Building Bridges Improv Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Ian joins Jennifer and David on a Bridge to discuss LA Improv and Standup, how he got started, and how his imdb page displays his degree status.

Ian Zandi is an LA-based comedian jack-of-all-trades. With origins based in improv/sketch training, Ian uses those skills in his current pursuits as a standup comic.  Ian’s work has been featured at various comedy theaters such as Second City and Pack Theater, satire sites including The Onion, and numerous festivals.

instagram.com/ianzandi

Zach joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to talk about his long journey through improv, his ideal performance style, and how he's creating a streaming platform for improvised specials!

Zach Atherton is a 20-year improv comedy veteran who started his performing career with the ComedySportz High School League in Los Angeles. His professional improv comedy journey began with ComedySportz Utah which led to him to create the world’s first musical improv theater in 2014 called ImprovBroadway. 

He is currently partnered with Colin Mochrie from Whose Line is it Anyway? and Dry Bar Comedy to create the world’s first platform for improv comedy called Dry Bar Unscripted. 

drybarunscripted.com

tiktok.com/@theimprovguy

Dave joins David and Jennifer on a Bridge to discuss ImprovMANIA's new location, wrestling, and what he loves teaching about improv.

David & Colleen Specht own and operate ImprovMANIA Comedy Club in Historic Downtown Chandler, Arizona.   Colleen is a Chandler native and David moved to Chandler from Chicago. They met while performing improv and opened their boutique theatre in 2014. ImprovMANIA provides shows, classes, corporate entertainment and teambuilding workshops.   https://improvmania.net/   https://www.bridgeimprovtheater.com/

Gabe and Ryder join Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss the move from Denver to LA, what's important for their duo, and how insanely strong Gabe is.

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www.YouTube.com/TVunscripted www.TVunscripted.com   = = = TVunscripted Bio: = = = Based out of Los Angeles, TVunscripted is an improv and sketch comedy duo with a love of fast-paced, highly-physical comedy. Ryder and Gabe are originally from Denver, and their creativity and chemistry have sold out shows across Colorado and beyond. A few of their original shows include TV-scripted a Sketch Show, Dungeons & Dragons Unscripted, Star Wars Unscripted, and Lethal Weapon Live.    TVunscripted brings a diverse spin to their comedic outlook with representation of Asian American, Hispanic, and LGBTQ groups.   As seen on: Improfest International Comedy Festival (Gothenburg, Sweden) Trill Comedy Festival (Headlining Act - Houston, TX) Westside Comedy Festival (Santa Monica, CA) Denver Improv Festival (Denver, CO) North Carolina Comedy Festival (Greensboro) As well as at Impro Theater (LA), 3E's Comedy Club, The Colorado Springs Independent, ENT Center for the Arts, and KCME Radio.   = = = Ryder Bio: = = = Ryder Tam is a tall palm tree from Honolulu, Hawaii. As an aerospace engineer, he launched three satellites and loves to bring a science spin to his comedy. Ryder has taught for Rise Comedy (Denver) and Bird City Improv (Baltimore), including his original curriculum for Improvised Dungeons & Dragons and Improv for Scientists. Ryder brings an Asian-American perspective to his standup, and loves exploring science in comedy.

Ryder is an Upright Citizens Brigade alumn, and also trained at iO Chicago, The Groundlings, and Second City. A self-professed nerd, Ryder would love to show you just how much fun you can have with your imagination.

= = = Gabe Bio: = = = Gabriel Michael Valdez is a Colorado native actor, improviser, and writer. An instructor for Rise Comedy, he is an Upright Citizens Brigade alumnus and has trained with The Groundlings and Bird City Improv (Baltimore).

He is a playwright with work featured at the Denver Fringe Festival, and has over 50,000 views on his sketch comedy work. Gabe has performed internationally at the Auckland Improv Marathon (New Zealand), as well as at Second City, Upright Citizens Brigade, Westside Comedy and more. 

A professionally trained environmental analyst and geologist, Gabe would love to talk with you about protecting the environment and his rock collection.

Taylor joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss how improv is now Dungeons and Dragons, Laughing Pig Theatre, as well as her work with the Bridge Initiative. 

@borntoeatcupcakes
Theatres to check-out
laughingpigtheatre.org
bridgeinit.org

Charlie joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss improv during the pandemic, where they got their start, and why large improv teams are not their favorite.

Charlie James is a comedian from Los Angeles. They're known for their TikTok sketches (@nonbinarycowboy) and comedy tweets for Chicago's Field Museum. charliejamescomedy.com

David joins Jen on a bridge to discuss his start in improv, doing improv at an art show, and now what it means to own and operate a theater.

David found his love for improv, like many, in high school.  Pursuing it after graduating he ran a few troupes, most notably Names From a Hat in Tempe. He grew and learned performing at Torch Theatre, JesterZ, Mesa Arts Center, just a to name a few.  After years of dreaming of having his own theater to run, it came true, albeit during the pandemic.  The Bridge Improv Theater has now been running for the majority of 2021, and truly has been everything and more for David.  His dream of building a strong and welcoming community for all, is just getting started.

 

www.bridgeimprovtheater.com/

Brandi joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss their first ever experience doing improv, their new adventure in stand up comedy, and what doing better comedy means to them.

Brandi (they/them/she/her) started doing musicals when they were 14 and became addicted to theatre. Improv has helped them become a kinder and more well rounded performer. They've always wanted to do stand up and now they’re doing that too. They recently co-founded Do Better Comedy to produce anti-racist, anti-misogynist, LGBTQIA+ friendly, respectful comedy with a vision to create safe spaces for all genders to try stand-up. Follow them on social media!

  DoBetterComedy.com BrandiBigley.com

Anthony joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss the sounds of animals dying, his improv start, and his beautiful singing voice.

Anthony Thornton is a stand-up comedian, turned improvisor, turned stand up comedian (who does improv). He started his comedy journey at 18 and found some minor success on the stand-up stage. Wanting to improve, he turned to The Neighborhood Comedy Theatre in Mesa, AZ and spent 8 years performing, producing, and teaching on the NCT stage. Now, after a 3-year break, he is back in the world of comedy; splitting all of his free time between stand up and improv (though admittedly, mostly stand-up). IG: @ATComedy5 www.atcomedy.com

www.bridgeimprovtheater.com

 

Justin joins David and Jennifer on a Bridge to discuss The Tucson Improv Movement, his improv journey, and what is important to him on stage.

Justin has loved comedy since seeing Ghostbusters for the first time in the late 80s. In college Justin produced Misericordia University’s first live comedy show CougarLive. After moving to North Carolina he began an in-depth study of improv comedy. While there, Justin became an instructor, performed on several house teams, and coached the high school team. After moving to Tucson in 2012 he founded the Tucson Improv Movement, which has grown to 60+ performing company members and 500+ comedy school graduates.

Justin has performed all over the country at numerous festivals including Impride, The Del Close Marathon, and Phoenix Improv Festival. Over that time he honed a fast paced, game based approach to performing. His biggest asset to improv is bringing energy and enthusiasm to any scene being performed and class being taught. Justin loves to delve into the academic logistics of why and how a scene works, with the positive energy of a roller coaster ride. Justin currently works for Greater Tucson Leadership managing their programs and leadership curriculum development.   www.tucsonimprov.com https://www.instagram.com/jlukasewicz/
www.bridgeimprovtheater.com