UCB has recently shut down its last permanent theater and training center. I asked people to share what UCB NY meant to them. Featuring Molly Gaebe, Ian Dyer, Ryan Barker, Rachel Taenzler, Pat Baer, Sonya Saepoff, Ray Cordova, Harsha Vardhan Dasarathy, Bert James, Elisa Ballou, Paris Adkins, Liz Noth, Alex French, Jon Marballi, Betsy Helmer, […]

Improv, Beat by Beat

27 – Goodbye, UCB NY

I asked many of the people I interviewed the same question: what advice would you give an improvisor in their first year doing improv? Featuring Maritza Montañez, Liz Noth, Chris Scott, Morgan Phillips, Will Hines, Bill DiPiero, Achilles Stamatelaky, Ashley Ward, Ray Cordova, Sebastian Conelli, Joey Price, Patrick Noth, Kevin Mullaney, Lily Du, Nicole Drespel, […]

26 – Advice

This episode focuses on a fun, but often difficult form, the Movie. One of the original forms developed by Del Close, the Movie is not performed as regularly as some other forms, but it can be rewarding to learn and get good at, and it’s easy for audiences to follow. Featuring David Bluvband, James Dwyer, […]

25 – The Movie

This episode focuses on the form of many names, the Spokane / Pretty Flower / Delicate Little Flower / Gadget / Family Guy / so on and so on. We discuss how to do the form, and why it may be a great fit for your team or why it may not be. Featuring Sebastian […]

24 – The Spokane aka the Pretty Flower

How should a coach structure a practice session? What are some exercises to use? How is coaching a house team different from coaching a practice group? These are all questions? Featuring Jenny St. Angelo, Sebastian Conelli, Lindsay Calleran, Johnna Scrabis, Liz Noth, and Will Hines. Co-produced by Alejandro Cardona, and hosted by Curtis Retherford.

23 – Coaching, Part 2

What makes a great coach? How do you become a great coach? How do you give helpful notes? None of those questions get answered. Featuring Bill DiPiero, Achilles Stametalaky, Lily Du, Devin Ritchie, Chris Scott, Jenny St. Angelo, Liz Noth, Lou Gonzalez, Sebastian Conelli, Ray Cordova, Nicole Drespel, co-produced by Alejandro Cardona, and hosted by Curtis Retherford.

22 – Coaching, Part 1

Once again, each improvisor recounts the notes that shaped their understanding of improv or their understanding of themselves as improvisors. Featuring John Timothy, Beth Appel, Ashley Ward, Jake Cornell, X Mayo, Terry Withers, Maritza Montañez, Kevin Mullaney, David Bluvband, Lindsay Calleran, Rudy Behrens, and Cathryn Mudon. Hosted by Curtis Retherford.

21 – Best Notes, Part 2

I asked a bunch of improvisors a simple question: “Why do you do improv?” Featuring answers from Nicole Drespel, Kevin Hines, Devin Ritchie, Achilles Stamatelaky, David Bluvband, Lily Du, Chris Scott, Molly Thomas, Morgan Phillips, James Dwyer, Liz Noth, Alex Dickson, Lydia Hensler, Will Hines, and Sebastian Conelli. Hosted by Curtis Retherford.

20 – Why Do You Do Improv?

19 different improvisors discuss the cliches they are tired of seeing and the gaps between the improvised worlds we create and the world we live in. What do they see too much of, and what do they not see enough of? Featuring Achilles Stamatelaky, Will Hines, Jenny St. Angelo, Kevin Mullaney, Kevin Hines, Bill DiPiero, Molly Thomas, Morgan Phillips, Jesse Lee, Kelsey Bailey, Jessica Morgan, Lydia […]

19 – Cliches and Gaps

An improv jam is basically an open mic for improv: anyone who goes can throw their name in a bucket to do scenes with the jam hosts. They can be stressful and intimidating, but they’re also a great way to get over nervousness over being on stage, to learn how to play with people of […]

18 – Jams

Musical improv is exactly what it sounds like: an improvised musical. A bit of dialogue, and then a lot of singing and dancing. In addition to having its own challenges (such as song structure, rhyming, and narrative structure), a musical improv show still has to have great improv. In this episode, we discuss the challenges […]

17 – Musical Improv

A house team is a team that is created to perform regularly at a particular theater. At UCB NY, there are 3 levels of improv house teams: Lloyd, Harold, and the weekend. This episode talks about each level: why being on a house team can be frustrating and nerve-wracking, why it can be amazing and […]

16 – House Teams

Your first several years of learning long form improv will likely focus on scenework, the Harold, montages, and perhaps another form or two. In this episode, we discuss the other forms: why they’re important to learn and how they’re created. With Lily Du, Chris Scott, Kevin Mullaney, and Kevin Hines. Hosted by Curtis Retherford.

15 – Forms

The Monoscene is a form in which the location never changes: there are no edits. In this episode, we talk about how it was developed and what to keep in mind while performing one. Featuring Kevin Mullaney, Lily Du, and Jenny St. Angelo. Hosted by Curtis Retherford.

14 – The Monoscene

Improv scenes should be more than just reciting lines. In this episode, we talk about how acting influences improv, and how to become better at it. Featuring Jessica Morgan, Molly Thomas, Morgan Phillips, Alex Dickson, Sebastian Conelli, Liz Noth, and Will Hines. Hosted by Curtis Retherford.

13 – Acting

A podcast about improv, explored one piece at a time.

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Improv, Beat by Beat

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