Next At Bat

Phil Schramm and Joe McGowen of Side Pickle join us to talk about performing a “long form show about a long form show.”

They discuss the desire to start a group immediately after starting taking improv classes, performing from the moment you step foot on stage, experimenting in rehearsal, and how their opposite personalities compliment and challenge each other in a duo.

Matt does his classic segment, We Don’t Have a Name for This Segment Yet, and we debut a new feature, Philip’s Corner, in which we discover that Phil and Joe are actually are Philip and Matt in disguise.

Also, we explore friendship and incest.

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Mark Sutton and Joe Bill of BASSPROV join Matt to talk about doing a one-act play right at the intersection where bass fishing and improv meet.

They talk about doing a conversational Harold, taking deep and shallow suggestions, starting in the middle, creating metaphors out of the seemingly mundane, showing the audience a small, real time section of an ongoing conversation, confidence, and defying categorization.

Also, we learn about hugs and airplane etiquette.

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Tane Danger and Brandon Boat of Danger Boat Productions (the creators of The Theater of Public Policy) join us to talk about their upcoming event, All St. Paul’s A Stage. On August 19th, over 50 improvisers in small groups will perform more than 300 impromptu improvgram scenes all over the city. (learn more and order an improvgram at dangerboat.net)

We also discussed using the armando form to simplify complex issues, “big name” versus well-informed guest monologists, marketing to a non-impov audience, and paying performers.

We debut a new segment, Philip’s Corner, in which we find out what office Tane and Brandon would like to run (and co-run) for.

Also, we fall for some pranks.

Follow Danger Boat Productions, and order your improvgrams at dangerboat.net

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Butch Roy, Jen Van Kaam, and James Moore join us to discuss the Neutrino Video Project produced by HUGE Theater. They talk about the benefits and challenges of filming improvised scenes: no immediate feedback from the audience, cinematic tools to play with, improvised special effects, controlling focus, different directing styles, letting go of the idea of perfection, and letting the audience see the strings.

Matt does his classic segment, A Beautiful French Woman, and we ddebut a new segment, Philip’s Corner.

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Doug Neithercott and Doug Ocar of ComedySportz Twin Cities (unfortunately Mary Strutzel couldn’t join us) to talk about running the local branch of a worldwide, all-ages, short-form show. They discuss the benefits of the brand, and how much freedom there is to present your own style within the brand, the power of having a ref, a tech booth, and a keyboardist, legitimizing improv, good story telling, the importance of having a cast list with diverse comedic styles, and expanding your idea of what you can do.

Also, Doug and Doug open a burger restaurant, Matt does short-form for the third time, and we finally find a way for Philip to be less off-putting.

Follow ComedySportz Twin Cities at ComedySportzTC.com

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Drew Kersten of My Friend’s Friend’s Friend joins us for some shameless plus, and to talk about marketing, the benefit of having guests built into your show, branding, and game of the scene.

Matt does his classic segment, Quick Things You’d Like to Know Right Now, Similarly Paced Responses, and we try a new segment, Philip’s Corner, in which we learn more about Philip than Drew.

Actually, we’re going to cut that.

Also, we learn about baby names.

 

Follow My Friend’s Friend’s Friend at facebook.com/MyFriendsFriendsFriend

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Joy Dolo, Kory LaQuess Pullam, and Alsa Bruno of Blackout (unfortunately Andy Hilbrands and John Gebretatose couldn’t join us) talk about marketing, privilege, balancing serious and comedic conversation, having a dialogue with the audience, being inclusive of diverse points of views, bringing your individual talents to a group, the responsibility to address difficult topics, and building the trust to be able to not only discuss those issues, but to find comedy in them together.

Also, we cast a new Malcom X movie.

Follow Blackout at facebook.com/BlackoutImprov

and blackoutimprovcome.wix.com/blackoutimprovcomedy

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The Sultans of Silly (Cody Nelson, Denzel Belin, and Matthew McCloud) winners of the 2016 Troika Madness competition, join us to talk about (not) practicing, playing the same characters, avoiding in-fighting, always moving forward, improvising faster than you can think, and finding each other funny.

Philip hosts (we’ll fix it in post) and tries a new segment, Philip’s Corner.

Also, the Sultans of Silly investigate where their water went.

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Dylan Rohde, founder and co-owner of the Backline Theater and organizer of the Omaha Improv Festival, joins us to talk about avoiding the obvious heightening choice, focusing on your scene partner instead of the audience (but still providing the audience with comedy), breaking on stage, and the importance of hiring a coach.

Matt does his classic section, A Lot, and we try a new segment, Philip’s Corner, in which we discus firework safety.

Also, we learn about sub-branches of Green Peace.

Follow Dylan Rohde at facebook.com/dylanrohde

and The Backline at www.backlinecomedy.com

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Ferrari McSpeedy (Joe Bozic and Mike Fotis) join us (after 3 years of trying to schedule) to talk about the many things they do: sketch, improv, and opening a new theater, Strike Theater, with Allison Broeren, for sketch, storytelling, and spoken word.

They discus how the scene has changed in their 15 year’s as a duo, being mid-form improv, sketch vs improv, going meta, being physical, balancing dynamics, starting scenes, and whether it’s ok to have an emotional change.

Also, Matt tries to convince them to add podcasting to Strike’s mission, and Philip makes some mistakes.

Strike: Hey, let’s do this.

Follow Ferrari McSpeedy at facebook.com/FerrariMcSpeedy

Follow Strike Theater at www.strike.theater

and facebook.com/striketheatermpls

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