Podcasts about improvised shakespeare

There are two Matts on this show! But only for a second, then one Matt turns back into PushingUpRoses. We talk about a ridiculous YouTuber-inspired creationist movie, Improvised Shakespeare, and trying to manifest a meet-cute. But, settle in folks, because the bulk of this episode is a break-down and basically gush-fest about the new(ish) adventure from Postmodern Games, The Dark Rites of Arkham. And now, we're both huge HP Lovecraft fans. Sorry...Games Discussed: Mina the Hollower Shovel Knight Banjo Kazooey Hollow Knight: Silksong Nightmare Frames An English Haunting The Dark Rites of Arkham Dreams in the Witch House Darkside Detective Call of the Sea Call of the Elder Gods Shadow of the Comet Chronicle of Innsmouth The Terrible Old Man DredgeEmail us! mattandroses@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/fPv7hRgTeVFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/saveyourgamepodcast

What is it like to create a Shakespeare play that's never been written—and will never be performed again? The Improvised Shakespeare Company is a long-running ensemble that performs entirely unscripted plays in the style of Shakespeare. Founded in Chicago in 2005, the company has spent two decades building a devoted following through performances in the United States and internationally. In this episode, Blaine Swen, the company's founder, and Ross Bryant discuss how their performances take shape in real time, beginning with a single audience-suggested title and unfolding into a full-length play that will never be repeated. Drawing on techniques from long-form improvisation and a deep familiarity with Shakespeare's language, structure, and themes, the ensemble creates stories that balance poetry, comedy, spontaneity, and lots of fun. They reflect on what makes Shakespeare particularly well-suited to improv, from his larger-than-life characters and emotional intensity to the flexibility of his language and cultural references. They also explore the mechanics of their process—how they listen, build on each other's ideas, and embrace mistakes as opportunities—and why committing fully to the moment often leads to the most surprising and meaningful results. From the Shakespeare Unlimited podcast. Published April 6, 2026. © Folger Shakespeare Library. All rights reserved. This episode was produced by Matt Frassica. Garland Scott is the executive producer. It was edited by Gail Kern Paster. Technical support was provided by Voice Trax West in Studio City, California. Web production was handled by Paola García Acuña. Transcripts are edited by Leonor Fernandez. Final mixing services were provided by Clean Cuts at Three Seas, Inc. Ross Bryant is a writer/performer from North Carolina. Ross is a performer on Dropout.tv and can be seen regularly at the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater in Los Angeles. Ross also tours the country and performs monthly at The Largo in LA with The Improvised Shakespeare Company. Ross began performing in Chicago where was a member of the resident cast of The Second City Mainstage. Ross is a writer for Mystery Science Theater 3000, and has co-written original television pilots for Pop TV, Warner Bros and the Showtime network. TV credits include The Good Place (NBC), Crashing (HBO), and I Think You Should Leave (Netflix). Ross also the host of the horror/comedy/improv podcast Push the Roll with Ross Bryant. Instagram: @rossbb Blaine Swen is the creator and director of The Improvised Shakespeare Company®. He is a writer/actor based in Nashville where you can catch him in the two-person improvised musical Erica & Blaine. Blaine also performs regularly in Chicago where the Chicago Reader named him the “Best Improviser in Chicago.” His iO Chicago credits include the two-person group Blessing with Susan Messing and the one-person improvised musical BASH! Additional Chicago stage credits include Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pegasus Players Theatre, The Back Room Shakespeare Project, and The Second City. He has appeared on Dropout.tv and has developed original pilots with NBC, Universal Cable Productions, and Pop TV. You can hear him as Arnor the Warrior on the podcast Hello, from the Magic Tavern. Blaine also has a PhD in philosophy from Loyola University, Chicago. Instagram: @blaine_swen

Spring has sprung! This month we chatted with the hilarious ladies of the Improvised Shakespeare Company, Beth Melewski and Sayjal Joshi. We talk about how they started with Improv Shakes Co., what it’s like to perform for them, and all the silliness in between! https://linktr.ee/untamedshrewspodcast Starring…Hannah JohnsonBecki ZaritskyBeth MelewskiSayjal Joshi Produced and edited by Hannah Johnson Show art by Calliope Luedeker […]

Chicago's Improvised Shakespeare Company celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025, and founder/director Blaine Swendiscusses the company's humble origins and how it now performs regularly in Chicago and Los Angeles and tours all across America. Blaine shares performing secrets; the nature of the high-wire act of improvising in iambic pentameter; how this stuff can be learned; how several of every performance's signature moments began as an attempt to solve a technical problem; and how the audience is the key ingredient to the alchemical magic that makes each performance work. (Length 19:39) The post Improvised Shakespeare Company appeared first on Reduced Shakespeare Company.

Get this full episode and support the pod! ⁠Join our Patreon ⁠for $3 a month for full episodes an $5 bonus eps, back log eps, and exclusive premium content!⁠Join the Discord community⁠Dive into our discord channel to connect with fellow fans, discuss your favorite episodes, and meet the hosts of the show!This week on the pod we have the FUDGECAST debut of Mike Jimerson and the return of our pal Farrell Walsh! We chat'n'prov about bowling, drink pairings, one holers and more! Check out Farrell's new cool ass bar in Chicago, The Western. See Mike in Improvised Shakespeare and follow him on socials for word on The Orbit. Also we realized we've had back to back to back Spider-Woman Jemma Nicole scene requests and I think because of the order of our recordings and releases it just happened that way! So thank you Spider-Woman Jemma Nicole for your continued banger scene requests and we'll be a little more conscious of spreading folks scene requests out!

Welcome to the second HOLE of SEASON TWO. Today's Holes: Improvised Shakespeare Waiting for Godot, Guffman, Lefty, etc. Unintentionally Scary Children's T.V. Shows BIT player Amber takes us on a journey that opens on Improvised Shakespeare and culminates with Twin Peak's pain and suffering symbol - creamed corn. Who knew? Flannery confesses her love for Beckett's Waiting for Godot, which triggers Luke to recall a Tempest performance with only three actors. This leads to a slightly morbid tale of Amber's grandmother saying goodbye from her hospice bed but then asking for a tuna fish sandwich. Finally, Luke tries to convey that the early muppets were very "weird," triggering Thea's memories of a dark and horrifying Norwegian children's T.V. show (Pompel og Pilt) where one puppet never finds the other and meets a broom.  This episode features many celebrity "sightings," including George Lucas, David Lynch, Dale Cooper*, Ross Bryant, Cookie Monster, Kermit the Frog, and the Bard himself! I can't give it all away here in the notes!  APOLOGIES: Creamed corn, the celebs listed above, Jim Henson and the Muppets (for at least the third time), Kyle Merritt MacLachlan (no relation), Chat Shows, Italy, Norway (sorry, Thea), The Nutcracker,  puppets, and Diabetes. As always, rabbitHOLE is unscripted and inspired by the CREW's real-life rabbit hole adventures. If you enjoy rabbitHOLE, follow, rate, and share it with your friends! DIRECTOR/CREATOR:  Billy Merritt EDITOR: Hill Kane CAST:  Dean Aisles Konrad Andrew Terry Armstrong Amber Bellsdale Luke Bovard Don Slovin Jason Spiro Lisa Steckman Thea Marie Thorkildsen Katya Vasilaky Flannery Wilson "rabbitHOLE" Improv is part of The BIT Comedy Network. Production Assistance, Audio Production, & Graphic Art by Hill Kane of Raising Kane Media + Marketing. MUSIC: "Shark Bait" performed by Little Kahunas | Produced by Peter Miller ©  Hosting Platform: Libsyn.com "The BIT" and "The BIT Comedy Network" are Trademarks owned by Billy Merritt ©2025 Billy Merritt - All Rights Reserved Inquiries + Notices + Requests: TheBitComedyNetwork@gmail.com

The Village of Lisle's own Zach Thompson (Comedy Sportz, Improvised Shakespeare) gives us a tour of his town for the third ep of our 2024 Get Your Ass Out the Door Tour! We pop our bottles to his favorite  watering hole, the Bubblehouse Brewing Company! He reveals why it's worth it to become a member,  how to speak to pizza, and the joys of a 17-stop flight. He then takes us to his house for some surprise guests and a tropical Oh Boy Extra drinks! Brought to you by Littlefoot Coffee Roasters! Use promo code "POPPOP" to save 20% off your order.  Visit our Merch closet at https://poppinbottles.threadless.com!

The Village of Lisle's own Zach Thompson (Comedy Sportz, Improvised Shakespeare) gives us a tour of his town for the third ep of our 2024 Get Your Ass Out the Door Tour! We pop our bottles to his favorite  watering hole, the Bubblehouse Brewing Company! He reveals why it's worth it to become a member,  how to speak to pizza, and the joys of a 17-stop flight. He then takes us to his house for some surprise guests and a tropical Oh Boy Extra drinks! Brought to you by Littlefoot Coffee Roasters! Use promo code "POPPOP" to save 20% off your order.  Visit our Merch closet at https://poppinbottles.threadless.com!

Amir and Marika join Geoff to discuss the Geoffardy livestream, Jake's inner life, and "grunty."Advertise on The Headgum Podcast via Gumball.fmRate The Headgum Podcast 5-stars on Apple PodcastsRate The Headgum Podcast 5-stars on SpotifyJoin the Headgum DiscordSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Ross Bryant (Dropout, MST3k, Improvised Shakespeare) joins the pod to discuss a series of devilish dealings sweeping Rivervale. Join co-hosts Sara Caplan and Omar Najam and Producer Azrael as they attempt to ferry Ross safely through Episode 3. Will Ross make it through with his soul intact? Or will he be dragged kicking and screaming to the bowels of Hell? Tune in to find out!

Billy and Adam talk powerful love songs. In this episode they try to discuss the top power ballads according to a radio station in Tampa Bay but get sidetracked talking about Amelia Earhart getting eaten by crabs, their friend Jen getting wet, Improvised Shakespeare, Adam's new SportsCenter commercial and more. Plus, fake power ballads by fake bands The Daddy Rangers and Flat!Theme: Send Medicine - Way to the SeaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the second to last episode, James and Rob are joined by local man Bryan Duff!   They talk with Bryan about his start in Chicago, Improvised Shakespeare, Baby Wants Candy, rough auditions, and how everytime you're out they pull you back in.    Follow Bryan on twitter @ bryanevansduff and check out his podcast 15 Minutes with Lincoln   Want to share some improv advice? Email us at Talkingshopshow@gmail.com   Like what we do? Support our PATREON   As always, please rate, review, and subscribe. 

You can now support us on Patreon!At long last, the boys cover Hank Williams Sr., the "Hillbilly Shakespeare" himself. This week Danny and Tyler are joined by Greg Hess (@heygreghess, MEGA Podcast, Live from Here, Improvised Shakespeare) to discuss Hank Williams' final recorded song before his untimely passing. Is "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" dark comedy country? A knowing farewell? Straight up cursed? Or perhaps one of the most Buddhist country songs ever recorded? All of the above? We dig in to find out, plus we talk about a lot of other fun stuff, including (but not limited to) our theories on the evolution of pop country, ideal child names, and Hoobastank. This is a real fun one!You've probably heard "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and "Move It On Over" just from being alive and in the world, but we have a few other Hank Sr. recommendations for you!Hey Good Lookin'Mansion On A HillYour Cheating HeartI Could Never Be Ashamed of YouJumbalaya (On The Bayou)Honky Tonkin'My Bucket's Gotta Hole In ItHowlin' At The MoonRockin' Chair MoneyI Saw The LightFollow the link to keep up with which songs are being added to our Ultimate Country Playlist on Spotify, now including the "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive": https://tinyurl.com/takethispodplaylist And now on TIDAL!https://t.co/MHEvOz2DOAFor everything else:https://linktr.ee/takethispodandshoveit

As we wrap our month of anniversary shows Adam heads to Scotland to talk to Ronald, MacLeod, and Witch 54 (The Improvised Shakespeare Company's Blaine Swen, Joey Bland, Ross Bryant) to learn about the Macbeth administration and to field his own offer of leading the Scots. For more information about The Improvised Shakespeare, go to https://www.improvisedshakespeare.com -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @MyDeadNeighbors Instagram: @MyNeighborsAreDead Email: MyNeighborsAreDead@gmail.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/myneighborsaredead Merchandise: TeePublic Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Mopey podcaster Jess uncovers a holographic Shakespearian world to find true love. Host: Jess* Featured Shakespearian players: Thompson & Bela With Camila   An early work, and a favorite finally released. Recorded 7/26/2021. Cross posted from Roundabout Shakespeare   *of Improv MKE, Casino Improv, Queen City Comedy        

If these easy audio formats inspire your AudioProv journey, give Introverted Improvisers a shout-out, or better yet, connect with us!! Our improvisers work hard to give you a great listen, and Camila is always hard at work to expand the audio realm in imagination and outreach. Introductory Formats specifically developed for i_i & audio with skill targets: Underground Bunker (grounded scenework with sense of magical realism) Cloud 9 & Graveyard (world building, game, heightening, pacing) Circles of Hell (Cloud 9 but harder) Wedding Reception (character) Overpriced Department Store - i-i attempting improv classic of montage in a location and your options are limitless when you choose your own focus & a scenario catering to that improv skill! Be sure to check out our advanced forms: Fables/Narrative, Monoscenes, Mockumentaries, and Improvised Shakespeare!  IntrovertedImprovisers.com Accompanying Blog Post

There is no Pt. 1 for a greyscale town losing vitality; a visitor provides hope...or does she? Our spoooooky episode has a "delicious" guest star, Alyssa Lupo-Zulueta as "Isabella"!  Cast: Alyssa, Bela, Camila*, Jess O' Neill**, Thompson *of Introverted Improvisers **of Improv MKE, Casino Improv, Queen City Comedy For more totally improvised Shakespeare: Roundabout Shakespeare  

Stoners reveal a channeling of Billy Shakespeare's rad new text.   With: Thompson, Camila, Jess O'Neill*, Bela   *of Casino Improv, Queen City Comedy, and Improv MKE

Roundabout Shakespeare gets poetic when Nature favors life over love.   With: Thompson (host), Camila, Jess O'Neill*, Bela   *of Casino Improv, Improv MKE, and Queen City Comedy

This week, James and Rob are joined by improviser, writer, game director Brooke Breit! They talk with Brooke about her time on Second City's ETC Stage, Reality TV, baking, working at JackBox Games, Improvised Shakespeare, raising children, and so much more. Names are dropped in this episode!   Following Brooke on twitter @ brookebreit and look out for the new JackBox Party Pack   Like what we do? Support our PATREON   As always, please rate, review, and subscribe.

Ryan Patterson is an Improviser, Producer and Teacher. He is one of the founders of Soothplayers, and performs regularly in their Improvised Shakespeare show as well as their Improvised Harry Potter show. In this episode we talk about listening like a thief to your team mates and mining their scene work for nuggets to use later in the show. The Improv Conspiracy is one of Australia's premiere improv comedy theatres. Hosted by Broni Lisle, the Improv Conspiracy podcast features weekly guests talking about a little corner of improv philosophy or practice that they are passionate about. The perfect extra curricular companion to the Improv Conspiracy's training program, while also being a useful resource for improvisers the world over. For information on classes and live shows head to http://improvconspiracy.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, James and Rob are joined by one of the best: Katie Klein! We talk about The Late 90s, Virgin Daiquiri, business improv, Super Human, Improvised Shakespeare, and so much more.   Follow Katie on instagram @ kajklein   Check out Lantern Comedy Collective and Super Human Collective.   Like what you hear? Help us and other Devil's Daughter Podcasts by supporting our PATREON.   As always, please rate, review, and subscribe. 

Ric Walker has performed with Improvised Shakespeare Company for 15 years and is the director of Chicago cast. He is also a professor at Columbia College in Chicago, where he teaches improv, sketch and stand-up. Jimmy talks to him about Improvised Shakespeare, why emotions are our friend in our scene work, and his thoughts on improving diversity in improv.  

Chicago friend Andy Carey (HBO's Barry, Improvised Shakespeare) drops by to talk about pop culture nostalgia, the Improvised Shakespeare Company, and give Adam some hip hop recommendations before we are introduced to a mutli-hyphenate namesake and mayor of Bixby, Nevada who experienced quite the Graboid probem. -- SHOW INFORMATION Twitter: @MyDeadNeighbors Instagram: @MyNeighborsAreDead Email: MyNeighborsAreDead@gmail.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify

Greetings! Tread lightly, adventurers--there is a BULL IN A CHINA SHOP and we dare not wake him! Podcast wizard MATT YOUNG (Hello From The Magic Tavern, Improvised Star Trek, Improvised Shakespeare) joins us to help slay the beast. Have at you!ALSO IN THIS EPISODE: Benfamin Oldsmobile! Welcome to The Dustbeen! Acid piss! BONUS SEGMENT: ANOTHER POSTCARD! Get yourself some IABD shirts! Wear a logo on your chest!: https://www.teepublic.com/user/itsallbeendonepodcastCatch us on the 'net!:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1593559714014720Twitter: @beendonepodThanks to The Orange Groves (theorangegroves.com) for hosting us. Subscribe to their Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theorangegroves and join their discord: https://discordapp.com/invite/GdTsg8C !

Hey!! It's the debut episode of a podcast that lasts as long as a pot of coffee takes to make-literally!!! Please join host Johnny Winjoe as he regales us with tales as basic as his morning brew.

Hey!! It's the debut episode of a podcast that lasts as long as a pot of coffee takes to make-literally!!! Please join host Johnny Winjoe as he regales us with tales as basic as his morning brew.

On this week's episode, James and Rob sit down with Andy Junk. Though they are not drunk on a trunk, they do talk about marketing yourself, jealousy, Improvised Shakespeare, Harold teams, cockney slang, and the excursion into the intuitive.    See Andy live on stage with The Improvised Shakespeare Company every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at iO Chicago. And follow him on twitter @ TheRealAndyJunk   As always, please rate, review, and subscribe!

I realized that after four episodes, I still hadn't told Abe that our current President is a black man. So I invited my friend John Thibodeaux (3Peat, Improvised Shakespeare) to inform President Lincoln about black culture, Lemonade, and pornography.

Welcome to another fantastic episode of Word With Friend! Today's guest is Ross Bryant (Improvised Shakespeare) and his extensive knowledge of Duck Tales. Julian and Ross  discuss Ross' old radio job, favorite burgers, and PECULIAR. Find out what Ross is a collector of, what happened when Ross got rid of facebook, and Julian attempts to turn Ross onto Snapchat.       Remember friends, leave reviews of WWF on iTunes! We love hearing from you! Ross Bryant is a rapper, writer, comedian, and artist living in Los Angeles. Catch him at an Improvised Shakespeare show! Follow him on instagram!   Follow Ross Follow Word With Friend Follow Julian  

It's fitting Matt chose to talk about board games because I think this episode has the fun and enthusiasm of sitting down for a rousing game with friends.  Matt tells the best stories and so aptly applies his love of board games to his job with gamification AND to his passion for improv in the search for the game and beyond.  This is an excellent ep especially for fellow gamers and follows Klingon Christmas Carol's Christopher Kidder-Mostrom well as Matt is a member of Improvised Star Trek (and Improvised Shakespeare).  Play it, my babies! Notes: The creator of Settlers of Catan is, indeed, Klaus Teuber. NogginLabs, where Matt works. Jane McGonigal's TED Talks The Cones of Dunshire from Parks and Recreation THIS is what Matt referred to that gamers figured out. VERY cool.

Chicago improv superstar (his words) Josh Logan from Michael Pizza and Improvised Shakespeare joins Xander and Ben for some delicious beer, discussion of his controversial new one man show, and we learn that, with a little brown hair dye, he could steal Ben's life and no one would notice. Also there are a whole bunch of Germans.  A gaggle.