Improv in Practice with Synergy Theater

Arastoo Darakhshan is a composer, producer, teacher and performer. Arastoo is an alum of Berkeley Improv and is a familiar cast member in Synergy Theater performances. Arastoo's newest role is as the director of the upcoming Improvised Twilight Zone. Val Jord, Arastoo, and I talk about Arastoo's inspiration for the Improvised Twilight Zone and the show's unique challenges. The Improvised Twilight Zone opens at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek, Thursday, October 17th, 2024. Podcast episode spoiler alert! We have a few impromptu musical treats in store for you.

Get your tickets to the Improvised Twilight Zone now! (Val and I think that this will be a sold-out show!) Visit Synergy Theater's website to purchase tickets. We'll see you there!

Synergy Theater

Synergy Theater Cast Members

Arastoo Darakhshan on Instagram

Arastoo Darakhshan on Sound Cloud

Hello Improvisers! Mark it on your calendars: Thusday July 18th, 2024, The Lesher Center in Walnut Creek welcomes Synergy Theater's latest show: SPONTANEOUS SOAP! In this episode, Val Jord and I sit down with Lynn Shields - creator and director. We "sit down", IN PERSON! That's right - this is our FIRST LIVE AND IN-PERSON interview. A big thank you to Lynn and Val for taking the time to meet together. We created an incredible episode!

We talk about the SPONTANEOUS SOAP'S origin, challenges, and unique format. You're not going to want to miss one single "episode" of SPONTANEOUS SOAP!

Tickets

SynergryTheater.com 

Hello Friends! Do you have your My Dearest Love - Synergy's newest show - tickets yet? If yes, then Valerie Jord and I look forward to seeing you April 18 - April 28th, Thursdays - Sundays at the Lesher Center for the Arts. Our show's guest today is Rachel Kumaar. Rachel joined the Synergy Theater cast not long ago. We talk about interesting transitions in life, surprises in Improv, and much more. You're going to LOVE this interview. Be sure to check out the Kumaar Family on YouTube. Have a listen and you'll see what I mean!

SynergyTheater.com

The Kumaar Family on You Tube

Adventure Serial awaits! In this episode we talk about Synergy Theater's newest show based on the adventure-genre storytelling that we all love. Adventure Serial kicks off February 1st, 2024, and runs to February 11th. Get your season tickets now!

SynergyTheater.com

Griffen Bier

Addam Ledamyen

Hello Friends!

Synergy Theater's "Z is for Zombie" is at the Lesher Center now to October 29th! "Z is for Zombie" kicks off Synergy Theater's new season of 2023-2024 shows. Visit SynergyTheater.com to get your tickets and to check out classes and programs.

Justin Carns is a long-time performing member of Synergy Theater. For our interview with Justin, Val and I are excited to present you with something other than our usual interview format. We hope that you enjoy! See the link below for a hint!

Write Away with Freestyle Rep and Synergy Theater

Valerie Jord and I are happy to present to you - Adrián Bosada, a performing member of Synergy Theater. We talk about Adrián's experiences in Improv, his journey from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and (from his study of animation to...) how Adrián uses physicality in Improv.

Synergy Theater's "Z is for... Zombie" - An Improvised Zombie Apocalypse - begins October 19th, 2023, and runs through October 29th, at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek California. Get your tickets now! Go to SynergyTheater.com, and click on Performances.

Val and I hope that this interview with Adrián inspires you to take risks and give weight to your imagination as you create your worlds. Don't forget to do your Improv homework assigned in the intro! We'll see you in the theater!

Yet another great reason for you to take a Synergy Theater improv class: you get to meet people like Rev. Beth Carroll and Actor/Writer/Artisic Director Rich Perez! We talk first to Beth about her journey from mild-mannered Sales Manager to Sr. Pastor at Oakland City Church. Then we talk with Rich about his career in The Arts and friendship with Kenn Adams. Beth and Rich each talk about how Kenn's Improv teachings help them in their daily adventures and aspirations.

Find out more about Beth's leadership at Oakland City Church at OaklandCityChurch.org.

See Rich onstage in The Birds before 9/9/23 at the Altarena Playhouse - Altarena.org.

Synergy Theater has a new season of shows starting 10/19/23, with "Z is for... ZOMBIE"! Visit SynergyTheater.com, to get your tickets. Season tickets are available! See you there!

Who is Ben Piper? Is Ben a mythical forest-dwelling creature who is elusive when it comes to interviews? Not really. Ben is a Synergy Theater performer, Improviser, Dad, and all-around great guy! In our Interview with Ben, we discuss Ben's Improv "origin story" and roll from there right into Synergy's new show: A ROLL OF THE DICE. Each scene is created by chance! What are the challenges? What are the thrills? Ben tells all.

Get your tickets now for Synergy Theater's A ROLL OF THE DICE! Performances begin July 13th, 2023! Head to synergytheater.com and click on Performances. Valerie and I will see you there!

It's here! It's here! Synergy Theater's THE MATING GAME opens at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, CA, this week, Thursday April 13th! Visit SyngeryTheater.com and look for "Performances" to get your tickets now. In this interview - which took longer than expected to schedule (Benny explains why) - Benjamin "Benny" Garcia joins us for the first time. Benny is an incredible Improviser and the newest performer to join Synergy Theater's cast. We talk about about 11-year-old Benny's experience with an Italian youth-theater director, ("You're all RATS!"), how Benny first found Improvised Theater, and the dating show Benny would design if he could. If that were'nt enough, Benny's cat Carl makes a guest appearance and we play a game during which Valerie asks Benny a question I never could have expected. Once again, THE MATING GAME opens at The Lesher Center for the Arts Thursday April 13, 2023, and runs to April 23, 2023. See you there!

What's The Mating Game, you ask? Well, Valerie Regalia, creator and director of Synergy Theater's upcoming new show The Mating Game, answers all your(my) questions. And for the first time Kenn Adams, Synergy Theater's Artistic Director, joins us! We talk about what stands out when improvising a play about relationships. We also discuss The Mating Game's dreamlike and metaphoric qualities. By the end of this episode you'll think: I MUST SEE THIS SHOW! You can! Head to SynergyTheater.com, and click on Performances. If you reside outside the Bay Area in Northern California, The Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, (where Synergy Theater performs), is a great place to spend a spring vacation! Come see The Mating Game April 13th-23rd, 2023.