Improv Interviews

What a delight to meet the fantastic Rob Norman in Toronto, Canada. Rob is a beloved improviser/instructor/writer/ podcaster. Rob is author of IMPROVISING NOW: A Practical Guide to Modern Improv which is currently being translated into Spanish, Chinese, and Latvian. He is a Second City alumni and has directed both the National Touring Company and Second at Sea. HIs improv journey is fascinating! He started teaching improv before he took any classes! While in high school he asked his mother to go to the library and get a book on improv and she came back with “Truth in Comedy” by Charna Halpern, Del Close, and Kim Johnson. And he started with long form! In addition to hosting and producing the weekly improv podcast, THE BACKLINE, Rob is a Canadian Comedy Award for Best Improv Troupe, and Canadian Screen Award for his performance on CityTV' Sunnyside. Rob also produced the critically acclaimed, improvised horror series LIMITED CAPACITY for CBC Radio,Visit my website where I speak to today's leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists from all over the world who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. margotescott.com/podcast/

After taking a workshop with Jill Eickmann I was so delighted to chat with her. Jill's teaching is incredibly supportive and validating! Jill Eickmann, MA, LMFT, is San Francisco’s Leela Improvisational Theater's Co-Founder, Artistic Director, and Director of Corporate Training. Training.Informed by her diverse training and experience, Jill designed Leela’s holistic 5 level improv curriculum. She oversees all elements of Leela’s Corporate Training program including client communication, curriculum design, casting, hiring, and training teaching artists, and facilitation. Jill is a licensed psychotherapist, drama therapist, play therapist, and self-revelatory theatre director who continues to teach and present on the psychological implications and therapeutic benefits of improvisation. With training and experience facilitating groups for individuals struggling with social anxiety & shyness, teaching foster parenting classes, and designing corporate training programs, she is passionate about utilizing improvised role play as “Rehearsal for Life.” Clients include: Adobe, The Clorox Company, IBM, Facebook/Meta, Google, Levi Strauss & Co., LinkedIn, McKinsey & Company, Coinbase, Walmart, and YouTube (among others.) She has produced events and held board positions for The San Francisco Improv Festival, and is the Executive Producer for Femprovisor Fest, SF’s Feminist Improv Festival. Jill received her BFA in Theatre/ Acting from University of Florida and MA in Counseling Psychology, Drama Therapy from California Institute of Integral Studies. She studied in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco with some of the best from Upright Citizens Brigade Theater (UCB), The Second City, iO Chicago (Formerly Improv Olympic), Annoyance Productions, SF Clown School, and Magnet Theater. In addition to performing in duos and small ensemble projects with Leela’s past and present faculty members, she has performed across the country with notable improvisors including Chad Damiani, Dan Fogler, Law Tarello, Jay Sukow, Tracy Burns, Brian James O’Connell, and Sunita Deshpande. (among others.) As a therapeutic performance artist, she regularly performs with playback theatre actor/director, Roni Alperin in their playback theatre duo, and in an improvised therapy format, “In Session” for the treatment of your favorite fictional character. In their duo, “Intimacy,” Jill collaborates with somatic practitioner, Chelsea McAlexander exploring the intersection between improv and consent. “The Friendship Show” a solo self-revelatory theatre performance, is Jill’s mission to heal adult loneliness through theatrical improvisation. Always looking to push the boundaries of the art of improvisation, Jill has conceived and directed original formats and theories in long-form improv performance, from a darkly psychological “Improvised Black Mirror” format, to incorporating contact improv and improvised dance in “Story Dance”, as well as on-line formats like, “The Before Times” which was performed at Seattle’s (On-line) Festival of Improvised Theatre with inner monologist, Joe Bill. Most notably, Jill customized a private improv class for cast members of The Lion King – Broadway Tour. Her artistic mission is to inspire people of all walks of life to invest in an improv practice that is connected, mindful, joyful, transformative, and courageously surrenders to TRUTH. To learn more about Jill, check out these links. Websites: http://www.leela-sf.com http://www.leela-nc.com http://www.jilleickmann.com Visit my website where I speak to today's leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists from all over the world who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. margotescott.com/podcast/

What a gift to chat with Alrinthea Carter, writer, improviser, photographer and so much more. A truly renaissance artist. She had recently moved from Greenville, S.C. to LA for a writing position at the beginning of the WGA strike when we spoke. But that didn't diminish her sense of humor and joyful life. Alrinthea grew up in Europe with wonderfully supportive parents. She began writing plays and sketches with her Barbies and hasn't stopped. She is an Emmy nominated writer for her work on the HBO hit series, "A Black Lady Sketch Show" and plays with fantastic improvisers in LA. To learn more about Alrinthea, check out her website at https://www.alrintheacarter.com/about-alrinthea and be sure to listen to herTedTalk at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98RK5OfWt9Q Check out her photographic tribute to Abandoned Space in Souther Philter at https://www.southernphilter.com Visit my website where I speak to today's leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists from all over the world who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. margotescott.com/podcast/

Meet the incredible Marc Warzecha who founded the online Sketch School https://www.thesketchschool.com/ I met Mark this spring when I took Comedy Sketch Writing 101. It was so fantastic that I too all 3 levels and loved it. Marc is a compassionate and highly competent teacher and his classes are always informative and fun! With two decades at THE SECOND CITY Comedy Theatre, Marc Warzecha is an award-winning HEAD WRITER and ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, overseeing dozens of original sketch comedy revues across North America including multiple productions at The Kennedy Center (Washington DC), The Second City - Mainstage and ETC (Chicago), and The Kirk Douglas Theatre (Los Angeles) featuring sketch stars like Keegan-Michael Key (Comedy Central's Key & Peele), Jason Sudeikis (Apple TV+'s Ted Lasso), Tim Robinson (Netflix's I Think You Should Leave), Kay Cannon (writer, Pitch Perfect) and writer/performers currently featured on HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show, NBC's SNL, FOX's The Simpsons, and more. Marc started his improv journey at Second City Detroit with other mega stars like Moyer and Michal Keegan Marc has been a guest on CNN’s “Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer” and NPR’s “All Things Considered.” Currently living in Los Angeles, he is a proud native Detroiter and Armenian. Visit my website where I speak to today's leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists from all over the world who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. margotescott.com/podcast/

Meet award winning storyteller and improviser Kevin McGeehan. In our interview Kevin shares his improv journey in a touching, funny and very honest way. He speaks about his love for his mother and other family members and has a huge heart! He is a 9-time Moth winner and won the 2019 Grand Moth Championship. Visit my website where I speak to today's leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists from all over the world who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. margotescott.com/podcast/

Andrew Ritter taught improv and musical improv at Second City Chicago. We chatted about his introduction to musical improv with our mutual friend the brilliant Michael Descoteaux. One of his students was the musical improviser and artistic director of Boom Chicago, Stacey Smith He developed a children’s show called, “The Greatest Story Never Told” In this show he invited the children in audience to come on stage, choose their own character and make up a story on the spot! He currently lives and teaches in Vermont and is the Creative Director/Writer/Voice Actor for The Gfulness APP, a unique meditation app that combines the concept of meditation and mindfulness with comedy based on the idea that laughter is the best medicine. Check it out at https://www.gfulness.com/ Enjoy this podcast! Visit my website where I speak to today's leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists from all over the world who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. margotescott.com/podcast/

MONIKA OZDARSKA Monika is a Warsaw-based improviser and a warm and brilliant spirit. We talked about her journey from Middle Eastern Archeology to Graphic Design to Improv. She recalled the tremendous impact that the Barcelona Improv Festival had on her and thrust her into global improv. “WePolak” is the incredible performance show she co-stars in with improviser/actor Jeff Michalski . They have performed this show all over Poland and other cities around the world and their show gets rave reviews. Enjoy this podcast! Visit my website where I speak to today's leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists from all over the world who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. margotescott.com/podcast/

Liz Allen is truly an improv legend. She is a sought after improv coach. In fact, for several years I’ve wanted to study with her but whenever I tried to sign up for an online class - they were full! Learning about her improv journey, philosophy and insight into this art form was truly a gift! Liz is an improviser and teacher who, among other things, coached the improv team in Mike Birbiglia’s film Don’t Think Twice. She recently performed a solo piece, “I am my Mother” a dark comedy about her relationship with her southern mother who struggled with addiction, and how her family coped. We chatted about growing up in an addicted family and how that informed her comedy and love of theatre. We actually played a scene, and I’m so glad we did! I met Liz through Jay Sukow. They started improv classes together over 30 years ago and remain close friends. Liz is a charming, humble and amazing person and eventually I will take a class with her! Enjoy this podcast! Visit my website where I speak to today's leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists from all over the world who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. margotescott.com/podcast/

Ted Waltmire was a librarian, pianist and community musical director until his life completely changed in 2009 when he suffered a stroke and lost the ability to play the piano with his left hand. After many years of rehab therapies his friend Dale Galiniak who worked for him at the library suggested Improv. He had an “aha” moment when he realized that despite his continued physical limitations, he could play improv games. He jumped in with both feet and pursued classes at Second City Chicago and landed in a writing class. When his teacher learned his story he suggested that Ted write his life story, which became a musical directed by Jay Sukow and musical direction by Stephanie McCullough. Stephanie said about Ted, “He is such an impressive person. His musical abilities are outstanding." His story is inspiring to anyone, but especially people who have had similar life changes. We laughed and cried and I know you will love Ted as much as I do. Visit my website where I speak to today's leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists from all over the world who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. margotescott.com/podcast/

I had the good fortune to take an improv class with the wonderful Frank Cieta and what a great experience that was. Frank Cieta is a recognizable face to those who loved Madtv and his Captain Kangaroo sketches on the Jimmy Kimmel Show. He is a fantastic and always fun improviser. Frank shares his improv and comedy journey and we had a lot of laughs! Visit my website where I speak to today's leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists from all over the world who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. margotescott.com/podcast/