"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