend arts and entertainment radio program on MyTalk107.1, and was featured in a small role in the critically-acclaimed indie film Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter (appearing at SxSW and Sundance Festivals in 2015). Madde has toured the US with her original sketch comedy shows, Comedy Sportz, and her improvised rock concert Madde Gibba: Does Not Play Well With Others--which has appeared at both the Chicago Improv Festival and New York Musical Improv Festival. 

Margi Simmons and Elena Imaretska - two brilliant and creative speakers - both call the Brave New Workshop their professional home. The Brave New Workshop is an improv theater that may sound familiar to you because they are famous for being the longest running improv comedy troupe in the country. Super cool, since Margi spent years on that stage. And Elena spent years dancing and performing. They both have respective chops as performers and creative leaders that make them "expert." But they also do this work because they believe something much deeper happens when we take the risk and step out on stage. The skills and mindset and courage that improvisors are challenged to show are the same skills that can help us become great leaders - and, of course, great speakers. So, I got to sit down with them both at the BNW's new amazing space (so, sorry for the echoey sound) - and talk about how we can take the innovative mindset out on stage with us.

Elliot and Vince McNally journey to Yeehaw, WY, home to the nation's least attended rodeo, but largest community of rodeo clowns. And, they're joined by one of them: the incomparable Peter Petersbirth.

Vince and Elliot McNally travel to Checkers, NV, a town with the world's largest high-stakes checkers community, and talk with premiere checkers athlete, Hank Apron.

“I think everybody IS the same.” Artistic Director of Star Studios at Children’s Hospital Eriq Nelson talks about being an actor, improviser, instructor and using the performing arts to make real human connections. He talks about his work at the Brave New Workshop as well as at Interact Center for the visual and performing arts and […]

Matthew Craig is a professional improvisor, actor, writer, and director. He is an alum of The Second City in Chicago, having performed in their Resident Company for over three years on both their Mainstage and their ETC theaters. He spent several years traveling the world with their touring company and has worked for their corporate training division as a writer/ performer/ instructor/ director for over fifteen years. Matt began his career at Washington University with the troupe Mama's Pot Roast. Previous theater credits include The Annoyance, iO, iOWest, Disney Cruise Lines, Brave New Workshop, The Second City Touring Company, The Second City ETC, and The Second City Mainstage. Matt fills his days with occasional commercial, voiceover, and television work, appearing on “The Office,” “According to Jim,” and on “Mobbed”, where Matt, an ordained minister, marries unsuspecting couples. He teaches improvisation and sketch writing at Second City Hollywood and performs all about town with his two-man improv group FrankenMatt. (www.frankenmatt.com) Most recently, Matt worked as a writer on “Saturday Night Live” during the 2010-2011 season. He currently resides in Los Angeles. Also, I went to school with him and he thought my dad was like Mike Brady.

On the weekend of April 26th/27th we conducted our first Zenprov weekend intensive at the Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis. The Brave New Workshop or BNW as it is known, is the oldest improv theater in the country (that's right, older than Second City) and it's teaching arm, The Brave New Institute, places a high value on organic improv. At end of the weekend workshop we sat down for an hour with the students and teachers of BNW and the result is this Podcast. Enjoy. P.S.- If you would like to arrange for us to come and do a workshop in your town please contact us at info@ChicagoImprovAssociates.com Chicago Improv Associates

Tom Gibis of Knife Fight tells me about his long history in improvisation, his work in the Brave New Workshop, and being on stage with Chris Farley. Then we dive into initiation.