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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, meta communication between performers, the inherent structure of scenes, the audience’s innate desire to see the performers succeed, and the importance of bold declarations. Also, we are invaded by babies. Follow Next at Bat:facebook – NextAtBattwitter – nextatbatpodinstagram – nextatbatpodcastnextatbatpodcast@gmail.com 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 – julietimprov Follow Next at Bat: facebook – NextAtBat twitter – nextatbatpod instagram – nextatbatpodcast nextatbatpodcast@gmail.com 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 cities, and dealing with storytellers who may or may not be performers themselves. Also, we visit a bar with a plaque for everything. Follow History Made Up: historymadeup.com facebook.com/History-Made-Up-1958973494370923/ twitter.com/HistoryMadeUp instagram.com/historymadeup Follow Next at Bat: facebook.com/NextAtBat twitter.com/nextatbatpod instagram.com/nextatbatpodcast 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 person. Also, we see the origin of a snakewolf. Follow The Laser Comedy Show at LaserComedyShow.com Follow Next At Bat at facebook.com/NextAtBat 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. We also sing some Katy Perry and Marianne spends a lot of time with her very best friend. Follow Melissa?! at facebook.com/Melissaquestionmark Follow Next At Bat at facebook.com/NextAtBat 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 groups require members to jump more, and the effectiveness of gimmicks. Also, we observe the rise of acronyms. Follow Next At Bat at facebook.com/NextAtBat 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 friendly musical that is definitely not associated with Disney. (If anything, it’s more Pixar than Dreamworks.) They also talk about musical tropes, experimenting with ideal show times, developing group mind, being conscious of the message sent by the types of stories you tell, and the interplay between improvisers and their musical accompaniment. As always, the interview ends with Keyboard Corner. Then we present the musical The Lighthouse on the Prairie. Follow Rated G at facebook.com/ratedgimprov Follow Next At Bat at facebook.com/NextAtBat 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, balancing new and experienced improvisers within the show, the importance of supporting each other, and how to pull more out of an Armando so your scenes don’t just replicate the story. Also, we learn a lot about linguistics. Follow Love Letters at facebook.com/Love-Letters-Improv Follow Next At Bat at facebook.com/NextAtBat 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 improv after they leave their educational institutions, show residents that there’s more to do than eat, shop and drink, and show visitors that there’s more to Fargo than the movie. We also learn how important it is to always know where your poop is. Follow The Fargo Improv Festival at facebook.com/FargoImprovFest Follow Next At Bat at facebook.com/NextAtBat 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 force your agenda on it, venturing outside of improv theaters, asking the audience to be on board, and whether or not a show like his needs a preface. Also, musical legend Orwell Frank joins us on Rick and Rick’s easy listening show on WKJ1. Follow Troubadour at facebook.com/troubadourimprov Follow Next At Bat at facebook.com/NextAtBat 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 power of bluntly stating your character’s emotions. We also talk a lot about fuck bois. Then we improvised a short acappella opera. Follow Next At Bat at facebook.com/NextAtBat 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, developing chemistry after being formed through an audition, callbacks, monologues, and thinking of the show as a whole. Also, a mist stalks us. Then we visit Dragonland. Follow Colossal Park at facebook.com/colossalparkimprov Follow Next At Bat at facebook.com/NextAtBat 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 by the viewer. Also, we leave it to you decide if Philip and Phillip are the same person. Then things get goofy. Follow Next At Bat at facebook.com/NextAtBat 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 relevant issues, encourage community building and frank discussion during breaks, and have been known to break into an impromptu potluck. During a new segment, Philip’s Corner, we learned a lot about crafts. Also, Jill and Breanna get trapped in the airport’s VIP lounge. Follow Tiny Funny Women Fest at tinyfunnywomenfest.com Follow Next At Bat at facebook.com/NextAtBat 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 at all. Also, Philip tries to return a fish. Follow FunWitFunny at facebook.com/FunWitFunny Follow Next At Bat at facebook.com/NextAtBat 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 suggestions, dynamics, and satire. In a brand new segment, Philip’s Corner, we learn about the Loch Ness Monster and fake children. Also, Michael Dallavalle get’s a great deal on pants. Follow This Just In: The Improvised News Show at facebook.com/thisjustinimprovbutts Follow Next At Bat at facebook.com/NextAtBat 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 see how the Illuminati influenced the latest episode of Weird World. Follow Bowl of Chili at bowlofchili.com Follow Next At Bat at facebook.com/NextAtBat 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 competition. We discuss marketing, expectations, providing stage time, showcasing both established and up-and-coming groups, and promoting a show. We also learn a little French. Follow Melee a Trois at facebook.com/ComeLaughJudge Follow Next At Bat at facebook.com/NextAtBat 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 Parkinson’s Disease. We also talk about diversity, taking breaks from performing, enjoying one’s friends’ accomplishments, and using improvisation’s inherent positivity to enjoy life. We also have a lot of nice things to say about Jen Scott. Follow Next At Bat at facebook.com/NextAtBat 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, Eric feels left out and invents jayshitting. Follow Next At Bat at facebook.com/NextAtBat The post Next At Bat | Next At Bat: Episode 100 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.