Dr. Jeanne Leep – Improv Nerd

Dr Jeanne LeepEpisode 165 Dr. Jeanne Leep. Meet the brilliant author and professor, Dr. Jeanne Leep. Jeanne played improv in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and went on to pursue a Ph.D. in Theatre.
I had the good fortune to play with Jeanne recently and was awed by her spontaneity and joy. She went to high school with our mutual friend Jay Sukow and then went on to the University of Michigan and Wayne State College. Her best-selling book, “Theatrical Improvisation: Short Form, Long Form, and Sketch-Based Improv” is a classic book on the history of improv and sketch comedy that clearly defines this often ambiguous topic. The forward was written by Jeanne’s friend Keegan Michael Key.

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Michelle Gilliam

Michelle Gilliam Improv
Michelle GilliamEpisode 164 Michelle Gilliam is a beautiful person inside and out! We have been friends for several years and I was delighted to have her as a guest.
 
Michelle grew up in Milwaukee in a loving and supportive family. During one family gathering, at age 4, she got her first big laugh and knew what her path would be!
 
She saw a Comedy Sportz show when she was 14 and was hooked! She was inspired to learn this art form and she did! She met Dick Chudnow, founder of Comedy Sportz Milwaukee, the first CS theatre in this country, he let her volunteer until she was old enough to work there! She did tasks like writing 300 name tags, with the benefit of watching many shows. It’s a great way to learn and eventually teach!
Margot Escott and Michelle Gilliam
Margot Escott, LCSW, and Michelle Gilliam

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Kathy Klotz-Guest MA MBA

Episode 163 Kathy Klotz-Guest is an incredibly funny lady and we had so much fun on this podcast! Her energy is boundless and her passion for the people she serves is lovely. She is a comedian, storyteller, improviser, speaker, and author. Listen as Kathy shares her comedy journey with a stopover in the tech industry. Kathy brings out the laughter in those she’s touched. She positively is keeping it human! I know you’ll love her as much as I do!
 

Check out her book Stop Boring Me!” How to Create Kick-Ass Marketing Content, Products and Ideas Through the Power of Improv.”

https://www.keepingithuman.com/books-from-kathy-klotz-guest/ You can connect with Kathy through the links below: Contact Info

Phone

Twitter

 
 
Visit my website where I speak to today’s leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists worldwide who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. You may enjoy hearing from improv teachers and innovators including Colin Mochrie and David Pasquesi  *Improv Interviews podcast‘ is introduced by Susan L. Parker of yourinternationalvoice.com
 

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Sarah McGillion Episode 162

Sarah McGillionEpisode 162 Sarah McGillion is an amazing improviser with a Master in Artificial Intelligence, We chat about her childhood in Ireland and her incredible sense of curiosity that took her down many paths. But her love for acting and comedy brought her back to improv where she is beloved by all who know her!
 
She is a brilliant performer who runs a company in Denmark called Inconspicuous where she teaches Applied Improv to businesses, produces and performs in improv shows, and offers classes for improvisers. Sarah brings a unique blend of creativity and technical expertise to her work. She is an award-winning actress and improviser and is passionate about showcasing spontaneous comedy in a variety of venues across Copenhagen.
 
Her hysterical audio series, with partner Adrian Mackinder, is worth listening to at https://soundcloud.com/user-540220357
 
 
Visit my website where I speak to today’s leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists worldwide who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. You may enjoy hearing from improv teachers and innovators including Colin Mochrie and David Pasquesi  *Improv Interviews podcast‘ is introduced by Susan L. Parker of yourinternationalvoice.com

 

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Aaron Krebs Episode 161

Episode 161: Meet the hysterically funny Aaron Krebs. I can’t remember laughing this much in a podcast since, well… never! He knows the value of friendship and loyalty. While at UMASS, Amherst his buddies, and he created an improv group Mission Improvable.
 
In 2000, they began touring their short-form comedy show and in 2001 they performed at NACA (National Association for Campus Activities) and hit it big! They began performing shows at colleges across the country and eventually had to hire more guys and a van to travel in named “Vanarky.” Then they hired a second generation of touring improvisers, then a third, a fourth, and on and on and on… and this show has stood the test of time and is one of the longest-running improv shows in the US today.
 
They were fortunate to be coached by the fabulous improv guru Liz Allen. They moved to Chicago in 1998 and continued to learn and perform the art of improvisation.  
 

 

On April 1st, 2009, Mission IMPROVable bought Westside Comedy Theater. Theatre. They embraced the stand-up and improv community and started a training center. Some of the many great comedians who have performed at Westside include Dave Chappelle, Adam Sandler, Dana Carvey, Judd Apatow, Zach Galifianakis, Tig Notaro, Demetri Marin, Bobcat Goldthwait, and Lorraine Newman.

Most recently Aaron and his MI buddies transitioned to their next endeavor – opening the Inkwell Tavern, in January 2023 in Burbank. The Inkwell Tavern was created to be a place where writers and other folks in the film industry could relax in an environment that had great drinks and food. It’s already getting terrific ratings from its patrons.

So where is Aaron Krebs going next? Who knows? But wherever he is, laughter and great fellowship will be there!

To learn more about Aaron check out 

IMDB: Aaron Krebs | Actor, Additional Crew, Producer

 
Visit my website where I speak to today’s leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists worldwide who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. You may enjoy hearing from improv teachers and innovators including Colin Mochrie and David Pasquesi  *Improv Interviews podcast‘ is introduced by Susan L. Parker of yourinternationalvoice.com

 

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TASHIKA CAMPBELL – IMPROVISER, COACH, MOTHER

Tashika CampbellEpisode 160: I had the good fortune to meet Tashika Campbell a few years ago when she was covering a class for Jay Sukow. I loved her energy, compassion, and brilliance then and I still do today. In 2023 I studied with Tashika and Steve Pilloff and it was fabulous.
 
Tashika began improvising in 2027 in Baltimore, Maryland, and was originally from Charlotte, North Carolina. We chatted about the first plays she wrote in elementary school that her younger sister would perform in. She continued her love of theatre but didn’t see that could be a “career”. When she was introduced to improv, she knew she’d found her home.
 
Tashika is a founding member of the award-winning independent troupe Cake Walk and where that term came from. Tashika has headlined festivals across the US and coordinated the first Improv festival dedicated to Black Improvisers in the DMV. She is a much sought-after. Coach, teacher, and workshop facilitator.
 
You can see her work in this 2021 YouTube video from Highwire Improv and the Black Improv Alliance showcasing Baltimore area Black improv and sketch comedy. https://youtu.be/M481elrUioM?si=lvKDll7edGF_NMbI I know you’ll love learning more about Tashika! Visit my website where I speak to today’s leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists worldwide who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. You may enjoy hearing from improv teachers and innovators including Colin Mochrie and David Pasquesi  *Improv Interviews podcast‘ is introduced by Susan L. Parker of yourinternationalvoice.com

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Rob Norman

Rob NormanEpisode 159: What a delight to meet the fantastic Rob Norman in Toronto, Canada. We chatted about his improv journey and how he started teaching improv before he took any classes! While in high school he asked his mother to go to the library and get a book on improv and she came back with “Truth in Comedy” by Charna Halpern, Del Close, and Kim Johnson. We also discussed Improv History in Canada, of which he is an expert!
 
Rob is a beloved improviser /instructor/editor/writer/podcaster. He is the author of IMPROVISING NOW: A Practical Guide to Modern Improv which is currently being translated into Spanish, Chinese, and Latvian. You can find it on Amazon. His book is a definite “must” for the improvisers’ library. His new book, “Future Favors the Bold” will be released in November 2023.
 

He is a Second City alumni and has directed both the National Touring Company and Second at Sea.  In addition to hosting and producing the weekly improv podcast, THE BACKLINE, Rob is a Canadian Comedy Award for Best Improv Troupe, and Canadian Screen Award for his performance on CityTV’ Sunnyside. Rob also produced the critically acclaimed, improvised horror series LIMITED CAPACITY for CBC Radio. His new series

Visit my website where I speak to today’s leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists worldwide who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. You may enjoy hearing from improv teachers and innovators including Colin Mochrie and David Pasquesi  *Improv Interviews podcast‘ is introduced by Susan L. Parker of yourinternationalvoice.com

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Jill Eickmann on Improv

Jill EickmannEpisode 158:After taking a workshop with Jill Eickmann, MA, LMFT I was so delighted to chat with her. Jill’s teaching is incredibly supportive and validating! Jill Eickmann is San Francisco’s Leela Improvisational Theater’s Co-Founder, Artistic Director, and Director of Corporate Training. Informed by her diverse training and experience, Jill designed Leela’s holistic 5-level improv curriculum. She oversees all elements of Leela’s Corporate Training program including client communication, curriculum design, casting, hiring, and training teaching artists, and facilitation. Jill is a licensed psychotherapist, drama therapist, play therapist, and self-revelatory theatre director who continues to teach and present on the psychological implications and therapeutic benefits of improvisation. With training and experience facilitating groups for individuals struggling with social anxiety & shyness, teaching foster parenting classes, and designing corporate training programs, she is passionate about utilizing improvised role play as “Rehearsal for Life.” Clients include: Adobe, The Clorox Company, IBM, Facebook/Meta, Google, Levi Strauss & Co., LinkedIn, McKinsey & Company, Coinbase, Walmart, and YouTube (among others.)

She has produced events and held board positions for The San Francisco Improv Festival, and is the Executive Producer for Femprovisor Fest, SF’s Feminist Improv Festival. Jill received her BFA in Theatre/ Acting from the University of Florida and MA in Counseling Psychology, and Drama Therapy from California Institute of Integral Studies. She studied in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco with some of the best from Upright Citizens Brigade Theater (UCB), The Second City, iO Chicago (Formerly Improv Olympic), Annoyance Productions, SF Clown School, and Magnet Theater. In addition to performing in duos and small ensemble projects with Leela’s past and present faculty members, she has performed across the country with notable improvisers including Chad Damiani, Dan Fogler, Law Tarello, Jay Sukow, Tracy Burns,  Brian James O’Connell, and Sunita Deshpande. (among others.) As a therapeutic performance artist, she regularly performs with playback theatre actor/director, Roni Alperin in their playback theatre duo, and in an improvised therapy format, “In Session” for the treatment of your favorite fictional character. In their duo, “Intimacy,” Jill collaborates with somatic practitioner, Chelsea McAlexander exploring the intersection between improv and consent. “The Friendship Show” a solo self-revelatory theatre performance, is Jill’s mission to heal adult loneliness through theatrical improvisation. Always looking to push the boundaries of the art of improvisation, Jill has conceived and directed original formats and theories in a long-form improv performance, from a darkly psychological “Improvised Black Mirror” format to incorporating contact improv and improvised dance in “Story Dance”, as well as online formats like, “The Before Times” which was performed at Seattle’s (On-line) Festival of Improvised Theatre with inner monologist, Joe Bill. Most notably, Jill customized a private improv class for cast members of The Lion King – Broadway Tour. Her artistic mission is to inspire people from all walks of life to invest in an improv practice that is connected, mindful, joyful, transformative, and courageously surrenders to TRUTH. To learn more about Jill, check out these links. Websites:  

Visit my website where I speak to today’s leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists worldwide who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. You may enjoy hearing from improv teachers and innovators including Colin Mochrie and David Pasquesi  *Improv Interviews podcast‘ is introduced by Susan L. Parker of yourinternationalvoice.com

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Alrinthea Carter, writer, improviser, photographer and so much more

Alrinthea Carter
Episode 157: What a gift to chat with  Alrinthea Carterwriter, improviser, photographer and so much more. A truly Renaissance artist. She had recently moved from Greenville, S.C. to LA for a writing position at the beginning of the WGA strike when we spoke. But that didn’t diminish her sense of humor and joyful life. Alrinthea grew up in Europe with wonderfully supportive parents. She began writing plays and sketches with her Barbies and hasn’t stopped. She is an Emmy-nominated writer for her work on the HBO hit series, “A Black Lady Sketch Show” and plays with fantastic improvisers in LA.

Visit my website where I speak to today’s leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists worldwide who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. You may enjoy hearing from improv teachers and innovators including Colin Mochrie and David Pasquesi  *Improv Interviews podcast‘ is introduced by Susan L. Parker of yourinternationalvoice.com

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Marc Warzecha – Sketch Master

Marc Warzecha Improv
Marc WarzechaEpisode 156: Meet the incredible Marc Warzecha who founded the online Sketch School. I met Marc this spring when I took Comedy Sketch Writing 101. It was so fantastic that I too all 3 levels and loved it. Marc is a compassionate and highly competent teacher, and his classes are always informative and fun!

With two decades at The Second City Chicago Comedy Theatre, Marc Warzecha is an award-winning headwriter and artistic director, overseeing dozens of original sketch comedy revues across North America including multiple productions at The Kennedy Center (Washington DC), The Second City – Mainstage and ETC (Chicago), and The Kirk Douglas Theatre (Los Angeles) featuring sketch stars like Keegan-Michael Key (Comedy Central’s Key & Peele), Jason Sudeikis (Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso), Tim Robinson (Netflix’s I Think You Should Leave), Kay Cannon (writer, Pitch Perfect) and writer/performers currently featured on HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show, NBC’s SNL, FOX’s The Simpsons, and more.

Marc started his improv journey at Second City Detroit with other megastars like Jamie Moyer and Michal Keegan He has also been a guest on CNN’s “Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer” and NPR’s “All Things Considered.” Currently living in Los Angeles, he is a proud native Detroiter and Armenian. You can reach Marc at his website  thesketchschool.com or @thesketchschool on Instagram. Visit my website where I speak to today’s leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists worldwide who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. You may enjoy hearing from improv teachers and innovators including Colin Mochrie and David Pasquesi  *Improv Interviews podcast‘ is introduced by Susan L. Parker of yourinternationalvoice.com

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