Margot Escott LCSW – Margot Escott, MSW, LCSW

Marc Warzecha – Sketch Master

Episode 156: Meet the incredible Marc Warzecha who founded the online Sketch School. I met Marc 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 Chicago Comedy Theatre, Marc Warzecha is an award-winning headwriter 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 megastars like Jamie Moyer and Michal Keegan He has also 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. You can reach Marc at his website thesketchschool.com or @thesketchschool on Instagram. Visit my website where I speak to today’s leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists worldwide who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. You may enjoy hearing from improv teachers and innovators including Colin Mochrie and David Pasquesi *Improv Interviews podcast‘ is introduced by Susan L. Parker of yourinternationalvoice.com

Kevin McGeehan – Improv & The Art of Storytelling

Episode 155: 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 also a 9-time Moth StorySlam winner and the winner of the 2019 New York Moth GrandSlam Championship. https://themoth.org/ He grew up in Florida and right after graduating with a degree in Theatre from the University of Florida, Kevin moved to Chicago. He arrived in Chicago with $1000 and a dream. He got a job in the box office at Second City and began taking classes there and at IO.

He recalled that Jordan Peele was starting there at the same time and his job was a host seating people. One of his roommates in his early years at Second City was TJ Jagodowski. They often spent their free time reading “The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy”. This book is a great resource that helped them increase their knowledge on myriad subjects. They made up a game where they’d flip through the book stop at a random page and ask, “Now tell me everything you know about Gettysburg.”

He tells us about his memory of the legendary Joyce Sloane and said of her, “When you got good news in your life the two women you call are your mother and Joyce Sloane, but not necessarily in that order.” He eventually transcended the box office and was hired as an actor. He was part of the Touring Company, where he performed countless shows, spread out over the entire U.S. and parts of Europe and South America. He became part of the teaching staff and taught from 2004-2020.

He shares a memory of Tina Fey, the first woman to break the glass ceiling in comedy when she became the first woman head writer at SNL. Tina initially felt like she’d achieved her goal, but the next day thought ’Now what?”

He was a member of the cast of the first touring company on cruise ships and enjoyed that for four years. We chatted about teachers who had influenced him, and he mentioned Mick Napier and Kelly Leonard. He also learned from his fellow classmates including Jack McBrayer. He took a class with the legendary Del Close and in the first class, he gave a monologue for Armando. He received such positive feedback from Del he decided to not complete the six-week course as he thought, “It will never get better than this!”

Kevin travels around the country giving his gift to audiences. His stories elicit so many feelings and he is definitely one of the best. Enjoy this podcast.

You can learn more and connect with Andrew through the links below: YouTube Channel: youtube.com/user/TheKevinmcgeehan

The Moth Mainstage – “It Matters a Great Deal”: https://youtu.be/Y9LJqx2k9aI

The “Same Haircut” Story for Soul Pancake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlh3nr-dDSg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iytsOv7S7G0

Visit my website where I speak to today’s leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists worldwide who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. You may enjoy hearing from improv teachers and innovators including Colin Mochrie and David Pasquesi *Improv

Interviews podcast‘ is introduced by Susan L. Parker of yourinternationalvoice.com

Andrew Ritter on musical improv and more

Episode 154: Meet the dynamic Andrew Ritter. Andrew started acting as a child in the suburbs of Chicago and was in several productions with a young Vince Vaughn. He loved musicals and acted in high school and college. As a youth, his parents took him to many theatrical productions and Second City Shows. Andrew always loved the comedy there, as well as SNL, so when he left Middlebury College he eventually came back home to Chicago. He spoke about his joy in taking improv classes and eventually became a teacher.

Andrew 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 the audience to come on stage, choose their own character and make up a story on the spot! He created physical books by hand with illustrations created by the children in the show which audience members could purchase. Photos of some of those books are pictured below.

< You can learn more and connect with Andrew through the links below: During the lockdown Andrew and his family returned to Vermont. He is currently the Founder/Artistic Director at InterACT Creative Vermont, https://interactcreative.org/ where he teaches improvisation, acting, sketch comedy writing, and team building among other classes. He is also 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/ Andrew holds a BA in Theater and Psychology from Middlebury College and has studied Wing Chun, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and meditation, and is currently studying and practicing Pencak Silat in Vermont. Andrew is a genuine and talented person. I can attest to his skills as a musical improv teacher because I’ve taken some classes with him. He’s the best. https://www.gfulness.com https://interactcreative.org/ Andrew Ritter Founder/Artistic Director @ InterAct Creative Vermont Creative Director @ The Gfulness APP (c) 773.710.1639 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. You may enjoy hearing from improv teachers and innovators including Colin Mochrie and David Pasquesi *Improv Interviews podcast‘ is introduced by Susan L. Parker of yourinternationalvoice.com

Monika Ozdarska – Improv for Theatre, Business & Life

Episode 153: Monika Ozdarska 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 an incredible performance with improviser/actor Jeff Michalski. They have performed this show all over Poland and other places around the world and their show gets rave reviews. Like many improvisers what started as a hobby transitioned to a career. We discussed how she built her own methodology of improv from all the types of improv she studied. Finding her own voice in improv she has created a unique and fun teaching style. Monika hosts improv jams at her home, which is a welcoming and beautiful environment. She takes special pleasure with “newbies” and the delight in their eyes when they discover the magic of collaboration and play.

You can learn more and connect with Monika through the links below: Website: Ozdarska.com
WePolak Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WePolakImpro
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheArtOfYes
Social Media: https://linktr.ee/monikaozdarskaimpro
Check out her interviews with improvisers: https://www.youtube.com/@theartofyes

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. You may enjoy hearing from improv teachers and innovators including Colin Mochrie and David Pasquesi *Improv Interviews podcast‘ is introduced by Susan L. Parker of yourinternationalvoice.com

Liz Allen – Improv Legend

Episode 152: 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!

Margote18 · Liz Allen – Improv Legend

More about Liz Allen: 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. You may enjoy hearing from improv teachers and innovators including Colin Mochrie and David Pasquesi *Improv Interviews podcast‘ is introduced by Susan L. Parker of yourinternationalvoice.com

Ted Waltmire – Unexpected Journey into Improv

Episode 151: 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 director by Stephanie McCullough. Stephanie said about Ted, “He is such an impressive person. His musical abilities are outstanding.”

Ted’s story is inspiring to anyone, but especially to people who have had similar life changes. We laughed and cried and I know you will love Ted as much as I do.

More about Ted Waltmire:

Watch Mighty Ted
The Funny Side of Stroke

Frank Caeti – Improviser, Actor, Writer, Teacher

Episode 150: Frank Caeti is a native of the Chicago suburbs, went to high school and college in Colorado, and currently resides in Los Angeles where he acts, improvises, writes, directs, and teaches anywhere they will let him. He is an alumnus of the world-famous comedy theater The Second City, performing for their National Touring Company and resident companies in Las Vegas and Chicago. He continues to write and direct for The Second City, most recently co-writing and directing The Revolution Will Be Improvised at the Kennedy Center and Hits Home at Kansas City’s Starlight Theater.

Frank was a series regular and contributing writer on the long-running FOX show MADtv. Other television credits include Modern Family, Key and Peele, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Adam Ruins Everything, Chicago Fire, Reno 911, NCIS, and over three dozen commercials. Regional theater credits as a performer and director include Kennedy Center, Goodman Theatre, Kirk Douglas Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Laguna Playhouse, and Dallas Theater Center. Improv credits include UCB, Westside Comedy Theater, iO, and Comedy Sportz.

Frank co-wrote a web series produced by Key and Peele for Disney Digital, which was developed into a television series by Sacha Baron Cohen’s Four by Two Films. Frank has developed with Sony Pictures Television, written for Warner Brothers. Animation, and written plays that have premiered in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC, and Off-Broadway. He currently has two pilots and a feature that he hopes someday will be produced and shared with the world.

Margote18 · Frank Caeti Improviser, Actor, Writer, Teacher

You can learn more about Frank and connect with him on his website: FrankCaeti.com

You may enjoy hearing from improv teachers and innovators including Colin Mochrie and David Pasquesi *Improv Interviews podcast‘ is introduced by Susan L. Parker of yourinternationalvoice.com

Shaun Landry – veteran actor and improviser

Episode 149: Shaun Landry is a veteran actor and improviser who shared her powerful story with me. She is an actor, improviser, teacher, director, and theatre president. I had the honor of playing with her in “The Seniors Improv Comedy Show” online during the pandemic and got to meet her husband Hans Summers. Click to watch

She and Hans have worked and played together since 1986. Shaun’s first experience in improv was with The Goose Theatre, playing in prisons and jails around the country. She was with Second City TourCo and founder of the West Coast Improv Alliance. She tells about her childhood in Chicago and her supportive family. She co-created the first African American Improv Ensemble in the country Oui Be Negroes, and co-created The San Francisco Improv Festival. She is the founder of The Ledge, a new non-profit theater in Los Angeles. She performs with her husband Hans Summer as Landry and Summers in fabulous 2-person improv scenes. Shaun is an inspirational, courageous woman and I laughed and cried with her as she shared overcoming the barriers in her career as a woman and person of color in the theatre. I know you’ll love her as much as I do.

Ways to connect with Shaun

Linkedin.com/in/shaunlandry

Shaunlandry.com

http://Landryandsummers.com

Bill Chott writer, improviser and actor

EPISODE 147 & 148 Bill Chott is a fabulous human being who is a writer, improviser and actor. And a very hardworking one! He is an alumnus of ComedySportz, IO and Second City. He toured with the Second City troupe in the ’90’s. He played with many well-known improvisers and his talent with musical improv is second to none! In our chat we explore his career which includes films and Television like The Ringer, The Wizards of Waverley Place, Young Sheldon, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and This is Us. His writing credits include The Dana Carvey Show, SNL and recently “Too Funny to Fail” The Life and Death of The Dana Carvey Show”. He shares his audition story with SNL that didn’t get him in the cast but landed him on The Dana Carvey Show. Bill is a generous, kind soul and has a big, big heart. I know you’ll love him as much as I do.

PART 1

PART 2

Welcome to Part 2 of our chat with the wonderful Bill Chott. We had so much to talk about and continue learning about Bill and his story. In Part 2, Bill shares his struggles with obesity and how he has overcome them today.

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. Our Audio Editor for Improv Interviews is Bright Su. You may enjoy hearing from improv teachers and innovators including Colin Mochrie and David Pasquesi

Katy Schutte – Improviser – Writer – Maker – Performer – Episode 146

EPISODE 146 Meet the fabulous Katy Schutte. Katy is a well-respected improviser, comedian, director, teacher, and author and we had an in-depth dialogue about her career. We spoke about her philosophy on improv and life and our mutual challenges with anxiety. Her book, The Improviser’s Way: A Longform Workbook” has been an essential read for improvisers around the world. One of my favorite quotes from this fascinating chat is,

“Our career shouldn’t be a ladder but an open playing space.”

She trained in Drama at the University of Hull before finding her true passion at iO Chicago, Second City Chicago, and with teachers from The Annoyance Theatre, UCB, and other world-class improv training schools. Katy was been a member of the award-winning improv company The Maydays since their founding year in 2004. She performed in a “twoprov” with Rachel Blackman for over a decade and performs in the science-fiction show Project2.

Katy is a Funny Women Finalist and has written and starred in several acclaimed live comedy shows including Schutte the Unromantic and Who Ya Gonna Call? (the Ghostbusters fan-tribute musical). You can often catch her in TV commercials and nerdy comedy shows. Katy lives in London and teaches and performs all over the world. “Our career shouldn’t be a ladder but an open playing space” Be sure to watch her terrific Musical Improv with the Maydays in 2017 to see how remarkable she is! Click the links below to learn more about Katy

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. Our Audio Editor for Improv Interviews is Bright Su. You may enjoy hearing from improv teachers and innovators including Colin Mochrie and David Pasquesi

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