The Improv Teachers

By The Improv Teachers

What's The Improv Teachers about?

Here you'll find the award-winning podcast, The Improv Teachers as well as other improv related conversations from veteran improviser Lauren Morris. There's conversations about being an artistic director and what it takes to own and operate a long-form improv theater in a small community.

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The Improv Teachers episodes:

10.22.2019
Episode 57: Katy Schutte
Katy Schutte is one of the UK's original long-form improvisers. She performs and teaches all over the world, is head-teach for Hoopla and Co-Artistic Director for The Maydays in the UK. Katy has been one of The Maydays since 2004, she is half of legendary sci-fi...
09.03.2019
Episode 56: Chris Mead
Chris is a UK-based performer and theatre-maker who teaches and coaches improvisation in London. He has studied theatre at Royal Holloway College and improvisation at iO and The Annoyance Theatre in Chicago. He is the co-artistic director of The Nursery...
08.07.2019
Improv Teachers, Director's Edition, Episode 11
It's episode 11 and today I discuss expanding your community, growing your leadership team, and finding your management style. You can learn more at www.adlibcomedy.com and www.laurenhasthree.com
08.06.2019
Episode 55: Andy Perkins
It's Tuesday and ... Andy began teaching as a graduate student while pursuing his MFA in acting at Purdue. While there, he designed and taught a semester long foundational improv course. Since then, he has moved back to Kansas City, Missouri where...
07.09.2019
Episode 54: Lauren Esposito
It's Tuesday and... Lauren Esposito is our guest! Lauren Esposito is a teacher and performer with the Syracuse Improv Collective in Syracuse, NY. She performs regularly with resident teams Susan Be Anything and Heavy Metal Heat Wave. Lauren has been...
06.04.2019
Improv Teachers: Episode 53, Megan Gray
It's Tuesday and ... Megan Gray is this month's guest! Megan is the former Artistic Director of the Magnet Theater, a writer, performer, and native New Yorker. She has performed with Second City aboard the NCL Gem and was a member...
05.27.2019
Improv Teachers Quick Take #16, Watching Shows
Quick Take 16 in podcast form! This week it's about encouraging your students to see shows. Watching improv is an important element of the learning process. To learn more visit www.laurenhasthree.com
05.21.2019
Improv Teachers Quick Take #15, Building Trust
Quick Take 15 has arrived! Today we explore how to build trust in the classroom. Without trust, students cannot grow or explore new territory. It is up to us, the teacher, to provide a place where trust is fostered, created, and...
05.14.2019
Improv Teachers Quick Take #14, Giving Notes
Quick Take #14 is all about giving notes! How many notes should be given after a scene, set, or exercise? It's a balancing act and important for the improv classroom experience. To learn more visit www.laurenhasthree.com
05.14.2019
Improv Teachers Quick Take #13, Differentiation Of Notes
Welcome to Quick Takes! Let's explore improv teaching tools that help you in the classroom. This week it's about differentiation of your notes. No one student is the same and our notes should reflect this. From a beginner to an advanced...
05.07.2019
Improv Teachers Episode 52 Rick Andrews
It's Tuesday and ... Rick Andrews is our guest! Find us on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google To learn more visit www.laurenhasthree.com or www.adlibcomedy.com Rick Andrews is a teacher and performer at The Magnet Theater and has been studying, performing, and teaching improvisation...
04.29.2019
Improv Teachers Quick Take #12, Expectations!
Welcome to Quick Takes! Today we discuss setting up expectations in the classroom. This is an essential piece of the improv classroom. Expectations help students feel safe and comfortable to explore, fail, grow, and learn. To learn more: www.laurenhasthree.com www.adlibcomedy.com
04.22.2019
Quick Take 11: The Socratic Method
Today it's all about the Socratic Method. Learn what it is and how to implement it in your improv classroom. Here are some extras as you learn about this approach: www.laurenhasthree.com www.adlibcomedy.com http://www.umich.edu/~elements/probsolv/strategy/cthinking.htm
04.17.2019
Improv Teachers Quick Take #10
It's episode 10 of Improv Teachers: Quick Takes. You can find more on YouTube at https://youtu.be/kAGcT5U8PYI. In this episode, I discuss impact vs intention and how to use it for the improv classroom! Visit www.laurenhasthree.com to find all our the...
04.16.2019
Improv Teachers: Episode 51, Jocelyn Hillen
It's Tuesday and Jocelyn Hillen is our guest! Jocelyn Hillen is a Pittsburgh native who had her first brush with theater life at a traumatic audition for the Mickey Mouse Club in 1992. She went on to earn a BFA in...
04.09.2019
Improv Teachers Quick Take #9
This week's Quick Take is about using the 5 whys to get your student to understand and learn in the classroom. You can find more at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEY-RrCfr5I1EJ8nMmeEQOQ?view_as=subscriber
04.02.2019
Improv Teachers: Episode 50, Andel Sudik
It's Tuesday and ... Andel Sudik is our guest! Andel was born and raised in Santa Clarita, California. She spent her winters and summers on her family’s farm in Nebraska near Wahoo and moved to Chicago right after high school. She...
04.01.2019
Improv Teachers Quick Take #8
In this episode, we discuss Mel Robbin's 5-second rule and how it can be applied to improv!
04.01.2019
The Improv Teachers Director's Edition, Ep 12
In this episode, host Lauren Morris discusses keeping teams motivated, hard notes, when to apologize for putting your foot in your mouth and being transparent.
03.25.2019
Improv Teachers Quick Take #7
This week we are going to start our multi-part series on Bloom's Taxonomy. There are 6 parts: Remember Understand Apply Analyze Evaluate Create This week we wrap it up with evaluating and creating! https://www.soundcloud.com/improvteac... https://www.laurenhasthree.com https://www.adlibcomedy.com
03.25.2019
Improv Teachers Director's Edition Episode 11
In this episode, I take a look at discussing boundaries, intimacy, and consent at your theater. It's an important piece of the improv experience and we need to make sure we are doing our job to ensure everyone has a...
03.18.2019
Improv Teachers Quick Take #6
This week we are going to start our multi-part series on Bloom's Taxonomy. There are 6 parts: Remember Understand Apply Analyze Evaluate Create This week it's about applying and analyzing https://www.soundcloud.com/improvteac... https://www.laurenhasthree.com https://www.adlibcomedy.com
03.11.2019
Improv Teachers Quick Take #5
This week we are going to start our multi-part series on Bloom's Taxonomy. There are 6 parts: Remember Understand Apply Analyze Evaluate Create This week we look at Remembering and Understanding https://www.laurenhasthree.com https://www.adlibcomedy.com
03.05.2019
The Improv Teachers Episode 49, Ryan Suffridge
It's Tuesday and ... Ryan Suffridge is our guest! Ryan re-kindled his love of improv back in 2010 when he joined the National Comedy Theater as a member of their College Team and, later, their Sunday Company and Mainstage teams. He...
03.04.2019
Improv Teachers Quick Take 4
This quick take is all about the goals and objectives. Two different concepts, both important to the improv teacher's toolbox! Find us on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhAllI9zLww&t=36s www.laurenhasthree.com
03.03.2019
Improv Teachers Director's Edition, Episode 10
This episode we explore why we watch videos of our performances, notes to give once expectations are clear, and how to develop group mind. You can learn more at www.laurenhasthree.com
02.25.2019
Improv Teachers Quick Take #3
This week we are talking about creating your syllabus! It's an essential tool in any improv teacher's tool box! https://www.soundcloud.com/improvteac... https://www.laurenhasthree.com https://www.adlibcomedy.com Resource Links: http://improvencyclopedia.org/ Bill Arnett's Book: http://bit.ly/BillArnett Mick Napier's Book: http://bit.ly/MickNapier Viola Spolin: https://amzn.to/2SdVLVr Paul Vaillancourt's Book: http://bit.ly/PVImprov
02.18.2019
Improv Teachers Quick Take #2
Quick Take #2! How to get started in teaching. From working with established training centers to branching out on your own, here are some tips on getting your teaching journey started! Find Quick Takes on YouTube: http://bit.ly/ImprovTeacher Learn more at www.laurenhasthree.com and...
02.11.2019
Improv Teachers: Quick Take #1
It's Quick Take #1! Why do you want to teach? What is about your voice and who you are that drives you to inspire others? Figure this out and your teaching can change the world! Find Quick Takes on YouTube: http://bit.ly/ImprovTeacher Learn more...
02.05.2019
Episode 48: Gretchen Wirges
It's Tuesday and Gretchen Wirges is our guest! Gretchen is a Tucson, Arizona - based improv teacher, coach, and performer. She spent 4 years on stage with short-form troupe Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed and now performs around the country with...
01.23.2019
Improv Teachers, Director's Edition Episode 9
This week we look at communicating with each other during a show, making sure the audience is on the same page as your team, and marrying different styles of play! Find more at: www.laurenhasthree.com www.adlibcomedy.com www.facebook.com/improvteachers
01.14.2019
Improv Teachers Director's Edition, Episode 8
This week I explore vocabulary in your own group, how to recover from hesitation in a scene, and why improv is about being in service of others! You can find this and more on Facebook and Twitter!
01.08.2019
Episode 47: Kat Kenny
It's Tuesday and ... Kat Kenny is our guest! Kathleen Kenny is the Improv Director & Education Director at Bob Carter’s Actor’s Rep in West Palm Beach where she’s been teaching short form and long form improvisation to improvisers of all...
01.07.2019
Improv Teachers: Director's Edition, Episode 7
Great first show of 2019! Looking forward to learning together.
01.02.2019
Improv Teachers, Director's Edition, Episode 6
This episode is all about auditions! Some takeaways and tips on how to run an improv audition and how empathy plays a role!
12.11.2018
Improv Teachers Director's Edition, Episode 5
Episode 5 and this time host Lauren Morris gives herself notes! Listen and learn why it's important for leaders to understand the need to own up to their own shortcomings, how to do it, and give themselves notes!
12.04.2018
Improv Teachers Director's Edition, Episode 4
This episode, Lauren Morris, discusses the importance of keeping energy going on stage versus stopping it suddenly. She also dives into why it's important to develop trust and camaraderie off stage makes your work better on stage. Find more at...
11.23.2018
The Improv Teachers Director's Edition, Episode 3
This week, Lauren Morris discusses tangible elements you can look for in an improv audition. She also discusses steps to take when implementing artistic change and how empathy is a "must have" for directors. To learn more you can visit: www.facebook.com/improvteachers www.adlibcomedy.com www.laurenhasthree.com
11.16.2018
Improv Teachers: Director's Edition, Episode 2
Welcome back to Improv Teachers: Director's Edition! I delve once again into our Saturday night show. In this episode, I discuss the importance of edits, bold choices, and fun. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, and YouTube.
11.13.2018
Episode 46: Improvised Movie with Paul Vaillancourt
It's Tuesday and... Paul Vaillancourt returns to the program! Improvised Movie is the topic of this podcast. Paul and I both teach it, love it, and perform it so I wanted to dive into the world of movie! You can find Paul...
11.09.2018
Director's Edition, Episode 1
Hi and welcome to what I hope is the first of many episodes! I'm your host Lauren Morris. I am also the founder and director of AdLib Theatre. Just like with the Improv Teachers podcast, I wanted to take a closer...
09.11.2018
Episode 45: Louis Kornfeld
It's Tuesday and... Louis Kornfeld is our guest! Louis Kornfeld began improvising way back in 2003, when both his phone and online presence were at the forefront of millennium culture. He's been a proud member of the Magnet Theater since it...
05.29.2018
Episode 44: Caitlin Kunkel
It's Tuesday and... Caitlin Kunkel is this month's guest! Caitlin Kunkel is a comedy writer and satirist. Her work has been featured in The New Yorker, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Public Radio International and other places on the vast internetz. Caitlin is...
04.04.2018
Special Episode (Ep 17): Deep Dive with Max McCal
It's Wednesday and we have a special episode! Join Max McCal of Endgames Improv on this deep dive into coaching and the form known as the Slacker!
03.12.2018
Episode 43: Woody Fu
It's Tuesday and... Woody Fu is our guest!Woody Fu is an actor, sketch comedian, writer and improviser living in Brooklyn. He has performed on the Boom Chicago stage in Amsterdam. His one-man show Asian Gracefully has gone up at the...
02.06.2018
Episode 42: Josh Nicols
It's Tuesday and... Josh Nicols is back as our guest! We invited Josh back to discuss more teaching and coaching improv! Josh has been performing improv for 25 years. He co-founded Spectacles Improv Engine, created the Orange County Improv fest and...
01.02.2018
Episode 41: John Gebretatose
Episode 41: Our guest is John Gebretatose! John rose from the ranks of a HUGE Improv Theater student, to a HUGE Improv instructor. He trained and worked at Brave New Workshop. He has performed stand-up comedy in the Twin Cities for over nine...
10.24.2017
Episode 40: Laura Manasewich
It's Tuesday and... Laura Manasewich is our guest! Laura hails from East Hartford, CT. She holds a BA in Communication from Western New England College, which is now a University! She has studied improv in CT with Hartford Stage, and Claire...
09.26.2017
Episode 39: Neil Curran
It's Tuesday and... Neil Curran is our guest! Neil has been teaching and performing improv both in Ireland and abroad for many years. Aside from running improv courses for people from beginner to advanced level, Neil also runs bespoke courses....
08.14.2017
Episode 38: Betsaida LeBron
Our August episode is ready! Betsaida LeBron is our guest. Here is her bio from her website: My passion is creating art as a performer and helping others create art as a teacher. At a young age I began entertaining family...

What's The Improv Teachers about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Improv Teachers episodes:

Episode 57: Katy Schutte

Episode 56: Chris Mead

Improv Teachers, Director's Edition, Episode 11

Episode 55: Andy Perkins

Episode 54: Lauren Esposito

Improv Teachers: Episode 53, Megan Gray

Improv Teachers Quick Take #16, Watching Shows

Improv Teachers Quick Take #15, Building Trust

Improv Teachers Quick Take #14, Giving Notes

Improv Teachers Quick Take #13, Differentiation Of Notes

Improv Teachers Episode 52 Rick Andrews

Improv Teachers Quick Take #12, Expectations!

Quick Take 11: The Socratic Method

Improv Teachers Quick Take #10

Improv Teachers: Episode 51, Jocelyn Hillen

Improv Teachers Quick Take #9

Improv Teachers: Episode 50, Andel Sudik

Improv Teachers Quick Take #8

The Improv Teachers Director's Edition, Ep 12

Improv Teachers Quick Take #7

Improv Teachers Director's Edition Episode 11

Improv Teachers Quick Take #6

Improv Teachers Quick Take #5

The Improv Teachers Episode 49, Ryan Suffridge

Improv Teachers Quick Take 4

Improv Teachers Director's Edition, Episode 10

Improv Teachers Quick Take #3

Improv Teachers Quick Take #2

Improv Teachers: Quick Take #1

Episode 48: Gretchen Wirges

Improv Teachers, Director's Edition Episode 9

Improv Teachers Director's Edition, Episode 8

Episode 47: Kat Kenny

Improv Teachers: Director's Edition, Episode 7

Improv Teachers, Director's Edition, Episode 6

Improv Teachers Director's Edition, Episode 5

Improv Teachers Director's Edition, Episode 4

The Improv Teachers Director's Edition, Episode 3

Improv Teachers: Director's Edition, Episode 2

Episode 46: Improvised Movie with Paul Vaillancourt

Director's Edition, Episode 1

Episode 45: Louis Kornfeld

Episode 44: Caitlin Kunkel

Special Episode (Ep 17): Deep Dive with Max McCal

Episode 43: Woody Fu

Episode 42: Josh Nicols

Episode 41: John Gebretatose

Episode 40: Laura Manasewich

Episode 39: Neil Curran

Episode 38: Betsaida LeBron