Magnet Theater Podcast

The multi-talented sketch writer/performer, improviser, and head of Musical Megawatt, Michael Lutton, sits down with host Louis Kornfeld to discuss what makes for good musical improv and how it can benefit “regular” improv. He talks about the advantages of pushing boundaries when no one is looking and provides advice for improvisers looking to learn musical improv outside of NYC. This one is all about selling it in the moment.

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The post #23: Michael Lutton appeared first on Magnet Theater.

Louis Kornfeld gets up on his soapbox along with Michael Girts and Mike Descoteaux to preach the virtues of bringing musical improv to the big stage. Blank! The Musical is a big budget improvised musical playing Off-Broadway at New World Stages in NYC. Louis talks with both Mikes about the hard work and planning that goes into producing such an incredible show, and how framing the performance and accepting the audience as an integral part of the show help to propel on-the-spot theater to new heights.

NYT Review: Click here; Broadway World Review: Click here; The Source Review: Click here.

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The post #22: Creators of Blank! The Musical appeared first on Magnet Theater.

On this episode of the Magnet Podcast, host Alex Marino chats it up with improviser and yogi Emily Shapiro about teaching yoga and doing improv in Costa Rica, Emily’s affection for Lord of the Rings, and people who look like Smeagol.

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The post #21: Emily Shapiro appeared first on Magnet Theater.

Louis Kornfeld talks with the amazing Caitlin Steitzer about teenagers, the links between improv and social work, and the uses of theater for community development.

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The post #20: Caitlin Steitzer appeared first on Magnet Theater.

Louis Kornfeld chats it up with improv wunderkind Sebastian Conelli. They talk about growing up on Staten Island, using humor as a way to get through childhood, learning to love and show what you love on stage, and being a bad student.

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The post #19:Sebastian Conelli appeared first on Magnet Theater.

Alex Marino occupies the Magnet Training Center office with North Coast members Jonathan DeMuth and Douglas Widick. They talk about the origins of Hip Hop Improv, the beatbox community, their personal improv journeys and bagel bites.

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The post #18:North Coast appeared first on Magnet Theater.

Here it is.  Nick Kanellis – actor, improviser, teacher, story pirate and motion capture professional.  Louis interviews one if the kindest and funniest improvisers ever to get killed by Peter McNerney onstage every week for years. They talk about his critically loved show Trike (w/ Peter McNerney), the perils of self-judgment, the joys of being a great sidekick and learning not to cry because it makes others uncomfortable.  They go deep into the fallacy that we are ever in control of our own thoughts and feelings, and the healthy repression of primal fear. These two guys are smart, kind, and clearly good friends who enjoy each other.  We hope you enjoy as well.

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The post #17:Nick Kanellis appeared first on Magnet Theater.

TJ Jagodowski and Dave Pasquesi have a completely deserved reputation as a supernaturally skilled duo.  They also deserve their reputations as gentlemen, thoughtful artists, kind improvisers and generous souls.  And you could not have two bigger fans than Louis Kornfeld and Alex Marino, the co-hosts of this episode.  TJ and Dave expound on their work, both improv and sketch, plans for their new theater in Chicago, and their thoughts behind directing, acting, teaching and being one half of something special. They also don’t talk about the book they are writing which will be out next year.  Enjoy.

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The post #16:TJ and Dave appeared first on Magnet Theater.

Elana Fishbein was in the first ever show at Magnet.  And she was really good.  10 years later she’s an improviser, actor, writer, and teacher.  She has Master’s Degree in Educational Theater from NYU, leads our Youth Program, and co-created two professional development workshop series for teachers: “Beyond Winging It: Improv in the Classroom” and “Play.” She can be seen with Story Pirates on stage and heard with The Truth Podcast your headphones.  All in all, you’ve got a super funny improviser with interesting things to say about it.  Listen to this great episode where Louis Kornfeld goes deep into the idea of forcing yourself to be vulnerable, improv accountability, shared ownership, and Canada.  Enjoy!

Subscribe to the Magnet Theater Podcast via iTunes here.

Enjoy Episode #15 on iTunes

The post #15:Elana Fishbein appeared first on Magnet Theater.

It’s our pleasure to share this intense and hilarious archive conversation with Dave Razowsky and Ed Herbstman recorded live at Magnet Theater. Alex Marino asks the right questions and doesn’t get any of the answers he wanted.  Neither does the audience when it’s opened up to questions at the end.  A fun listen to be sure. Ed particularly seems to be enjoying himself, perhaps because Razowsky was his first improv teacher back in 1990 when he was in high school.

Catch master teacher Dave Razowsky next time he’s in NYC teaching at Magnet, and be sure to see Razowsky, Herbstman and Hamilton, which is really really good.  Rachel Hamilton is the woman in the photo.  She’s really really good.

Subscribe to the Magnet Theater Podcast via iTunes here.

Enjoy Episode #14 on iTunes or below via SoundCloud.

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