Margot Escott LCSW – Page 6 – Margot Escott, MSW, LCSW

Ira Sakolsky Part 2

In Part 2 of our conversation with the fantastic Ira Sakolsky, we chat about his work teaching and playing improv in Connecticut. One of the wonderful events he co-created 17 years ago is The North Pole Express at the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat in Essex, CT. which is still playing to sold-out audiences.

Ira Sakolsky is a professional actor, musician, and composer, writing and performing for film, theater, television, and industrial shows.

Margote18 · Ira Sakolsky Part 2

Margote18 · Ira Sakolsky – Part 1

You might want to listen to my fascinating discussions with other improv teachers and innovators including Colin Mochrie and Anne Beatts *Improv Interviews podcast‘ is introduced by Susan L. Parker of yourinternationalvoice.com

Award Winning Actor, Musician, and Composer Ira Sakolsky on Improv

Ira Sakolsky is a professional actor, musician, and composer, writing and performing for film, theater, television, and industrial shows. His Riverway Recording Studio in East Haddam, CT, has garnered many awards, including Parent’s Choice Award, Global Music Awards, and a Grammy nomination. Ira has studied Viola Spolin’s improvisational theatre games for 47 years. We first met at a workshop with Aretha Amelia Sills and I was struck by his energy, playfulness, and compassion. His love of drama and improv started at a young age.

From founding a not-for-profit to provide music therapy for hospice patients to being a stand-in Al Pacino and Woody Allan’s films to co-writing a new musical based on the online dating experience, Ira has shared his talents around the world. In college, his acting teacher, George Morrison, had been part of the Compass Players with Paul Sills and Mike Nichols, which led to Ira performing in Sills’ Story Theatre. He continues to have a busy career writing music, playing, and acting. He is currently co-writing a new film in which he’ll co-star and serve as the composer.

Margote18 · Ira Sakolsky – Part 1

You might want to listen to my fascinating discussions with other improv teachers and innovators including Susan Messing and Anne Beatts *Improv Interviews podcast‘ is introduced by Susan L. Parker of yourinternationalvoice.com

Cameron Dee: Why Not Improv (You Have Nothing to Gain and Nothing to Lose)

Cameron Dee is a lovely improvisor from one of my favorite places, Edinburgh, Scotland. We met when he was a substitute coach for Class Act curated by Jay Sukow at todayimprov.com. Cameron started doing Stand Up Comedy at age 20 and was surprised how well received he was! He enjoyed the laughs for 7-8 years until he realized he just wasn’t having fun. We chat about his path to improv starting when his family moved from Perth, Australia to Scotland. He continued with standup but found himself losing interest. Took his first 6-week course and has been doing it for the past ten years. We spoke of our mutual admiration for Jules Munns, at the Nursery. Cameron gives his improv philosophy. “You have nothing to lose, and nothing to gain.” Check out his FaceBook and drop into one of his jams! Cameron is planning a world tour. Check it out at: https://camerond.net/world_improv_tour.html

Ali Turnbull Improvises Through Parkinson’s Disease

Meet Ali Turnbull. A wonderful writer and improviser that has Parkinson’s disease. She finds ways to inspire others with Parkinson’s Disease through exercise and laughter. We met at an Improv for PD class with the delightful Robert Cochrane. I laughed so much during this interview as Ali has remarkable wit and is quite engaging, Ali lives on the edge of the beautiful English Lake District with her husband Robin and a cat called LouLou. Her philosophy on life is expressed in this quote. “I have quickly decided that instead of mourning the brain cells I have lost, I will celebrate those that remain with the things I love – music, exercise, and the great outdoors.”

Continue reading “Ali Turnbull Improvises Through Parkinson’s Disease”

Assael Romanelli Ph. D. – Play is a muscle

Assael Romanelli, Ph.D. is a prolific writer, clinician, and internationally known trainer. Our first podcast was on May 5, 2017, a few months before we both presented at the “Yes, and Mental Health Conference” in Chicago. I was so glad to catch up with him and his great body of work over the past 4 years. He has made a great difference in the world of research and clinical improv. He conducted a research project teaching improv to social workers in 2019 he and colleagues published the research project “I’mprovisation – Therapists’ Subjective Experience during Improvisational Moments in the Clinical Encounter”. Assael developed a training course for therapists in theater improvisation skills and observed its impact on their clinical work. The 17 therapists that he trained in this study all had a positive change in relation to their work.

Margote18 · Assael Romanelli

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November 29, 2021

He Says I’m Great But Doesn’t Want a Relationship – What Should I Do? – Deep Soulful Love

by Kat Peoples – Ph.D., LMHC, LPC, Amy Sherman – M.A., LMHC, Margot Escott – MSW, LCSW, Dana Hall – LCPC, MA, TF-CBT November 24, 2021

# Quit taking it personally

Many men have reasons why they don’t want a relationship and it often has nothing to do with you.

I love the acronym Q-Tip. Quit Taking It Personally!

There’s a line we often hear in comedies that have become a cliché. “It’s more about me than it is about you.” We can laugh at that thought unless it’s happening to ourselves.

If you have been “seeing” a man – going to movies, having coffees, and sharing meals – you have a friend!

Perhaps you received “signals” that he wanted a more intimate relationship with you or you were imagining a different relationship and confronted him. You got the response that he “doesn’t want a relationship”.

Well, if you are already friends, you Do have a relationship.

The “R” word gets bandied about and many of us consider it to mean a committed, intimate partnership. But relationships can have many forms.

We have relationships with our family, siblings, and friends.

In these relationships, the only expectations are to be a friend, which means honoring commitments, honesty, trust, and other values. But when we set expectations with someone, like an intimate relationship, we may be misreading the signs.

I’ve had many “boyfriends” in my life and a few really good male friends. These are men that I can hang out with, share ideas with, and just be myself with any of the anxiety that often accompanies “Intimate” relationships.

Having male friends, and that is a relationship, is wonderful in so many ways.

It can help us to better understand men, especially when they enjoy and appreciate me. And besides, the best way to have a friend is to be a friend.

Margot Escott, MSW, LCSW – www.margotescott.com

Click here to read the full article

Daniel DeWalt – Improviser/teacher/theatre innovator

This is our second interview with the fabulous Daniel DeWalt of Covered Bridge Studios and Theaters in the Chicago area. He has recently created a series of FREE Master Level Improv Sessions with their newest enterprise, Generations On The Bridge Improv Playground. Combining the talents of children, teens, and adults who have graduated from their conservatory Comedy & Drama Improv Program in a single group, this promises to be something quite unique. Daniel, along with other professional instructors, is emphasizing advanced improv concepts and they will be opening these sessions soon to graduate-level improv students from all over the country. For more information about these exciting masterclasses and other projects at Covered Bridge, contact Daniel at MycoveredBridge@aol.com

Continue reading “Daniel DeWalt – Improviser/teacher/theatre innovator”

Ed Greenberg – Improv Pioneer

What an honor it was for me to chat with Ed Greenberg about his journey and his love and enthusiasm for improvisational theater. Ed is an improvisational director, actor, and teacher. He began his career as an actor at the legendary improvisational theater “The Committee” in San Francisco, where he worked with his mentor and life-long friend Del Close on the beginning experiments in long-form improvisation. Ed also worked with Viola Spolin and Paul Sills. Ed has directed The Second City, Chicago, worked as an actor in movies and TV, as well as a voice actor in hundreds of radio and TV commercials. their lives quickly and easily.

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Mary DeMichele – One Rule Improv

Mary DeMichele has been a pioneer in researching the use of improv for teens who’ve experienced trauma. We met at the premiere of the film Act Social, by Sean Mulivil. How can improv be less overwhelming and scary for the beginner? This is the question that has defined Mary’s 25-year career. Mary is the creator of One Rule Improv a — research-based and trauma-informed — accessible approach to learning, teaching, and applying improv, so people can bring the benefits of improv into their lives quickly and easily.

Margote18 · Mary De Michele – 9:30:21, 9.25 AM

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September 10, 2021

MEMORIES OF THE WTC

I’d just been in NY for the most popular game show and it was pretty exciting. But the memory that stands out in my mind the February night in 2001 was the indelible sight memory of the Twin Towers that cloudless night. I’d lived in the city when the towers were being built. There were wonderful memories of being at the top where one could see for miles and miles and miles. Enjoying meals with my parents, also long gone, at Windows of the World.

As we approach 20 years since the towers went down I am forever grateful that ABC paid for a trip to the city so that I could see them one last time!

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# Quit taking it personally