Licenced Clinical Social Worker and Improv Therapist
Meet Marshall Stern who is an Author, Teacher, Lecturer, Public Speaker, Radio Host, Podcast Host, Musician, Actor, Songwriter, World Traveler and Improvisational Comedian and a self proclaimed living example of ADHD in action! Marshall is the author of 2 books, Meet the Buddha Kill the Buddha and Practical Buddhism Lectures. Marshall is also hosts the podcast Zenprov with his partner Nancy Howland Walker.
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Join me and meet Nancy Howland Walker, a legend in the musical improv field and a delight to speak with. Nancy is a SAG/AFTRA actor, writer, teacher, and trainer and author of Instant Songwriting: Musical Improv from Dunce to Diva (available at Amazon). She has appeared in hundreds of commercials, videos and live industrials, and has been performing, teaching, directing, and producing improv since 1989. She has written and performed comedy shows for businesses all over the country, and has run casting sessions on three different continents.
Cameron Algie first attended The Second City Training Centre to deal with his deep-seated fear of crowds, strangers and going out in public at the suggestion of his therapist. Cameron has gone from barely being able to walk to the subway without having a panic attack to becoming one of the most respected improvisers in the country. Cameron was the 5th person I interviewed for my podcast series and has been an inspiration in my using improv to help clients with their anxiety.
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Beth Boynton is an organizational development consultant and Medical Improv Practitioner specializing in communication, collaboration, and culture. She’s written three books on communication in healthcare including the industry-first; Medical Improv: A New Way to Improve Communication. (CreateSpace 2017). She is currently working on a Teach Medical Improv ebook series designed to help healthcare professionals faciiltate fundamental activities in their facilities in an affordable, effective, and time-efficient way. beth@bethboynton.com.
Join me and learn more about the funny and wonderful Nick Johne who is using his vast knowledge of improv to enhance the lives of people on the autism spectrum. I met Nick last summer at the Yes, and Mental Health Conference https://yes-and-mental-health.site123.me in Chicago last fall. An alumnus of Toronto’s award-winning Second City Main Stage cast, Nick Johne has been teaching improvisation in various capacities since 1983. He is currently teaching at The Second City Chicago and in the Theater Department of DePaul University where he is adjunct faculty. He has performed all over the world and was an original member of the workshop production of the Tony award-winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone. Nick Johne currently lives in Chicago with his wife and daughter.
Nick shares his personal story about his musically talented daughter, Emma.
There is so much we can learn from the great Improv Coach David Razowsky who draws improv wisdom from his extensive experience with Chicago’s Second City, performing with the likes of Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris, and Rachel Dratch. David developed a simple approach to improvising: Your present awareness is the only thing you need to create compelling, smart, truthful, and surprising scenes. Period. No games, no preconceived premises, no ideas, no ego. All that matters is now.
What a pleasure to catch up with Kelly Leonard, longtime Creative Executive at The Second City in Chicago who speaks with us about the power of improvisation to transform people’s lives . His book, “Yes, And: Lessons from The Second City” was released to critical acclaim in 2015 by HarperCollins and was praised by Michael Lewis in Vanity Fair who called it “…an excellent guide to the lessons that have bubbled up in Second City’s improv workshops.”
Continue reading “Kelly Leonard – Author and Creative Executive at The Second City in Chicago”
Meet Jill Bernard, a beloved improviser and teacher. Jill talks to us about her journey in improv theatre, and her joyful approach to improv and life.
Sandra Bruce is the Founder and Executive Director of Autism Improvised, Inc., a nonprofit serving the autism community through the principles of improvisational theater. She was inspired by her grandson, who was diagnosed ASD at age 2, to find a creative, fun way to address the social challenges of autism. Because her grandson had a love for film and theatre, she suspected this area would benefit her grandson. Not coming from a theater background, she did her research, discovered improvisational acting, and was excited to discover how improv seemed to be a perfect modality to address the social challenges and rigid thought patterns of autism.
Meet the fabulous Wendy Rush, improviser, popular radio DJ and mom along with the delightful Tom McCourt. Together they have developed a program for the Las Vegas Juvenile Offender Court to use improvisational theatre skills to help these teens and their families.