The Theft Forum

Scott Hearne interviews Roy Janik. They talk about narrative improv, Roy's journey as an improviser, and they play Two Truths and a Lie and a guessing game!

Roy Janik is the Artistic Director (and a co-owner) of The Hideout Theatre. As such, he plans and schedules all of the Hideout's shows, troupes, showcases, and special events. He has performed in many of The Hideout's mainstage productions, and is the creator and director of the critically-acclaimed show Austin Secrets. As one of the Hideout's core teachers, Roy teaches improv levels one through six. His favorite class to teach is level four, a personal feedback class he helped create the curriculum for. As a member of the improv troupe Parallelogramophonograph, he has traveled to perform and teach in over 30 cities, including Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, New York, and London. He spearheaded the creation of the Improvised Play Festival, the world's first festival devoted exclusively to theatrical, narrative improv.

Scott Hearne interviews Vanessa Gonzalez. Vanessa Gonzalez is a teacher and regular performer at The New Movement. She toured the country with her first solo show I Don't Know Words. She has been featured at comedy festivals such as Austin Sketch Fest, Fun Fun Fun Fest, Hell Yes Fest, Chicago Sketch Fest, Moontower Comedy Fest, and was in the headlining sketch slot at the Women in Comedy Festival '14.

In January 2015, I Don't Know Words was showcased at San Francisco Sketch Fest and was named a "festival favorite" by co-founder David Owen. Vanessa is currently touring with her second solo show I Don't Know Dating. When she's not touring, she helps write and produce the weekly sketch show Bad Example. More info on Vanessa: http://vanessacomedy.com/

Scott interviews Alex Ayala and Chris Karr from the independent, original series: "Server Life". We talk about NYC, improv, and a *special* Inside the Actor's Studio segment at the end of the show. 

Adrienne Dawes is an award winning writer/director from Austin, TX. Her plays include Denim Doves, Am I White, You Are Pretty, Jesus Loves Good Christians, and Heritage, Her-i-tage, and Hair-i-tage. She is also known as director of the B. Iden Payne Award winning shows: Doper Than Dope and Love Me Tinder. 

Scott and Adrienne talk about how to be a good director, Adrienne's desire to write rather than perform, white blindness, and diversity in comedy. They play two games: "Two Truths and a Lie" and a guessing game about the 90s! Fun!

Scott Hearne interviews Jorak and Jorak Do Movie From their press blurb: "Jorak and Jorak are two Eastern European brothers who have a movie theater. The only problem seems to be that never actually have an actual movie to show the audience. Their solution? They simply attempt to do the movie themselves and, of course, hilarity ensues. Aside from taking your money and not showing you a film, they may also attempt to sell you food and whatever they happen to have in the truck they "found" behind the theater."

Jorak and Jorak Do Movie Website

Scott Hearne interviews Jeff Whitaker. Jeff is a writer/producer/improviser based out of The New Movement Theater (TNM) in Austin, TX. He is creator of "Bad Example" (Link), a weekly sketch show that writes a whole, new show every week! See Bad Example every Saturday night, 9 PM at TNM. He is a member of the improv team Good Fight (Link). See Jeff perform in Good Fight every Wednesday at 9:30 PM at TNM. 

Scott Hearne interviews Ruby Willman, Aaron Saenz, and Manuel Duran from The Hideout mainstage show, "Wanderlust: Improvised Tales of Travel, Love, and Longing". Every week, Wanderlust features two different improvisers in the role of leads, mixing gender, age, and relationships - ensuring a new experience in every performance. Catch "Wanderlust" at The Hideout Theatre Saturdays at 8 PM in January and February 2015.

Scott Hearne interviews Adrienne Dawes, Minerva Villa, and David Nguyen from “Love Me Tinder: A Musical Sketch Revue”. See the show, Thursday, February 5th, 8:00 PM at Hyde Park Theater in Austin, TX.

Heckle Her presents “Love Me Tinder,” a musical sketch revue that pops the ultimate Valentine’s Day question - swipe left or right? “Love Me Tinder” Featuring Minerva Villa, Cené Hale, Jillian Summar, Jared Robertson, Chris Hatcher, and David Nguyen, accompanied by Brian Kremer, musical direction by Ammon Taylor, and directed by Adrienne Dawes.

Scott Hearne interviews Ed Hill during The Out of Bounds Comedy Festival 2014.

Originally from Taiwan, Ed is an emerging young comic who moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 18 years ago, thinking he was on vacation at his father's discretion.

Since then, Ed has performed all over the world. He has appeared on Bite TV’s “Stand up & Bite Me”, XM Radio’s “Laugh Attack”, West Coast Comedy TV on Hulu, and 2 appearances on Comedy Time TV. He was also invited to perform at Comedy Masala in Singapore, Live Comedy Club in Taiwan, the Hong Kong Comedy Festival, NXNE, San Francisco Comedy Festival, Austin Out of Bounds Comedy Festival, North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival, the Vancouver Comedy Festival and many more.

Ed is still currently on vacation with his potato-like dogs.

Scott Hearne interviews Jamie Campbell. Jamie Campbell was named Chicago's "Best Stand-Up" in 2013 by The Chicago Reader. He has performed at the TBS Just For Laughs Festival, The New Orleans Comedy Festival, The Chicago Improv Festival, and more. 

He is a cast member of 100 Proof Comedy in Chicago and host of the critically acclaimed, late-night talk show Talk Hard. Jamie has shared the stage with Time Meadows, Hannibal Buress, Neil Hamburger, and Laurie Kilmartin. As an improviser, he is a member of The Annoyance Theatre's House Ensemble, ComedySportz Chicago, and The Stevens Family. 

Jamie is one of the stars of the upcoming feature film "Dirtbags" and you might recognize him from KFC and Cousins Subs commercials or from his appearance on the Improv Nerd Podcast.