Podcasts about steel city improv theater

Recorded live at the Steel City Improv Theater in Pittsburgh. Matt, Paul and Jacob wonder if we'd ever make it here. Matt owes Jacob an apology after the flight in. Live scoop mail, Nick almost died, mental health follow up from 999, we catch up with Bearded Scoop, and more... including the cliff we promised/manifested. We even squeeze in some trivia. Let's be clear, we are here because we have the greatest listener community ever. Here's to Season 2.

Welcome back all! Today I am going to be exploring more into my new found passion of Improv comedy classes and why I am here to tell all of you, to try one out in your own hometown. On episode 158 I delved into some deep content about facing your fears and sitting with discomfort. I directly referenced Phil and I pushing past our awkwardness and joining Improv classes. It turns out I wasn't quite done with the subject, and in fact will probably record another podcast about how to make meaningful relationships as you age, which Improv will be involved in that discussion as well. What can I say... When I am into something... I am INTO it. :) Aside from being a fun activity to participate in, Improv has helped me personally communicate better with others, and myself. My brain feels sharper than it has in years, and Phil and I's communication has improved A LOT. We always considered ourselves great at talking, but have realized over the years that you can be great at talking, but NOT at communicating. We talk over one another. We blame and judge. We get defensive. We assume and project. I am sure we are not the only ones. When you are with someone for a long period of time you develop habits, and patterns. These habits became apparent to me when we started taking Improv together and began working through some practices and games. We weren't listening outside of class as well as we could have been. Improv helped us pause and instead of waiting for our turn to speak, to really listen to what the other was saying. It also revealed long standing patterns of blame. If we were in a scene together, we instantly fell into "Well, you didn't do this." or "Why are you blaming me? You weren't there either!." Sort of scenario. Those negative emotions were easy to access as we built our pretend world for a scene. For example- A married couple at a furniture store that can't agree on a couch. Normal, right? Let me be clear here in saying that Improv comedy classes didn't entirely solve our problems. I am not saying it is therapy or a replacement for therapy. It just offered a lovely way of actually PRACTICING how to communicate better. You learn from therapy and discover how to better communicate. You may notice your own patterns or you might read concepts from books on how to shift the way you communicate. You read it, but to actually put these good habits into practice in a fun way allows you to shine light on where they pop up and strengthen better communication muscles so that you deeply know it. It was shortly after our Phil and I's first few classes that we began to unfold. The blame game disappeared. We were listening to one another AND then most beautiful thing happened naturally... We were playing again. Truly playing. This past year with the death of my sister Nina has been a rough one, and I have actively been rediscovering how to play and find joy. Life is hard. It is dark, and it can sometimes be easy to stay dark. It is hard to be playful after tragedy, but man is it needed. We began being lighter and not just in class. The affects lingered on throughout the week and seeped into our days and evenings, and we could not wait until the following week to play again with our new found friends! At least for us Improv classes are pure childlike joy. It is like camp for adults! Wanna try it? Let's chat with a veteran on the show! I am excited to announce that I have a guest for today's show, something I haven't had in over a year and a half! Feels good to speak to another human on MOTM. On today's episode I bring on Justin Borak. Justin is an Improv teacher and actor, and has worked in Chicago for several years performing in shows at Second City, iO, and the Annoyance. Some popular and prestigious Improv hot spots around the country. I am so excited to chat with him about how he thinks Improv spurs creativity and playfulness, how he thinks Dungeons and Dragons blends so well with Improv Comedy, and how inclusive it is in different cities. We also discuss how diverse of a crew you get when you join a class. Age, race, all walks of life join in these classes and it is a delightful way to expand your perspective and friend group. We also walk you into your first improv class and tells you what to expect, so you don't have to be nervous. This is me trying to break down what happens in a typical class for all those who are curious but are really scared to walk into something crazy. It is harder to write, so listen to the episode to get a better idea. A Typical First Improv Class- You sit in the chairs waiting for everyone to arrive. Maybe you say hi to someone, maybe you don't. The instructor introduces him/herself and they have everyone then stand in a circle and play some games. Most of these games are typical icebreaker games. Remembering people's names, passing the red ball around, Zip, Zap, Zop. They are games that are played and learned very quickly and intended to warm you up, to allow you to get comfortable so that you soon realize you are just having fun like you used to do when you were a kid. No pressure or expectation, only fun. After that they may explain how Improv works, you might do some quick short practices with others. One of my most favorite practices the instructor lead early on - It was myself and another classmate on stage. The instructions were that we were making a bed together, and we couldn't talk until the instructor tells us to. We start and just begin to act out making a bed. Folding sheets, fluffing pillows, etc. The real subject of this scene isn't the bed though it is the relationship between the characters and what is going on. What is their relationship to each other. Is the body language angry, happy, sad? I liked the exercise because when you begin Improv it is hard to find words. Silence is easier and it relaxed me. It allowed me to use my body to express how I was feeling. On your first class you may also start to delve into something called Monologue Deconstruction. I like to think of this as basically storytelling time. The audience throws out a word. Say "Beach." and one person comes forward to tell a story that relates somehow to a beach. Trying to add in as much detail as possible. Then from this story and the details, the classmates start to create scenes. That is about it, folks. Sound scary? It shouldn't. I have honestly found the most easy going people to be in my Improv classes. Everyone there is showing up to have a good time and learn some fun and funky new skill. Creativity sparks because everyone is showing up for one another to build the best scene possible. It is the ultimate co-op game where everyone wins. You ready to try it? YOU SHOULD! Better yet, bring your partner, friend or family member along with you and watch your communication start to evolve and your playfulness ignite!   Yoga Sailing Retreats for 2023 Registration is OPEN!!! Thailand- April 8th to the 15th Croatia August 26th to the 2nd Sardinia and Corsica- Sept 2nd to the 9th. - 2 spots left! Don't miss out on your chance to sail with me next year because I am not sure if I will be hosting sailing retreats in 2024 or 2025. ALSO if you can't roll with me overseas this year, stay local! My friend Elizabeth Craig and I are hosting a women onlyTransformation Retreat near Pittsburgh. Sept 8-11th. Registration is now open and Early Birds Registration ends on June 30th. This retreat is for the awakening woman, and we want you with us. Choose from a 2 or 3 day retreat for your busy schedule. This episode is sponsored by Steel City Improv. "Steel City Improv Theater teaches and performs Long-Form improv comedy. In long-form improvisation, a group of improvisers take one suggestion from the audience and perform an entirely made-up show, complete with multiple scenes, characters, and ridiculous spectacles, bound only by its creators' imaginations. Steel City Improv Theater (a.k.a. the SCIT), teaches Applied Improvisation. The SCIT knows that improv classes make you more than just funny.  By applying the principles of improv to your life,  you can become a better parent, mentor, entrepreneur, employee and friend.  Improv teaches you to deal with the unexpected in life. You become a better listener, more positive person, and improve your ability to truly live in the moment. Steel City Improv Theater's philosophy is best summed up in three words: “Listen. Commit. Play.” The SCIT combined the best practices from improv training found at New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles improv theaters into the SCIT Philosophy. Listening can be a hard skill to master, but, by staying in the moment can open up a world of possibilities. Accepting others' ideas is difficult, but committing to our own ideas can be an even bigger challenge. With improv training, we learn to break through the inner critic that normally stops us. With a sense of play, we find an endless sense of possibility and inspiration. When our teammates have that same sense of imagination, it makes the word “failure” seem less scary and more exciting. For a safe space to step out of your comfort zone, come listen, commit, and play at Steel City Improv Theater!"        

Fear– An unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. We are not immune to fear. It comes to us like waves and is usually unwelcome. There are global fears such as the war in Ukraine, global warming, food shortages, death. Death of a loved one, or our own amount of time on this spinning globe. I will touch on some of that later, but today I want to tackle some fears that we ourselves can have control over to allow us to stretch outside our comfort zones, try new things, and find peace and joy in our lives. Fear stems from uncertainty and doubt. How do we face it? We have to sit with discomfort. “Never be afraid of not knowing, find out” Discomfort- make (someone) feel uneasy, anxious, or embarrassed The internet has become something that has made us more afraid than ever and extremely comfortable being more than an arms length away from coming face to face with our discomfort. Discomfort is why most of us never face our fears or step outside of our comfort zones. Think about it. Who wants to feel uneasy, anxious or embarrassed… nobody. The problem is when we avoid these feelings we create a bubble of safety around us that isolates us and keeps us fixed in our habits, patterns and zone of comfort. Let's look at an example of this. You get invited to a party, and at first you have every intention of going. You knew what you were going to wear, what to bring. You looked forward to seeing some friends you haven't connected with in a while. The day of the party comes and you suddenly think to yourself. “What if I don't know anyone there? What if nobody talks to me? Staying home and watching The Durrells in Corfu sounds amazing, I don't have to go. Nobody will miss me.” Now, I am not saying that a little couch introvert time isn't needed by all of us, but I am sure there have been situations where you wanted to attend an event, and discomfort or fear of the unknown held you back. In order to conquer and face our fear we must push past discomfort. It takes a leap of faith to delve into uncertainty… How do we deal with uncertainty? “The unknown is just something we don't know yet.” This statement is 100 percent fact. Uncertainty is just having doubts about the unknown. Not knowing something gives people anxiety, it fuels self doubt, and ultimately makes them feel self-conscious and uncomfortable. Think about it. If you know a subject very well, you would be happy to speak about it. Someone gives you a topic you know nothing about, and suddenly you are freaking out. All that is, is you learning about the topic! How incredibly powerful is that fact?! That you have the power to shed your fears by learning what you don't know. It is simple, yet something we overlook due to massive amount of distraction. Our minds have power over our joy and happiness, it just takes some discomfort getting there. Here are some personal examples of this… I decided to push Phil's and I's boundaries this year by signing us up for Improv Comedy Classes. Getting Phil to go was not an easy feat. He was ridiculously upset that I signed us up. He didn't want to be put on display. When I finally convinced him to go, he was miserable, and extremely anxious the entire two hours before we went, acting like a 10 year old that is being dragged to church. Once we arrived, he was fine. I even caught him smiling a couple times. The second class was the same, only this time I caught him laughing. Third class he was beginning to loosen up on stage, having more fun with it. Now he looks forward to our classes, and goes to shows every weekend! It is a new hobby he never would have discovered if he wasn't brave enough to try and learn this new skill, make new friends ands with his discomfort. He now knows the process. He knows people who are going to be there, and he is more confident because he is starting to understand improv and open up communication with others. I use Phil because he is a classic example of someone who was extremely uncomfortable with showing up for something new, BUT after going for a while, now loves it! Improv has since improved our communication with one another, we laugh and joke more, listen more, and has brought increased joy and playfulness back into our lives. Hence, why they are sponsoring this episode. Do you have a something like this in your life? Something you know you would love, but you avoid because of the discomfort or fear of going? How do we move past these feelings? I actually encourage you to ask for help on this one. Working up the nerve to do things alone can be intimidating, but I know there are people out there that probably feel the exact same way and would love to join you on your new fear busting journey. FRIENDS are the key to helping you overcome your fears. Try this… Grab a piece of paper or a journal and write down- A list of fears that you have. At least three activities or experiences you have always wanted to try but haven't due to discomfort. A lists of friends or family that would help you overcome this fear or complete something you want to do. Now comes the hard part of pushing past your discomfort and ASKING them to help you achieve the results you want which can look like- Having them do some research on the subject and explaining it to you. Asking them to listen as you talk openly about your fears to them. Asking them to go with you to a class or adventure so you don't have to go alone. I too need those people in my life to help me break past my comfort zones and face some anxieties and fear. For all of us will just require some vulnerability on your part asking for help, which is never easy. I promise you that if you sit with your discomfort a bit, you will find the root cause and possibly overcome it. Doing this will not only allow you to try something new, but will create a more meaningful relationships with that friend because they will feel honored that you asked them for help with this. Instant joy! “Sometimes happiness is not knowing the whole story” On the flip side of learning about your fears to become comfortable and more certain, there is also the possibility that you will never have understanding, or even want to know something about the larger questions of our existence. Death, uncertainty and what will the future bring cause pain and anxiety in all of us. In this case. Sitting with your uncertainty and accepting that everything will work out IS possible. It is when we are in a state of calm peace that the nagging uncertainty removes itself from our lives and we become open to possibilities and not worry about what we can't control. How do we accomplish this? For me, it was through self care. Self care in the form of movement, meditation, therapy, shadow work. This is all very healing work, and the goal of all of it is to find stillness which leads to happiness because you are pulling yourself into the present moment. It is why I love teaching meditation with my students. I know what that restlessness feels like, and it isn't pretty. You feel trapped in it and it feels endless. It creates negative emotions, judgement, fear, and of course… uncertainty, discomfort and doubt. If we can all learn to sit with our emotions and bring awareness to the surface, peace CAN be found. In the end…we have this one life, and that is a gift. We should soak in every minute of it and try and spread happiness. That joy starts within by sitting with discomfort. Recent Personal Experiences in Conquering Fear, Change, and Uncertainty I am on my own personal journey of exploring wishes, dreams, and experiences that I had either left aside in my younger years, or never stepped up to the plate to try. So often as adults life has influenced our opinions about what we LOVE to do. It becomes blurry, and habitual. We can sometimes forget the dreams we had when we were younger. Through deep meditation, and journaling work, almost a year later, and I now have my list of what truly fills my cup, and what is preprogrammed to look like it does. (But it doesn't… happy hour anyone?) After I had my list I began digging into my fears, and traumas. There was a ton of discomfort through that process, but it uncovered a lot for me and is leading me to finding more joy, peace and meaning in my life. It is opening up doors to allow me pursue my passion of helping others lead their lives from their hearts. If you are ready to grow, break some boundaries, and open your heart to lead your life with joy feel free to ask me about my classes or my new Marta on the Move Mentorship program. I would love to hear about something you were fearful or uncomfortable with that you pushed past and overcame. Send me an email and tell me all about it for inspiration

Hey friends,Our good friends Drew and Matty invited us out for a quadruple date as part of Arcade Comedy Theater's first "Date Night", and as our one of our rare post-pandemic shows it got us thinking about our improv "careers". Our favorite jokes, local comedians that we're particularly fond of, and what getting into improv has done for our lives (it's not a cult, we promise)Featuring: Bob Rudenborg, Jon MarekEditing: Jon MarekTheme: Brian Adams-Arcade Comedy Theater: https://www.arcadecomedytheater.com/Steel City Improv Theater: https://steelcityimprov.com/-Find Us Across the Web: https://www.thebutchandthebi.com/We Could Be Clowns: https://linktr.ee/wecouldbeclownsJon's Links: https://linktr.ee/jonklobsterBob's Links: https://linktr.ee/asmallfrogartA Pickle Lane Productionshttps://www.picklelaneproductions.com/

Host Kevin Scott and Justin Zell of Pittsburg's Steel City Improv Theater discuss Separate Tables from 1958 featuring Rita Hayworth, Deborah Kerr, David Niven, Burt Lancaster, and Wendy Hiller. Niven and Hiller won Academy Awards for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress respectively for their performances. Separate Tables was directed by Delbert Mann and Written by Rattigan and John Gay. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kevin-scott15/support

This episode I sit down with the hilarious Deric Brown. From his origins in Virginia to his new show "Time Machine Talk Show" at the Steel City Improv Theater. Help support the podcast and look good doing it! https://inquizative-minds-merch.myteespring.co/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/inquizative-minds/support

Who says rhetoric can't make you laugh? And who says making people laugh isn't rhetorical? Today's show is the first in a series on Rhetorics of Comedy, in which we interrogate the connections between humor, discourse, and contemporary life.In Part 1, we bring you a discussion with three local standup comics working in Pittsburgh, PA: Jared Helfer, Tom Higgins, and Lorenzo DiSilvio. We explore the rhetorical dimensions of what they do, ranging from how they define funny (and not funny), their strategies for developing and editing new material, how they negotiate their relationships with audiences and their own “personas” on stage, and their metacognitive processes as writers and performers. We even manage to work in a few jokes!Jared Helfer on Instagram: @mysticalhootTom Higgins on Twitter: @homtigginsCheck out Lorenzo DiSilvio's monthly comedy show in Pittsburgh, “A Good Night Out”, which takes place the last Saturday of every month at the Steel City Improv Theater. Tickets for the upcoming Oct. 26 show are available here.

It's Tuesday and Jocelyn Hillen is our guest! Jocelyn Hillen is a Pittsburgh native who had her first brush with theater life at a traumatic audition for the Mickey Mouse Club in 1992. She went on to earn a BFA in acting from The University of the Arts and has acted in numerous theatrical productions, including several short films. She performs regularly in Pittsburgh at Arcade Comedy Theater, Steel City Improv Theater, and Unplanned Comedy. She's been performing, coaching and teaching long-form improv for 6 years. She will never forget that she didn't make it as a Mouseketeer.

Garrett Titlebaum: It's Nice To See He's Working RSS Today on the show I have a great conversation with Justin Zell co-owner of the STEEL CITY IMPROV THEATER. We discuss the beginnings of the theater he manages with his wife, Kasey Daley and this weekend’s upcoming 9th Anniversary Show. As the landscape of Pittsburgh comedy has shifted and grown so much in the last decade it was nice to catch up with my first improv teacher and find more about his time in New York with People’s Improv Theater and how Gary Vaynerchuk and John Taffer have been able to influence him from outside of the comedy scene. 1-800-637-HOPE (4673)

14 | Steel City Improv Theater - Fireside Chats by James H. Cain

Justin Zell tells the story of the Steel City Improv Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Justin joins in the improv with your host Will as well as Jon David, Jeremy Lesifko-Bremer, Michelle Lesifko-Bremer, and Evan Sherwin.

From the Steel City Improv Theater in Pittsburgh Justin Zell, Deric Brown, Peggy Walkush and Scott Duda join Will Frazier in a great round of improv after learning all about the James White House outside of Pittsburgh.

Kasey Daley Co-founder of Steel City Improv Theater   steelcityimprov.com   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Steel-City-Improv-Theater/191307850882987 Twitter: https://twitter.com/steelcityimprov Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/steelcityimprov/   Be to sure to thank my guest for coming on the show today!   evanschmitt.com Twitter: @evanschmitt Instagram: @evanschmitt90 Hear my audiobooks on Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Evan+Schmitt&ref=a_a_search_c3_lNarrator_1_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=FW5B0FTCAC6N40NZD7NG&   This episode is sponsored by EnzoGoGo.com, a free service where you can find a freelancer for your next website, logo or video. Try it for free at enzogogo.com (proudly owned by yours truly).   My new Get Creative vlog on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXGt2yaPsCGE0wRvMDIuOnQ  

I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season and were able to spend your Christmas with all your friends and family. (if listening to this the day it comes out). In 2014, I was lucky to get to take an improv class with this week’s guest, Andrea Wetherald at the Steel City Improv Theater. While studying there we were both placed on our very first improv house team, Carousel Rehab. Andrea and I talk about some of our fun and ridiculous improv scenes we've done, and our super famous improv duo, Blunder. This episode covers some of the major changes in Andrea’s life in 2017, including the journey to become foster parents with her husband Kyle, and growing her on-site office training company, Improvising the Office. In less than two weeks on January 6 at 8 AM Andrea is launching her new workshop titled, Improvising the Inside: The Path to Forgiveness. The one-day session will run until 11:30 AM at the Pittsburgh Mennonite Church. FREE onsite childcare is available for any participants in need.