Meet the Host - John Timmers

Born the second son of a second son of a second son, John grew up in the wondrous far-away land of Roswell, GA. As a young child, John perfected such desirable trades as rock-collecting, stick-collecting, snail shell-collecting, and dirt-collecting. Needless to say, the young talent was a hit with the ladies. This unfortunately proved to be detrimental to John's elementary school academic success, as he was scarcely able to escape the throngs of young women that came to marvel at his wealth of talents.

Reluctantly, John decided it was best that he give up his passions in order to lead a normal childhood. Directionless, John would stumble through middle school, high school and college, and find himself back in the greater Atlanta area. There John would meet the brilliant minds that make up the dynamic improv troupe "Improv Road Show"; and the rest, is fairly recent history..

"My Take (Jeffrey Keesee) - The Trouble with the Future"

I never thought I’d be back on stage.  Once upon a time, long, long ago, I thought I could act, until one day, I took a class … and I tried to and spectacularly failed at following the script.  The one tiny, little obstacle in my path to the stage…other people’s words.  I completely froze up worrying about getting the next line right, unable to concentrate on what was happening in the moment.

Worrying about the future made the present unbearable, for me and the audience.

So, when my partner said “hey!  Our next French class is only offered on Saturdays; wanna take Improv class, instead?” my first thought was “never!”  But then I thought, if scripts were my problem on stage, then how could I possibly fail at a platform where there are no scripts?  No next line?  So I said,  “yes, and…?”

Soon enough I learned how failure at improv was possible; this time, by not paying attention to the past.

With scripted acting, I thought of the moment on stage as leading towards the next line.  In improv, there was no “next line”.  But that didn't mean there was nothing to think about.  All that time spent thinking about what was coming should now be spent remembering what just happened… and how to build on it.

Finally, I let go of what was going to happen and concentrated on what just happened - on what I had built with my scene partner – and on what we would discover next, together.  After taking that first class, we took a 2nd.  2 classes turned into 4.  1 year turned into 2.  Then class turned into monthly performances.  And I haven’t frozen, yet.

Now, I don’t worry about the future.  I remember the past my partner and I have built together and revel in our time together on stage, hopeful for what the future will bring, for us and the audience.

SHOW - December "We're yellin Timmers!"

Meet your Improv Road Show December Host...John Timmers!

Highland Inn Ballroom

"My Take (Robert Shelton) - The Magic on Stage"

As improv performers take the stage a miracle happens. We zero in on the scene before us and it becomes our primary focus. Now, that isn’t to say that everything else disappears. For the most part, the audience stays in our ear. Every laugh (or silence) is registered, analyzed, and adjusted upon in an instant. The course corrected. All the while, being well aware of what the others on the stage are doing, maneuvering around the platforms, we find ourselves in a puzzle only together we may solve. The inmates are running the asylum. On the good scenes (I mean the ones that leave the biggest smiles on the faces of the audience, who shake their head in delight, all the while trying to figure out how to exactly describe what they just experienced at work tomorrow)—to those scenes, it feels like a car crash that almost was.

Time will slow down. We find ourselves turning and spinning on premises that we thought were going to take us somewhere but have somehow shifted direction (sometimes multiple times). We are not lost. Instead, we steel ourselves and look to our comrades on stage. Together, through many hours of practice, the trust in each other, our instincts, and just enough luck, we make miraculous magic appear from nothing. Anyone that’s almost had a car accident, but somehow snuck through it unscathed knows this feeling. I think everyday life essentially works on the same premise. In life, as on stage, if we trust in each other, our own talents, and, with just little bit of luck, I think we’ll see more magic in our lives each day.

Meet the Host - David Wappel

When David was young, he wanted to be Indiana Jones. When he found out archeology is nothing like Raiders of the Lost Ark, he decided he wanted to be a paleontologist. When he found out that's nothing like Jurassic Park, he was stuck. So he turned to telling and creating the stories he looked to as a child. Through improv, writing, film, and theater David is able to live out my fantasies of being a chimney sweep, time-traveller, Roman general or anything else that may capture his imagination.

David is a proud member of Improv Road Show, and is excited to host you for this month’s show! You can see David performing improv right here with I.R.S., and also around town as a regular player at The Basement Theatre and as part of the long form trio The Floating Cities.

SHOW - November "Wappel House"

Meet your Improv Road Show November Host...David Wappel!

Highland Inn Ballroom

My Take (Chris Whyte) - Always Learning

Learning Improv has changed my life immensely, and I'm always looking for podcasts, videos, and articles about it. Below are some of my favorites:

Andy Daly:
My favorite improviser! There are so many things to like about this guy, but what is most impressive is how he can be put into any situation and keep it grounded. By the end of a show you believe everything he just told you, no matter how ridiculous it is. Below are my two of my favorite Comedy Bang Bang episodes that showcase his talent.

Andi Callahan: LINK here

Dip Didda Dip Dow: LINK here

Improv Obsession:
This guy interviews a ton of professional improvisers in Los Angeles. My favorite is his interview with Miles Stroth and Lennon Parham. Miles especially provides a lot of great notes that you have to pause the podcast to really let sink in. One of the most poignant notes is when he says that if you are stuck in a scene, it's because you don't know your character. From knowing your character, everything else flows: You know how you would react and what this character would do in this situation. Lennon is another great character actress that always catches you by surprise.

Miles Stroth: LINK here

Lennon Parham: LINK here

Dierkis and Fernie
These short five minute clips of Dominic Dierkis and Alex Fernie are highlights from their Cagematch at UCB LA. Really fast tag out runs that show how fun improv is.

Dominic & Alex LINK 1 here

Dominic & Alex LINK 2 here

Derrick Comedy
Comedy sketch group with familiar faces and awesome connections:  LINK here

Convoy
A great 20 minute long form set from a cohesive LA-based improv group:  LINK here

Enjoy these and I'll be back with some other useful resources...in the future!

--- Chris Whyte

SHOW - October "Ghosts, Ghouls, and Giggles: The Halloween Show"

Meet your Improv Road Show October Host...Laura!

"Hi! I'm Laura! I love smiling, improv, my dog Murphy, and making you laugh! I can't wait to host you at our show on Tuesday!!!"

Highland Inn Site / Access ATL Event

My Take (Sue Doe Nimm) - Local Man Not Completely Onboard With Name of Improv Group

ATLANTA—Toward the close of “ADHD TV’s” inaugural workshop, 38-year-old assistant IT professional Marvin Vernowitz revealed that he is, after careful consideration, not completely onboard with the name of the new group. “First impressions count for a lot, especially in the improv scene,” Vernowitz said, comparing the experience of hearing a group name for the first time to the initial conversations he has had when vetting interns for his manager. “Look,” Vernowitz continued, “I may not be some comedy guru like Billy Crystal or the Dane what’s-his-name, but I’ve met a hell of a lot of people and I know that a name says a lot about a person. It only makes sense that the same thing could apply to a group.”

Stating that audiences today want “a name that grabs and challenges you”, Vernowitz again requested a vote on the name “Dopplegangbanger”. Vernowitz went on to note the virile and winning qualities of names like Vanessa and Jeremy, which he contrasted to the disingenuous, untrustworthy and downright chilling effects of names Dereck, Richie and Shannon.

“Don’t get me wrong,” said Vernowitz, “Dereck, you probably try really hard to be a good kid. But the rest of you – honestly – have you ever seen a Dereck with a regular sized mouth? I mean, look at that thing.” Vernowitz, who met the rest of the troupe during an improv class shortly after his divorce, explained how when he was in his twenties, he was as stupid as the rest of the troupe is today. “I’ve learned a lot,” he reiterated, before again asking Vanessa for her phone number. Vernowitz, who considers himself a natural leader, feels both protective of his troupe and aware of their faults. “We all know Richies are thieves,” said Vernowitz, taking pains to assure the group that Richie’s thievery was primarily a result of his name rather than his Puerto Rican heritage.

At last report the group’s meeting moved to Houlihan’s, where Vernowitz was repeatedly asking the server, Carla, to explain to him what exactly wasn’t hilarious about the name “West Vagina”.

- Sue Doe Nimm

SHOW - September "Back To School Show"

Meet your Improv Road Show September Host...Robert!

"Robert was born in the late 1970's in Tennessee.  His penchant for wearing shoes forced him out of state in the late 1980's.  Apparently, Alabama and Arizona don't appreciate shoes, either."

Highland Inn Site / Access ATL Event

My Take (David Wappel) - Spoon River

Of everything I've learned in improv, probably on 25% is directly related to performing for laughs. Here’s a little bit about the other 75%.

Spoon River is one of my favorite games. In this game, three improvisors face away from the audience, and then take turns delivering short monologues, in character, about the same event that happened in this small town. The goal is to provide interweaving stories that fit into one overall narrative. The joy of the audience is that they see three different, and often very funny, perspectives of the same event.

In improv, there is an inherently tricky relationship between one’s individual ideas, and those of the rest of the people onstage, and none explore this relationship more uniquely (in my opinion) than Spoon River. When a player delivers their monologue, it is just them on stage talking. They are delivering straight to the audience, and can’t be interrupted by other players. However, they must realize that they fit into a story with two other people, who are about to deliver their own monologues. They have to set them up for jokes or pay off ones they’ve set up.

Spoon River is a game where you, as an improvisor, are playing both the roles of the lead actor and supporting actor at the same time. You are alone in the spotlight, but still part of a team. Learning how to navigate this balance has helped me understand how to be a better team member at work, in relationships and just about everywhere.

In situations, we often take on “roles.” Sometimes we are in the fore front, other times we play a more supporting role. Learn to do both. If you’ve been getting a lot of credit at work for a project, take some time to redirect some of the praise to other team members who helped out, or put them in a position to contribute more on an upcoming project. If you’re low on the totem pole, don’t be afraid to speak up if you are given an opportunity to do so.

Walking the balance between lead and support, simultaneously, makes Spoon River an addictive game to play. Walking that balance in life however, can be so much more valuable than just a few laughs


--- David Wappel

SHOW - August "1st Anniversary Show"

Meet your Improv Road Show August Host...Ben!

Highland Inn Site / Access ATL Event

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My Take (David Wappel) - Switch Out Change Out

Of everything I've learned in improv, probably on 25% is directly related to performing for laughs. The other 75%?  Here's my take.

One of my favorite games is a game called "Switch Out, Change Out." In this four player game, two players (A & B) are in the center performing a scene. The other two players (C & D) are off in the wings. At any point, the director may call "switch!" and A & B must swap characters. If the director calls "change!" C & D must then replace A & B. It is a fast paced game, that can fall apart quickly. But not if you're listening.

If this game requires anything, it is key attentiveness to your scene partner. At any point, you can be asked to adopt their character, which means you must then exhibit their mannerisms, affections, motivations, accent…everything. You must be ready to be them. In order to do this successfully, you must be listening, and putting yourself in their shoes. Attempting to understand them, all the while you're creating your own character. When this is done well, these scenes can turn out great because not only are there inherent laughs in the constant switching, but relationships are often strong in this scene because it requires real listening. Connections are stronger.

Think about this offstage. How often do we listen? How well do we listen? If we can attempt to understand something from someone else's point of view, then we can make a truly meaningful connection. The ability to step into someone else's shoes is invaluable. It allows us to see multiple perspectives at once, reduces conflicts that may arise through misunderstanding, and gives us insight into others.

In improv, it could be the difference between a good scene and a bad scene…so not terribly high stakes. But outside of improv, being attentive to another's perspective can make a difference in some of the highest stake situations you'll experience in your life.

--- David Wappel

Meet the Host - Jess

Jess was born in a pineapple field in Hawaii, or at least that's what she was told by her parents during her formative years.  This began a life of lying and make believe, now a way that she's chosen to make a career.

The newest gal to join the IRS crew, Jess has a B.S. in theatre from LaGrange College.  She has performed with ne'er-do-wells and scalawags around Atlanta.

She has the most interesting and amazing wife ever, who adores her in return.

Show - July "Red, White, and Moo!"

Meet your Improv Road Show July Hostess...Jess!

Highland Inn Site / Access ATL Event

Show - The "June" Show

Your June host with the most...Shawn!  Stand back...he's a pro.

Highland Inn Site / Access ATL Event

Show - May "Laundry Line Show "

Your May host...Jeff!  He totes knows what he's doing...

Highland Inn Site / Access ATL Event

Show - April "Spring Breakers"

Your April host...ANDRE!  The man of many hats...

Highland Inn Site / Access ATL Event

Show - March "Get Lucky"

Highland Inn Site / Access ATL Event

Show - "The Jan Show!"

Show - The December Show!