Next At Bat
The Twin Cities improvisation community is booming. Each week, local improvisors Philip Simondet and Matthew McCloud interview an improv team (or other artist) and then improvise with them. Matt digs deep into the improv philosophy and theory behind each guest during the interview portion of the show. In Philip’s Corner, Philip proves that you don’t have to ask good questions to get good answers. Then, the hosts join the guests for some improvisation that could go anywhere and be about anything!
Alexis Camille, Maggie Sotos, and Sean Dillon of Off Book (unfortunately Molly Chase couldn’t join us) talk about prod-recting(?) a show that pairs an actor performing their half of a scripted piece with an improvisor who has no idea what play they are supposed to be a part of. They also discuss fun in failure, […]
The post Off Book | Next at Bat Episode 119 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Juliet & Juliet (Meghan Wolff and Sami Haeli) join us to discuss presenting Shakespearean-themed improvisation in an accessible way. They talk about focusing on relationships instead of just imitating tropes, submitting the their subconscious brains, and being #iambicfrauds. Also, we hear the story of Kennith from Venice. Follow Juliet & Juliet: facebook – julietimprov twitter […]
The post Juliet & Juliet | Next at Bat: Episode 118 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Will Frazier joined us to discuss his podcast, History Made Up. On the podcast he travels the nation listening to local history stories, then uses them as inspiration for improvised scenes along with improvisers local to that area. He talks about the inherent cooperative nature of improvisors, the differences he’s seen in style between different […]
The post History Made Up | Next At Bat: Episode 117 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Chris Fair of The Laser Comedy Show joins us to talk about his unique, visual form. He also discusses building tension, the difference between an audience of adults versus and audience of kids, how studying sketch will improve your improv, promoting shows, and being heckled by children, as well as bands that are actually one […]
The post The Laser Comedy Show | Next At Bat: Episode 116 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Valerie Vasilas, Christina Lopez, Marianne Smith, and Allison Reese of Melissa?! joined us while they were in town for the Twin Cities Improv Festival. They talked about the importance of letting your form evolve, pushing yourself to gather new life experiences to draw from, doing improv for the joy of it, impressions, and being inclusive. […]
The post Melissa?! | Next At Bat: Episode 115 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Grant Ertl and Justin Bettencourt (unfortunately Kenneth Pierce couldn’t join us) of 2017 Troika winners, We Have Faces, join us to talk about how three strangers who have never met can quickly develop chemistry and evolve a form to become champions. They also discuss types of improvisers, the importance of support, grounded absurd-ism, how small […]
The post We Have Faces | Next At Bat: Episode 114 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Kevin Albertson, Phillip Schramm, Sami Haeli, Nathan Kelly Rouse, Erin Kennedy and John Hilsen of Rated G (unfortunately Becky Hauser, Sinez Lennes, Amanda Underwood, Jo Nachtigal, Aaron Cook, Gregory Parks, Denzel Belin, Justin Betancourt, Jeremy Barta, and Jeff Gyllen couldn’t join us) join Philip (Matt also couldn’t make it) to discuss producing an improvised family […]
The post Rated G | Next At Bat: Episode 113 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Shea Roberts, Jeff Gyllen, and Breanna Cecile (unfortunately Adam Braun, Ashawnti Sakina Ford, Denzel Belin, Grag Parks, Jen Scott, JoJo Ju, Liv Augusta, Matt Alex, Michael Renner, and Phillip Schramm couldn’t join us) of Love Letters join us to discus the ways in which we fall in love. They also talk about forming group chemistry, […]
The post Love Letters | Next At Bat: Episode 112 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
The producers of the Fargo Improv Festival, Davis Steen, Sarah Arnold, and John Streifel, join Philip (unfortunately Matt couldn’t make it) to talk about the first annual Fargo Improv Festival. The goals are to celebrate the Fargo improv community, fight the “brain drain” of talented people leaving the city, inspire Fargo improvisers to continue doing […]
The post Fargo Improv Festival | Next At Bat: Episode 111 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
James Rone joined us to discuss his solo show, Troubadour, in which he performs an entire concert by a different singer/songwriter character based on song titled suggested by the audience. He also talks about playing what you know, keeping a soft focus and allowing mistakes to shape what the show becomes instead of trying to […]
The post Troubadour | Next At Bat: Episode 110 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Greg Parks, Liv August, Phillip Schramm, and Anrea Ravich (unfortunately pianist Joe Ye couldn’t be there) of Impropera join us to talk about performing an improvised opera,a form in which everything, from the dialog to the scene painting, is sung. They also discuss picking suggestions, developing trust, deus ex machina, musical accompaniment, silence, and the […]
The post Impropera | Next At Bat: Episode 109 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Mookie Harrington, Shea Roberts, Breanna Cecile, Phil Peterson, Alec Johnson, and Erik Ostrom (unfortunatley Mary Kane, Wells Farnham, and Lindsay St. Clair couldn’t join us) of Colossal Park join us to discuss cramming an entire theme park disaster movie into 25 minutes. They also discuss how a single idea can develop into a complete show, […]
The post Colossal Park | Next At Bat: Episode 108 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Liv Augusta and Phillip Schramm of Goof Goof join us to figure out the hierarchy of host and co-host and the Next At Bat cabinet. They also discuss abandoning narrative for an energy-driven experience with organic, musical transitions and lots of eye contact in which the contract with the audience allows meaning to be discovered […]
The post Goof Goof | Next At Bat: Episode 107 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Jill Bernard, Amy Burge, and Breanna Cecile of the Tiny Funny Women Fest committee, join Philip (Matt unfortunately couldn’t join us) to discuss how TFWF is different than most improv festivals because it’s goals are empowerment and inclusiveness. To that end, they have female-identified ensembles instead of existing groups, have workshops about the year’s most […]
The post Tiny Funny Women Fest | Next At Bat: Episode 106 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Writer/director/creator Katherine Curtis, lights and sound designer Kurt Radtke, Director of Photography Abbie Elrod, and actor Will Roberts of FunWitFunny join us to talk about producing a video sketch show on a budget. They discuss collaboration, ideal frequency/length, finding one’s voice, and production value. We try a new segment, Philip’s Corner, which doesn’t get dark […]
The post FunWitFunny | Next At Bat: Episode 105 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Nathan Rouse, Justin Bettincourt, and Phillip Schramm of This Just In: The Improvised News Show join us to talk about doing an absurdist show in the guise of a newscast. They claim it’s about pure entertainment, but Matt posits that it’s actually an exploration of the id, ego, and super ego. They also discuss filtering […]
The post This Just In | Next At Bat: Episode 104 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Bowl of Chili (Sarah Arnold, Davis Steen, Leah Isaacson, and Denzel Belin) join us to discuss their current form, The Writer’s Room. They talk about using a duel narrative to reveal characters’ inner emotions, working within genres, know when/if your character is needed in a scene, and using stage picture as an indicator. We also […]
The post Bowl of Chili | Next At Bat: Episode 103 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Drew Kersten and Jordan Bainer (unfortunately Bette Bentley couldn’t join us) the producers of Melee a Trois brought along a couple of participants, Sophie Brossard of Danger Zone and Emily Lindholm of Jorts (and Philip Simondet, also of Danger Zone, was also there – if you remember) join us to talk about producing an improv […]
The post Melee a Trois | Next At Bat: Episode 102 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Bennett Christensen, winner of the 2016 HUGE Hangout Auction, brings along Denzel Belin and John Gebretatose (of Sultans of Silly) for his episode. He poses the question, “what have you gotten out of improv?” which leads us to a discussion about making friends, developing community, overcoming social anxiety, and dealing with neurological disorders, schizophrenia, and […]
The post Bennett Christensen | Next At Bat: Episode 101 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
On our 100th episode, Casey Haeg and Eric Heiberg join to interview us. We discuss the importance of doing things outwide of your comfort zone, what makes a good interview, improv philosophy, not watching improv, discovery versus invention, the history of the Twin Cities improv scene, teaching methods, and the secret of Philip’s Corner. Also, […]
The post Next At Bat | Next At Bat: Episode 100 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Phil Schramm and Joe McGowen of Side Pickle join us to talk about performing a “long form show about a long form show.” They discuss the desire to start a group immediately after starting taking improv classes, performing from the moment you step foot on stage, experimenting in rehearsal, and how their opposite personalities compliment […]
The post Side Pickle | Next At Bat: Episode Ninety Nine appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Mark Sutton and Joe Bill of BASSPROV join Matt to talk about doing a one-act play right at the intersection where bass fishing and improv meet. They talk about doing a conversational Harold, taking deep and shallow suggestions, starting in the middle, creating metaphors out of the seemingly mundane, showing the audience a small, real […]
The post BASSPROV | Next At Bat: Episode Ninety Eight appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Tane Danger and Brandon Boat of Danger Boat Productions (the creators of The Theater of Public Policy) join us to talk about their upcoming event, All St. Paul’s A Stage. On August 19th, over 50 improvisers in small groups will perform more than 300 impromptu improvgram scenes all over the city. (learn more and order […]
The post Danger Boat Productions | Next At Bat: Episode Ninety Seven appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Butch Roy, Jen Van Kaam, and James Moore join us to discuss the Neutrino Video Project produced by HUGE Theater. They talk about the benefits and challenges of filming improvised scenes: no immediate feedback from the audience, cinematic tools to play with, improvised special effects, controlling focus, different directing styles, letting go of the idea […]
The post Neutrino Video Project | Next At Bat: Episode Ninety Six appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Doug Neithercott and Doug Ocar of ComedySportz Twin Cities (unfortunately Mary Strutzel couldn’t join us) to talk about running the local branch of a worldwide, all-ages, short-form show. They discuss the benefits of the brand, and how much freedom there is to present your own style within the brand, the power of having a ref, […]
The post ComedySportz Twin Cities | Next At Bat: Episode Ninety Five appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Drew Kersten of My Friend’s Friend’s Friend joins us for some shameless plus, and to talk about marketing, the benefit of having guests built into your show, branding, and game of the scene. Matt does his classic segment, Quick Things You’d Like to Know Right Now, Similarly Paced Responses, and we try a new segment, […]
The post My Friend’s Friend’s Friend | Next At Bat: Episode Ninety Four appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Joy Dolo, Kory LaQuess Pullam, and Alsa Bruno of Blackout (unfortunately Andy Hilbrands and John Gebretatose couldn’t join us) talk about marketing, privilege, balancing serious and comedic conversation, having a dialogue with the audience, being inclusive of diverse points of views, bringing your individual talents to a group, the responsibility to address difficult topics, and […]
The post Blackout | Next At Bat: Episode Ninety Three appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
The Sultans of Silly (Cody Nelson, Denzel Belin, and Matthew McCloud) winners of the 2016 Troika Madness competition, join us to talk about (not) practicing, playing the same characters, avoiding in-fighting, always moving forward, improvising faster than you can think, and finding each other funny. Philip hosts (we’ll fix it in post) and tries a […]
The post Sultans of Silly | Next At Bat: Episode Ninety Two appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Dylan Rohde, founder and co-owner of the Backline Theater and organizer of the Omaha Improv Festival, joins us to talk about avoiding the obvious heightening choice, focusing on your scene partner instead of the audience (but still providing the audience with comedy), breaking on stage, and the importance of hiring a coach. Matt does his […]
The post Dylan Rohde | Next At Bat: Episode Ninety One appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Ferrari McSpeedy (Joe Bozic and Mike Fotis) join us (after 3 years of trying to schedule) to talk about the many things they do: sketch, improv, and opening a new theater, Strike Theater, with Allison Broeren, for sketch, storytelling, and spoken word. They discus how the scene has changed in their 15 year’s as a […]
The post Ferrari McSpeedy | Next At Bat: Episode Ninety appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Joe McGo, Jackson Collins, Joe Blum, Lizzie Gardner, Adam Iverson, Eric Hoversten, and David Kappelhoff of GARY (unfortunately Andrea Ravich, Emily Ruff, Laura Hickey, and Cody Nelson couldn’t join us) talk about auditions, coaching styles, old school openings, casting, bonding, coaches playing, catharsis, caring for the audience, commitment, and growing as a team. Also, we […]
The post GARY | Next At Bat: Episode Eighty Nine appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Larry Bieza, Mary K. Wright, Adam Woolhouse, and Christopher Harrington of Jesters Comedy Improv get caught in a time loop with us. They talk about finding a venue, serving food during a show, structuring a short-form show, the cross-over between long and short form improv. reading a crowd, offending people, audience intaraction, and satire. Matt […]
The post Jesters Comedy Improv | Next At Bat: Episode Eighty Eight appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Gregory Parks and Emmett Cowen of All, Alone talk to us about solo improv. They discus clowning, making mountains out of molehills, experimenting, cutting scenes you don’t enjoy, the power of tech, trusting the audience, meeting or defying expectations, and keeping it simple, stupid. We also get a sneak peek at the next Farrelly Brothers […]
The post All, Alone | Next At Bat: Episode Eighty Seven appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Ricecakes (Mary Mangan, Brian Rice, and Janelle Blasdel) talk about how their form, which uses side conversations to and information and create dramatic irony. They discus evolving through member changes, staying silly, keeping track of multiple threads, why they focus on character instead of plot, and ramen. Matt does his classic section segment, Freeballin’, and […]
The post Ricecakes | Next At Bat: Episode Eighty Six appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Diorama (Eric Heiberg and Sophie Brossard) explain to us how a mono-scene based on discovery, silence, and listening can lead to relationships that present more complex versions of love. They also talk about exploring dangerous situations, not taking a suggestion, hugging, and commitment. Matt does his classic segment, “Short Answers That Were Meat to be […]
The post Diorama | Next At Bat: Episode Eighty Five appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Squash Banana (Jeff Gyllen and Breanna Cecile) talk with us about going for realism over comedy (and the comedy that comes through that naturally). They also discuss learning through shows, mono scenes, complimenting versus pushing, giving themselves more options, and the value of using specific details from your real life. Breanna does a great job, […]
The post Squash Banana | Next At Bat: Episode Eighty Four appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Andy Hilbrands and MJ Marsh of Cross/Weaving tell us they wanted to play together so badly, they invented a form in which they interact with each other as little as possible. They also discuss stage picture, spacework, how little the audience cars about fixing the problem, listening, playing at the top of your intelligence (even […]
The post Cross/Weaving | Next At Bat: Episode Eighty Three appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Eric Thompson and Matt Allex, representing Double-Blind Improv, talk about how producing a show in which the games and cast are chosen at random can create energy because improv audiences tend to be smart and want you to succeed. They also talk about dealing with difficult venues, breaking, the importance of a good host, the […]
The post Double-Blind Improv | Next At Bat: Episode Eighty Two appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Stacey Trelfa, Ryan Strunk, Aaron Cook, and Amy Burge (unfortunately Jen Wilson couldn’t join us) of The Pickup Artists explain how they pull of what what might be the most intimidating show description: improvised narrative a cappella musicals. They talk about learning things from music coaches and improv coaches, filling in each other’s parts, theater […]
The post The Pickup Artists | Next At Bat: Episode Eighty One appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Max Mars, Caroline Hitt, Fred Cheng, Nate Weingarden, and Matthew Kraft of Stevie Ray’s Comedy Troupe (unfortunately Brett Williams and Music Director William Pierce couldn’t join us) talk about how to structure a “fun, funny, professional” variety show. They discuss organizing their 2 hour show, which includes songs, sketches, stand-up and short-form improv, in a […]
The post Stevie Ray’s Comedy Troupe | Next At Bat: Episode Eighty appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Guest host, Michael DallaValle, tries to get Samantha Veldhouse, Erin Kennedy, Jeff Kaisershot, Aurora Sandelands, Jay Kistler, Amee Nefzgar Banks, JoJo Franzen, Philip Skretvedt, Erik Nielsen and coach Matt McCould (unfortunately Colin Anderson couldn’t join us (in human form)) to spoil Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Matt talks about forming the group out of an […]
The post Mixed Messages | Next At Bat: Episode Seventy Nine appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Andy Katzung, Michael DallaValle, Philip Skretvedt, and Katy McGrath of Wonderful Wonderful (unfortunately Justina Cegelski, Courtney Chesher, Chad Divine, Ali Fisch, John Gebretatose and Ingrid Nuttall couldn’t join us) divulge the identities of secret service personnel in what is surely worse than any wiki-leak. They talk about how they have evolved from a Brave New […]
The post Wonderful Wonderful | Next At Bat: Episode Seventy Eight appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Brian Smallbeck, Michael Blomberg, Peter Gilbert, Matt Kelly, Amee Nefzgar Banks, Lizzie Gardner, and Elliot Stevenson of Firefly: The Improvised Continuation (unfortunately Sophie Brossard and Emily Townswick couldn’t make it) come on to spoil Star Wars: The Force Awakens. They discuss the challenges of not only doing a narrative form, but also making well-known, existing […]
The post Firefly: The Improvised Continuation | Next At Bat: Episode Seventy Seven appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Will Roberts, Gubby Kubik, Philip Simondet, Alex Collyard and Erik Nielson of THE PAiNTERS (unfortunately Jeff Gyllen and Luke Gonnella couldn’t make it) eplore when callbacks become indulgent, and when joking about misogyny just becomes misogyny. They explain how the form started as a joke while practicing for The Local Music Scene (which is a […]
The post THE PAiNTERS | Next At Bat: Episode Seventy Six appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Joe Bozic, improviser extraordinaire (Ferrari McSpeedy, Shiow X, The Mess, KINGS) and author of Tin Robot joins us at the first annual NoisePicnic Podfest to talk about inspiration, editing, and what to cut out of your life so you can do all the writing you ought to be doing. He explains how his book of […]
The post Joe Bozic (live) | Next At Bat: Episode Seventy Five appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Transvaginal Mesh (Sally Foster and Leah Isaacson) talk about jumping right and doing everything backwards. They discuss the controversy over their name, the way they communicate, and the challenges of adding guests to a duo form. Matt does his classic segment, Croutons, and Philip tries something new called Philip’s Corner. Also, we explore the product […]
The post Transvaginal Mesh | Next At Bat: Episode Seventy Four appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
Tie, Bow Tie, No Tie, (Andy Hilbrands, Max Leibowitz, and David Kappelhoff) talk about comma placement, their gravitation toward narrative, and how musical accompaniment can not only add songs, but also heighten your emotional choices. They talk about how much you can do in a scene if you just get the who, what and where […]
The post Tie, Bow Tie, No Tie | Next At Bat: Episode Seventy Three appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
We Have Cats (Kristen Pichette, Anna Tobin, Pat Tracy, and Jordan Bainer) talk about their version of the Armando, and how people are more willing to talk about their pets than themselves. They discuss playing clean-ish, escalating the game, and how to use suggestions both directly and indirectly. Matt does his staple segment, Deep Dive, […]
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Kiss Kiss Slap (Mike Trost and Lauren Schwein) talk about waiting until you’re ready, knowing when you’re ready, taking a break if you need one, and when to stop talking and start doing. They discuss where their strong characters come from, how their comedic approaches are complimentary, and how far you can get just being […]
The post Kiss Kiss Slap | Next At Bat: Episode Seventy One appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
The cast of Wet Hot Minnesota Summer (Jen Van Kaam, Justina Cegelski, Molly Chase, Jonathan Gershberg, Sidney Oxborough, Autumn Burggraff, Michael Renner and co-director/creator Alex Collyard (unfortunately Connor Lane, Sally Franson, Lupe Muraszewski, Kristen Pichette and co-director Hannah Wydeven couldn’t make it)) talk about their improvised adaptation of the cult classic movie, Wet Hot American […]
The post Wet Hot Minnesotan Summer | Next At Bat: Episode Seventy appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.
