The Improv Chronicle Podcast

In the delicate dance of life's minor dramas, improvisers find a canvas rich with comedic potential. But how does one transform the everyday into an engaging slice-of-life scene on stage? In this episode of The Improv Chronicle Podcast, we delve into the artistry required to elevate the mundane to the extraordinary. Join us as we explore the subtle craft of finding humor in the smallest moments with New York City's seasoned improviser and teacher, Louis Kornfeld, and the UK's own Jenny Rowe of The Maydays and Impromptu Shakespeare. Discover the power of microdramas, the allure of authenticity, and the delicate balance between reality and performance.

In this episode you hear:

Louis Kornfeld from The Magnet Theater

Jenny Rowe from The Maydays

Episode hosted and produced by Lloydie James Lloyd

Podcast Theme:

Composed by Chris Stevens at Studio Dragonfly

Help the Improv Chronicle make more episodes. Your small donation makes a big difference:

https://ko-fi.com/improvchronicle

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does acting training help improvisers?

Three improvisers who trained as actors share what acting training can give improvisers to help make their shows better - and how improv helps their acting too.

On this episode you hear:

Eleanor Stankiewicz - IG: @elestankiewicz / @thenewlywedsimprov / linktr.ee/elestankiewicz

Anděl Sudik - yesandel.com

Dan Simpson - itsdansimpson.com

Host:

Lloydie James Lloyd - an improviser based in Nottingham, England

Podcast Theme:

Composed by Chris Stevens at Studio Dragonfly

Help the Improv Chronicle make more episodes. Your small donation makes a big difference:

https://ko-fi.com/improvchronicle

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new year, new you? Looking to supercharge your improv with some tips from great improvisers? The Improv Chronicle has got you covered. In the last four and a half years, this podcast has spoken to a lot of improvisers and gained a lot of insights. This podcast and chosen a few of those insights, some of which haven't been heard before, and put together a series of tips and things to think about for 2024. Here's to a great new year of improvisation.

Guests (in order of appearance):

Rob Norman - The Backline Podcast / Second City

Patti Styles - https://www.pattistiles.com/

Dave Pasquesi - TJ and Dave https://books.google.com/books/about/Improvisation_at_the_Speed_of_Life.html?id=zyjWoQEACAAJ

Kathy Rinaldi - ImprompTwo https://www.facebook.com/ImpromptuSarasota/

Colin Mochrie - Whose Line Is It Anyway

Help the Improv Chronicle make more episodes. The smallest of donations can still make a big difference. https://ko-fi.com/improvchronicle

Host:

Lloydie James Lloyd - an improviser based in Nottingham, England

Podcast Theme:

Composed by Chris Stevens at Studio Dragonfly

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's the point of putting a bunch of students on stage after they have been learning improv for a series of weeks? How much does it add to their learning and how do we set these shows up for success. Hear from Lloydie's students after their most recent end of term show, and from improv teachers with advice on making a student show a success.

This episode features:

Rick Andrews - Magnet Theater NYC

Chelsea Clarke - UCB Theatre NYC

This podcast seeks to be a useful part of your improv experience - if you value that, please consider donating to help it continue here: https://ko-fi.com/improvchronicle

Get the weekly Improv Chronicle newsletter here: improvchronicle.substack.com

For transcripts of episodes: improvchronicle.com

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can we use lighting and sound better in our improv. In this episode, you hear from two improvisers who also do tech and who give you a view from the tech box. This episode aims to help on-stage improvisers and improv teams think more about their tech.

You will hear from:

Cleo Pettitt - Lloydie's cousin and a professional set and costume designer

Charlotte Brown

Matt Holman

Host:

Lloydie James Lloyd

Podcast Theme:

Composed by Chris Stevens at Studio Dragonfly

Get the world of improv in your inbox every week with the Improv Chronicle Newsletter - https://improvchronicle.substack.com/

Donate to help the podcast and newsletter get produced. Even £1 / $1 helps: https://ko-fi.com/improvchronicle

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the medium of improv too often confused with the genre of improv? Surely improv isn’t one thing in the same way that theatre isn’t one thing. The genre is not the medium. This episode explores how we make the distinction between improv and styles of improv.

Guests:

Jim Fishwick (Jetpack Theatre / ITS / New Zealand Improv Festival - Insta: @fimjishwick)

Hannah Platts (Tiny Stories / Rhymes Against Humanity / Date Night)

Will Naameh (MC Hammersmith / Spontaneous Players / Shamilton / Baby Wants Candy)

Get the world of improv in your inbox every week with the Improv Chronicle Newsletter - https://improvchronicle.substack.com/

Donate to help the podcast and newsletter get produced. Even £1 / $1 helps: https://ko-fi.com/improvchronicle

Book referenced in podcast - Improvise Freely by Patti Styles:

https://www.pattistiles.com/english 

Host / Producer:

Lloydie James Lloyd

Podcast Theme:

Composed by Chris Stevens at Studio Dragonfly

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is it that some improvisers avoid playing with an older improviser, or when they do get to play with them, they make them their grandparents? Given some of the most famous, gifted improvisers who sell out shows are over the age of 60, why do peculiar attitudes around age still exist in our art form?

This episode you hear from:

Kathy Rinaldi - ImprompTwo, Sarasota, Florida

Shaun Landry - The Ledge Theatre, LA

The u3a group, Market Harborough, UK

Get the world of improv in your inbox every week with the Improv Chronicle Newsletter - https://improvchronicle.substack.com/

Donate to help the podcast and newsletter get produced. Even £1 / $1 helps: https://ko-fi.com/improvchronicle

Host / Producer:

Lloydie James Lloyd

Podcast Theme:

Composed by Chris Stevens at Studio Dragonfly

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moving your life to a new town or city is a big undertaking - there’s a lot to sort out. So what’s it like getting settled in a new city’s improv scene? Hear from three improvisers who have moved their lives to another city and then worked on fitting into that city's improv scene.

This episode hear from:

Robby Appleton (formerly Tennessee, now Chicago)

Cale Bain (formerly Toronto, now Sydney)

Liam Webber (formerly Nottingham, now Sydney)

Get the world of improv in your inbox every week with the Improv Chronicle Newsletter - https://improvchronicle.substack.com/

Donate to help the podcast and newsletter get produced. Even £1 / $1 helps: https://ko-fi.com/improvchronicle

Host / Producer:

Lloydie James Lloyd

Podcast Theme:

Composed by Chris Stevens at Studio Dragonfly

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Improvisers from different cities across the world talk about the many and varied changes that have happened to their scenes. From theatres closing to new ones opening - from scenes losing improvisers to those who are gaining new performers. Hear how scenes across the globe have changed, adapted and evolved.

This episode features:

Cale Bain - Improv Theatre Sydney

Jorin Garguilo - CIC Theatre, Chicago

Hellena Jang - IMFROG, Seoul

Shaun Landry - The Ledge Theatre, LA

Get the world of improv in your inbox every week with the Improv Chronicle Newsletter - https://improvchronicle.substack.com/

Donate to help the podcast and newsletter get produced. Even £1 / $1 helps: https://ko-fi.com/improvchronicle

Host / Producer:

Lloydie James Lloyd

Podcast Theme:

Composed by Chris Stevens at Studio Dragonfly

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether you are an improviser who hesitates to walk on, or someone who just can’t resist entering a scene, you know a walk-on has the power to change what is happening on stage. 

Marcel Blanch-de Wilt is a Sydney-based improviser and he believes there is never a bad time to enter an improv scene. He encourages new improvisers to jump in and have fun. While others argue there are times when entering a scene may disrupt the flow or emotion, Marcel believes overthinking leads to hesitation.

This episode you also hear from Sam Irving and Vera Chok who take slightly divergent views on the how and when of a walk-on in improvised scenes.

Guests:

Vera Chok

IG: @verachok and verachok.org

Marcel Blanch-de Wilt

https://marcelthecomedian.substack.com/

Sam Irving

https://www.thespontaneousplayers.com/

Host:

Lloydie James Lloyd

Improv Chronicle Newsletter:

https://improvchronicle.substack.com/

Podcast Theme:

Composed by Chris Stevens at Studio Dragonfly

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-improv-chronicle-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.