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My guest today is Will Luera. Will is a comedic actor, presenter, writer, trainer and director, with a varied tool set that adds so many layers to his performances. He is currently the Director of Improvisation at Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota, Director of Big Bang Improv and serve as the Artistic Director Emeritus of ImprovBoston. His professional skills also include corporate training, workplace mediation, IT generalist, personal trainer, and wedding officiant. Will has also been seen at numerous improv festival across the country and around the world, including the Phoenix Improv Festival, Curious Comedy Theater Lovefest, Twin City Improv Festival, Countdown improv Festival, Miami Improv Festival, and Finland International Improv Festival. And that's only partial list of the many festivals he's done. I've had quite a few opportunities to meet this guy. You can tell that he is someone who loves to have fun, and help everybody else have fun too. He's kind, he's warm-hearted, he's an absolute pleasure to be around. This was a great opportunity for me to learn more about him, and now you will too! To learn more about Will Luera, visit his website at will-luera.com, and learn all about Florida Studio Theater at their website floridastudiotheatre.org.
Will Luera is the Director of Improvisation at Florida Studio Theatre, Director of Big Bang Improv, and serves as the Artistic Director Emeritus of ImprovBoston. He is the co-creator of Healing Moments for Alzheimer's, a non-profit organization that provides education, advocacy, and ministry for persons with dementia and their caregivers. He is a conflict mediator with a focus on EDIA issues in the workplace. Follow Will and find out more about his work on stage and off: www.facebook.com/will.luera.improv www.instagram.com/wluera www.twitter.com/wluera www.linkedin.com/in/wluera For leadership communication group training events and public speaking coaching, check us out at https://improvteamculture.com/. Stay connected with us and check out our next big event, CAPTIVATE Leadership Communication Summit in downtown Boise Idaho, on November 15th, 2023 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/captivate-leadership-communication-summit-tickets-706410752577?aff=ebdssbdestsearch --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/meganmccaleb/message
Paul Vato sits down with the incredibly engaging Will Luera for a lively conversation about the unique naming conventions within his family and his journey to living in Florida. Will takes us on a fascinating exploration of the origins of his family name and the Latino tradition of taking the mother's maiden name as a middle name. Learn how the vibrant Cuban culture has evolved over the years and why Sarasota is home to the 'number two beach in America'! From Mexico to Texas and beyond, our family migration stories take center stage as we delve into the rich tapestry of our shared connections, ancestry, and diverse cultures that make up our heritage. In this episode, we explore the exciting world of improv and performance, with Will sharing how his background in physics and experiences in CrossFit and Yoga have influenced his teaching methods. We talk about the art of stand-up comedy and the process of crafting a set, as well as some of our favorite comedians. And if you're curious about the intersection of language learning and improvisation, Will shares his journey of learning Spanish and Portuguese, as well as his insights into the letter systems of Arabic, Russian, and Norwegian. Our laughter, connection, and discovery don't end there! We discuss the idea of a road trip to the cities our families originated from and the possibility of opening up our own improv club. We also consider working in Latin America and the connection between our fathers' experiences as boxers (you know, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, etc). Plus, we celebrate our podcast's success of breaking the top 10 of independent comedy improv podcasts on GoodPods! Don't miss this incredible episode filled with humor, insight, and camaraderie. Will Luera is the Director of Improvisation at Florida Studio Theatre, Artistic Director of Improv Asylum, Director of Big Bang Improv & serves as the Artistic Director Emeritus of ImprovBoston. Will is the co-creator of Healing Moments for Alzheimer's, a non-profit organization that provides education, advocacy, and ministry for persons with dementia and their caregivers. He sits on the board of CreArte Latino, a Latino-centric cultural community center in the Sarasota area. Will tours globally as an improv comedy actor, instructor, director and perform and teaches regularly all across North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Will-Luera.com --------- EPISODE CHAPTERS --------- (0:00:11) - Florida Living and Latino Name: Will and I discussed his family name, Cuban culture in Florida, and his love for Sarasota (0:04:27) - Mexican-American Migration and Heritage: We discuss our family migration, the Bracero program, ancestry, cultures, and the stories behind them. (0:15:22) - Improv and Physics in Performance: Will and I discuss physics, CrossFit, Yoga, his father's career migration, and the Bracero Program and how it applies to teaching improv. (0:23:12) - Comedy, Comedians, Vegas Trip: We discuss crafting stand-up comedy, favorite comedians, evolution, and the romantic side of the cigar business. (0:34:51) - Improvisation, Language Learning, and Personal Connections: Will and I discuss improv, stand-up comedy, South America, language systems, and DuoLingo. (0:44:16) - Improv, DNA, Latin Opportunities: Will and I discuss road trips, improv clubs, Latin America, boxing, Mexico, stand-up comedy, and a Vato Cigars package for famous comedians. (0:50:35) - Top 10 Comedy Podcasts: Will and I celebrate the podcast's success, discuss future projects, and appreciated support. Paul Vato is an actor, improvisor, comedian, poker player, podcaster & entrepreneur. - Buy/rate/review his book, The Kama Sucia aka The Filthy Bed at VATO.tv. Thank you! - Win a seat to the WSOP Main Event EVERY DAY IN MAY! bit.ly/ClubGGVato - Monetize your time & knowledge w/Owwll. Enter referral code "VATO" at sign-up to get $10 to use on the app. Apple: apple.co/35HC0hd • Android: bit.ly/OwwllGooglePlayPaulVato.com to connect with Paul Vato. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paulvato/message
For a small city, we're famous for our art scene. Front and center are our opera, symphony, and art galleries. But what about the art of comedy and improv?Today, I'm pleased to welcome, Will Luera, Director of Improvisation at the Florida Studio Theater in Sarasota.In this episode, you'll learn ...One thing most people don't know about Will.Why Will chose a career pivot from technology to improv.Behind the scenes look at the improv/comedy industry.Why maybe you should consider learning a little improve.Where you can see Will in action.And much much more!Thank you for stopping by today I hope you will listen ... learn ... and connect!FLORIDA STUDIOFacebookLinkedInTwitterYoutubeTripAdvisor
On this episode, Leighton and Brian are joined by improviser extraordinaire Will Luera (@wluera on Twitter) for a lovely chat about comedy and improv around the world, cultural views of temporality, the MCU, dream breakfasts, and more. It's a real treat.Follow us on Twitter at @leightonnight and on Instagram at @leighton_night. You can find Brian on Twitter/Instagram at @bwecht, and Leighton at @graylish (Twitter)/@buttchamps (Instagram). Find Will online at https://will-luera.com/
What does the king of Saudi Arabia, an Iraqi dance team, and CrossFit have in common? It’s all in this one interview with improv sweetheart Will Luera! For more on Will click here!
Will Luera is the Director of the Improv Program at Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota and is beloved by many. Listen to his story about growing up on the south side of Chicago (city of Improv) and not knowing about this art form until he moved to Boston to study Physics at Boston College.
Will Luera is a renowned improviser, actor, director and instructor who performs and teaches all over the world. He has served as the artistic director at Improv Boston and the director of improv at Florida Studio Theater, and was recently named artistic director of Improv Asylum in Boston and New York. In this episode, Will shares with us how he helps improvisers find their voice, what he learned from Amy Poehler, and what preparation he's taking at his theater in Florida during Covid-19 as they plan to reopen to live audiences in three weeks.
It's Tuesday and ... Rick Andrews is our guest! Find us on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google To learn more visit www.laurenhasthree.com or www.adlibcomedy.com Rick Andrews is a teacher and performer at The Magnet Theater and has been studying, performing, and teaching improvisation since 1999. He began improvising with Improv Boston and continued with a stint in Saint Louis, MO. He has been fortunate to learn from many improv greats, including Armando Diaz, Ed Herbstman, Joe Bill, Mark Sutton, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, Will Luera, Jill Bernard, and more. Rick has taught workshops at improv festivals across the country, including the Boston Improv Festival, Baltimore Improv Festival, Black Box Atlanta, and many more. He co-produces Duofest, an annual festival of improv duos in Philly, PA. He has taught improvisation to people as old as 75 and as young as 6 and has done workshops for production companies and zoos alike. He enjoys running, putting words on pages, thinking about the brain, and he loves improv more than anything.
A little chat between Florida improviser, teacher and world traveler Will Luera and Frédéric Barbusci at the Robert E. Freeman Memorial Park in Providence Rhode Island at the Providence Improv Fest #PIFTEEN. Productions de L'Instable: @prodinstablenbsp;site/facebook/Instagram/twitternbsp;
In this episode I interview Will Luera. Will Luera is the former artistic director of Improv Boston, where he created the “Free Form” improv style, also known as Boston or Big Bang style improv, which is known for its fast yet seamless transitions between scenes. Will is now the Director of Improvisation at Florida Studio Theatre, which is a 5-stage theater in Sarasota that also does scripted work. Among other things, Will is also the Director of Big Bang Improv, Artistic Director of the Pilsen Improv Festival, Artistic Associate of the Chicago Improv Festival, Artistic Advisor to the Women in Comedy Festival and Part-time Faculty at Boston College. Will tours globally as an improv and theater actor, director and instructor.He performs and teaches regularly all across North America, South America, Europe and Asia.
This week on the Yes But Why Podcast, we are releasing a very special combo episode! To celebrate the Out of Bounds Festival in Austin (Tues 8/28-Mon 9/3), Yes But Why will be speaking with some of the performers and workshop instructors that are coming to town! In this episode, Amy chats with comedian Ian Abramson and improv teacher, Will Luera. In the interview with standup comic Ian Abramson, Amy and Ian talk about the internet’s obsession with Ian’s mustache, Ian’s love for vaudeville and the development of Ian’s show, 7 Minutes in Purgatory. Ian is very friendly and a little odd (in a good way) and he has great advice for aspiring comedy performers! During OOB weekend, Ian has plans to visit the Museum of the Weird and he says he would absolutely love it if Yes But Why listeners join him in celebrating Austin’s weirdness while he is in town!In Amy’s discussion with Will Luera, they talk about his thirst for knowledge and his drive to share what he has learned with improvisers all across the world. Will started his improv journey at Boston College and he has since helped to develop the curriculum and the communities at both Improv Boston and the Florida Studio Theatre. Will loves to teach and it is evident in his exuberance as he talks about it. His workshops are sure to be amazing!Support these wonderful artists while they are in town for Out of Bounds!( All info at oobfest.com )Ian Abramson’s ShowsFri, Aug. 31st, 9:00pm at the Velveeta Room Sat, Sep. 1st, 9:00pm at Spider House Ballroom Sun, Sep. 2nd, 9:00pm at the Hideout Theatre Will Luera’s WorkshopsSaturday, September 1st, 11:00am - La Fundación de Comedia Improvisada (taught in Spanish!)Saturday, September 1st, 3:00pm - Emotions = Relationships = Game
This week on the Yes But Why Podcast, we are releasing a very special combo episode! To celebrate the Out of Bounds Festival in Austin (Tues 8/28-Mon 9/3), Yes But Why will be speaking with some of the performers and workshop instructors that are coming to town! In this episode, Amy chats with comedian Ian Abramson and improv teacher, Will Luera. In the interview with standup comic Ian Abramson, Amy and Ian talk about the internet’s obsession with Ian’s mustache, Ian’s love for vaudeville and the development of Ian’s show, 7 Minutes in Purgatory. Ian is very friendly and a little odd (in a good way) and he has great advice for aspiring comedy performers! During OOB weekend, Ian has plans to visit the Museum of the Weird and he says he would absolutely love it if Yes But Why listeners join him in celebrating Austin’s weirdness while he is in town!In Amy’s discussion with Will Luera, they talk about his thirst for knowledge and his drive to share what he has learned with improvisers all across the world. Will started his improv journey at Boston College and he has since helped to develop the curriculum and the communities at both Improv Boston and the Florida Studio Theatre. Will loves to teach and it is evident in his exuberance as he talks about it. His workshops are sure to be amazing!Support these wonderful artists while they are in town for Out of Bounds!( All info at oobfest.com )Ian Abramson’s ShowsFri, Aug. 31st, 9:00pm at the Velveeta Room Sat, Sep. 1st, 9:00pm at Spider House Ballroom Sun, Sep. 2nd, 9:00pm at the Hideout Theatre Will Luera’s WorkshopsSaturday, September 1st, 11:00am - La Fundación de Comedia Improvisada (taught in Spanish!)Saturday, September 1st, 3:00pm - Emotions = Relationships = Game
It's Tuesday and... Will Luera is our guest! Will is the Director of Improvisation at Florida Studio Theatre, Director of Big Bang Improv and serves as the Artistic Director Emeritus of ImprovBoston, Artistic Director of the Pilsen Improv Festival, Artistic Associate of the Chicago Improv Festival, Artistic Advisor to the Women in Comedy Festival and Part-time Faculty at Boston College. He has appeared in numerous improv festivals around the world and have studied improvisation with ImprovOlympic, The Second City, The Annoyance Theater, The Upright Citizens Brigade, and Keith Johnstone. He has been working with Florida Studio Theatre since 2014. Before that he was with ImprovBoston where he had worked since 1997 directing the Mainstage cast and developing the nationally renowned productions of Sitcom, Secret Society, Blue Screen, Playbook and Quest. In 2004, Will was the Boston and national winner of PAX-TVs World Cup Comedy. I am also a producer and actor in Strange Faculty, which was accepted to the 2007 New York Television Festival, the 2008 Los Angeles Independent Television Festival and was a winner of the 2008 NBC Comedy Short Cuts competition. He tours globally as improv and theater actor, director and instructor that performs and teaches regularly all across North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Will is the lucky husband of a beautiful woman and proud father of two. You can reach him at me@will-luera.com.
Neil+1 "The Podcast" features raw interviews with inspiring improvisers that I meet on my travels. This podcast features Will Luera and Dave Sawyer of Big Bang Improv and was recording during the Slapdash festival in London. For more about Big Bang Improv in Boston please visit: http://bigbangimprov.com https://www.facebook.com/BigBangImprov/ For more about Will Luera and the Florida Studio Theatre please visit: http://will-luera.com https://www.floridastudiotheatre.org/fst-improv Music Track "Rainbows" by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au
The Improv Saved My Life Podcast Episode #95 (Will Luera, Shiyan AKA Bee) III In the final episode of "The Will Luera Podcast Trilogy", Tom is joined by Will Luera (“The Artistic Director Emeritus of ImprovBoston”, Director of Improvisation for The Florida Studio Theatre) & Shiyan aka Bee ("Bodega", "The Quarry" & "Straight Out of Context") Topics discussed include Will’s time in Sarasota as Director of Improvisation for The Florida Studio Theatre, directing at a theater other then ImprovBoston, relocating his family spending time with family and being nice to each other. Stories Without Roofs is looking for volunteers of all kinds to assist with helping homeless youths produce short stories and fully realized plays based on their work. It is an awesome cause and could use all the support that can be given. Contact Tom Boyer or Misch Whitaker for volunteering opportunities. Do me a favor and subscribe and rate "The Improv Saved My Life Podcast” on iTunes at this link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/b.i.t.s-boston-improv-talk/id786818514?mt=2
The Improv Saved My Life Podcast Episode #50 (Will Luera, Shiyan AKA Bee & Chris Griffin) EPISODE 50!!! In this episode, Tom is joined by co hosts, Shiyan aka Bee & Chris Griffin and the guest is “The Artistic Director Emeritus of ImprovBoston”, Will Luera. The hosts pick Will’s brain one last time before he sets out on his new journey, as Director of Improvisation for The Florida Studio Theatre. Will touches on all sorts of topics including passing the Latino torch at IB, his poker face, putting improv into perspective & his influence over the Boston Improv community. We also took your questions Facebook and Will answered them all. Should you check out this episode? Yes, and… “Follow the Funny" Do me a favor and subscribe and rate "The Improv Saved My Life Podcast” on iTunes at this link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/b.i.t.s-boston-improv-talk/id786818514?mt=2
Lillian DeVane, Josh Pourier and Will Luera tell stories at our April 2014 show at the Nameless Coffeehouse in Cambridge.
In this episode, Tom is joined by co host, Shiyan aka Bee (“Russian for Elephant”,”Bodega") and the guest is “The Artistic Director Emeritus of ImprovBoston”, Will Luera. Topics discussed include Will’s distinguished improv career, balancing being both a family man & successful improviser, Will’s new LLC “Atomica Arts” and “Improv Utopia East”. This weeks edition of “The Made Up Movie Game” features “Human Behavior”, a Bjork song inspired movie about a couple caught in a blackout in NYC on a very special night. Should you check out this episode? Yes, and… also check out all of the awesome shows at ImprovBoston
Satya Bhabha, James Adomian, Leslie Goshko and Will Luera share more holiday stories.