DCM 18 the Novel: #DAHFOOK
Timmy Wood’s DCM novel tradition lives on! This exquisite corpse-style novel has been a staple of recent DCMs, and four of Timmy’s closest friends come together to pay tribute and read (aka improvise) the DCM 18 novel live! Featuring AJ Patton, Lui Vega, Bill DiPiero, Devin Ritchie and Nathan Russell.
45m Jul 26, 2016
45m
Diversity Program at the UCB Training Center with Erik Tanouye
Erik Tanouye, School Manager for the NY Training Center, invites Ray Cordova, Alex Song and Lou Gonzalez to discuss their experience with the diversity program. This informative episode looks at what is available to new and returning students with diverse backgrounds including scholarships, jams and meet-ups. Also, the panel talks about each of their own unique perspectives starting out at UCB....
45m Jul 18, 2016
45m
Pattern Game Summit
The pattern game is an essential tool for students and performers of the Harold. But what’s the RIGHT way to do the pattern game? 4 Pattern-game zealots, Kevin Hines, Shaun Diston, Nick Mandernach and Jake Regal, come together to discuss and defend their distinct version of the pattern game, and settle this issue FOREVER. Recorded live during the 18th annual Del Close Marathon in New York City.
35m Jul 11, 2016
35m
Londale Theus Jr. / Paul Welsh
Londale Theus Jr. joins this week’s guest host Paul Welsh to discuss being introduced to improv by his father, adding strategic support moves, and becoming less precious about doing things right and just playing.
1hr 6m Jul 04, 2016
1hr 6m
Paul Welsh / Billy Merritt
Paul Welsh joins this week’s guest host Billy Merritt to discuss doing what you want to do, having a compelling scene for your game, and going back to your root exercises.
50m Jun 27, 2016
50m
Billy Merritt / Dhruv Uday Singh
Billy Merritt joins this week’s guest Dhruv Uday Singh to discuss answering the "question" with justification, the atomic harold, and going beyond the obvious jokes.
53m Jun 20, 2016
53m
Dhruv Uday Singh / Beth Appel
Dhruv Uday Singh joins this week’s guest host Beth Appel to discuss learning new things, returning to the base reality, and the difference between persistence and tenacity.
57m Jun 13, 2016
57m
Beth Appel / Dan Black
Beth Appel joins this week’s guest host Dan Black to discuss not playing coy, being strategic with your auditions, and rising from the ashes after being cut.
1hr 1m Jun 06, 2016
1hr 1m
Joey Price / Lou Gonzalez
Joey Price joins this week’s guest Lou Gonzalez to discuss the straight man technique, comedy writing, their mutual love for cage match and Everyone’s Favorite Game Show. This week’s episode will conclude the second round of the LaRonde in New York City, and next week will pick up back up in Los Angeles.
47m May 30, 2016
47m
Lou Gonzalez / Lily Du
Lou Gonzalez joins this week’s guest host Lily Du to discuss performing and teaching improv overseas in Denmark, thoughts on the pattern game versus organic openings, diversity and why great improv comes from individuals with different points of view converging and creating something together.
59m May 23, 2016
59m
Lily Du / Frank Garcia-Hejl
Lily Du joins this week’s guest host Frank Garcia-Hejl to discuss her love for 2 Square with Peter Grosz and John Lutz, the influence that ASP ‘Suck My Dick II’ with Shannon O’Neill had on her, returning to Lloyd night after getting cut and Billy Merritt’s theory of types of players: pirates, robots and ninjas.
54m May 16, 2016
54m
Frank Garcia-Hejl / Natasha Vaynblat
Frank Garcia-Hejl joins this week’s guest host Natasha Vaynblat to discuss teaching all three of the Upright Citizens Brigade Training Center’s curriculums (improv, sketch and character), using the monoscene form with UCBTNY house team Bucky, finding impressions, and doing good work while still having fun. Plus, check out USA’s First Impressions premiering tomorrow, May 10, for a chance to see ...
58m May 09, 2016
58m
Natasha Vaynblat / Alex Song
In this week’s episode, Long-Form Conversations returns to New York City for it’s second round of the LaRonde with Natasha Vaynblat joined by Alex Song returning as guest host! Together they discuss Natasha seeing Death by Roo Roo live at her college, improvising as a character, exploring narrative writing, and the sliding doors form.
52m May 02, 2016
52m
Programming the Annual Del Close Marathon
On today’s special episode, Artistic Director of The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre NY, Shannon O'Neill, is joined by former AD Nate Dern to discuss the history of DCM, offer a behind the scenes look into planning the ever growing event, and together offer favorite past marathon experiences.
42m Apr 25, 2016
42m
Dan Black / Ronnie Adrian
Dan Black joins this week’s guest host Ronnie Adrian to discuss moving to LA, professional wrestling, being Dan Black while playing a character and the importance of first beats.
1hr 4m Apr 18, 2016
1hr 4m
Ronnie Adrian / Mary Holland
Ronnie Adrian joins this week’s guest host Mary Holland to discuss acting naturally, being an emotional player, the hilarity of a bad idea and praising Casey Feigh on pretty much everything he does.
1hr 5m Apr 11, 2016
1hr 5m
Mary Holland / Mike Still
Mary Holland joins this week’s guest host Mike Still to discuss randos, the importance of trust, the flow of communication with the audience and calling out what you're feeling.
1hr Apr 04, 2016
1hr
Mike Still / Johnny Meeks
Mike Still joins the first ever Long-Form Conversations from Los Angeles, guest hosted by Johnny Meeks! Like the improv form, today’s guest Mike Still is going to be the host of the next episode and his guest will become the host of the next episode and on and on. Each week will offer a one time only host/guest paring, feature amazing improvisors from both coasts and as always incredibly nerdy ...
55m Mar 28, 2016
55m
Alex Song / Lauren Adams
Alex Song joins this week’s guest host Lauren Adams to discuss sharing a stage at The Lady Jam, moving from writing to performing, getting pumped up with Smash Mouth and building her improv "dream team".
48m Mar 21, 2016
48m
Lauren Adams / James III
Lauren Adams joins this week’s guest host James III to discuss starting as an apprentice, finding joy in musical improv, getting into the mess and discovering what she thinks is funny in the scene.
47m Mar 14, 2016
47m
James III / Carrie McCrossen
James III joins this week’s guest host Carrie McCrossen to discuss starting out in theatre, diversity, clowning with commedia dell'arte and not saying "no".
42m Mar 07, 2016
42m
Carrie McCrossen / Don Fanelli
Carrie McCrossen joins this week’s guest host Don Fanelli to discuss musical theatre, auditioning, Harold team Good Girl, the audience and The Improvised Play.
45m Feb 29, 2016
45m
Improv: "Rules" or "No Rules" w/ Ian Roberts (Part 2)
In our second installment, Ian Roberts, co-founder of the Upright Citizens Brigade, continues with a lecture, Q & A, and discussion on the topic of "rules" vs. "no rules" in improv comedy. Recorded live at UCB Sunset in Los Angeles, CA.
1hr 22m Dec 02, 2015
1hr 22m
Improv: "Rules" or "No Rules" w/ Ian Roberts (Part 1)
Ian Roberts, co-founder of the Upright Citizens Brigade, hosted a lecture, Q & A, and discussion on the topic of "rules" vs. "no rules" in improv comedy. It is Ian's position that rules are necessary for teaching, learning, and practicing improv and any other discipline. Listen along as Ian presents his argument and engages with the audience. Recorded live at UCB Sunset in Los Angeles, CA.
1hr 23m Dec 02, 2015
1hr 23m
Chris Gethard (Part 2)
In our second installment, Chris Gethard with hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel answer more listener submitted questions and together discuss the overlap between performing improv and stand up, getting out of your head and trusting your scene partner, depression, (), actually saying yes, a secret improv move revealed, and Gethard is given an open forum to say whatever he wants.
46m Oct 27, 2015
46m
Chris Gethard (Part 1)
Chris Gethard joins hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel to answer listener submitted questions in this special two part series. Together, they discuss Chris’s history teaching at UCB, the legacy of Anthony King, psychological tactics used while coaching fwand, improvising for Adam McKay, working with Tami Sagher, the line between great and terrible harolds and a call to action: don’t play it ...
58m Oct 19, 2015
58m
Joanna Bradley
Joanna Bradley joins hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel to discuss a career track to becoming a lawyer, why improv classes can be helpful for sketch curriculum, indie team Spooky Ghost, Harold team Namaste, playing with Death By Roo Roo, Improvised Seinfeld, the wisdom of Anthony King and why quote don’t play characters end quote.
1hr 25m Oct 12, 2015
1hr 25m
Brian Faas
Brian Faas joins hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel to discuss interviewing Matt Besser and Matt Walsh for his college newspaper, Harold teams: Tantrum, The Fucking Kennedys, Scootch, Bastian and weekend team The Law Firm, teaching genre classes, musical improv, giving hard notes with positivity and back line etiquette.
1hr 24m Sep 28, 2015
1hr 24m
Caroline Cotter
Caroline Cotter joins hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel to discuss her development as an improviser while in advanced study, Harold teams Rocks, Big Margaret, Higgins, having catch phrases, working with a consistent coach, hosting the improv jam, and being a monster person.
1hr 17m Sep 21, 2015
1hr 17m
Dru Johnston
Dru Johnston joins hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel to discuss completing Level 101-501 in a year, Google chat sessions before Harold teams announcements, moving from Sandino to Grandma’s Ashes, the year of the blog, advice on how to take notes and sketches from an Italian restaurant.
1hr 26m Sep 14, 2015
1hr 26m
Karin Louise Hammerberg
Karin Louise Hammerberg joins hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel to discuss starting out in Washington DC, becoming part of the community, Harold teams Mr. Crime/Surfing/Guthrie/Grammar, "This Is Going to Hurt", music review club and pen tricks.
1hr 18m Sep 07, 2015
1hr 18m
Michael Hartney
Michael Hartney joins hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel to discuss player styles, 30 Harolds in 30 days, the American Comedy Institute, incorporating aspects of sketch performance into improv, shamelessness and the journey from from Improv 101 to house team in 10 years.
1hr 18m Aug 31, 2015
1hr 18m
Lydia Hensler
Lydia Hensler joins hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel to discuss longest running Harold team Bastian, practice standards, the Mental Health Players, overcoming nerves, and developing her own form: Tangential Harolds.
1hr 22m Aug 24, 2015
1hr 22m
Will Hines Bonus
Will Hines returns in this bonus episode to examine LA versus NYC with hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel. Will offers up his unique perspective having recently moved to Los Angles after being a part of UCB in New York for 17 years. Together, they discuss a mutual respect between the coasts, how relying on a car for transportation lends it self to more props, what the 2 coasts can learn from...
33m Aug 20, 2015
33m
Caitlin Bitzegaio
Caitlin Bitzegaio joins hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel to discuss getting started at UCB in 2006, an unusual classmate in her Sketch 101, the auditioning process and Apollo making the jump form Lloyd to Harold night.
1hr 28m Aug 17, 2015
1hr 28m
Achilles Stamatelaky Returns
Achilles Stamatelaky joins hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel to discuss starting out as an intern, pursuing writing comedy, Harold team auditions and a story about hanging up on the artistic director.
1hr 9m Aug 10, 2015
1hr 9m
Keisha Zollar
Keisha Zollar joins hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel to discuss her involvement in UCB’s diversity program, Doppelgänger’s infamous run at cage match, going to James Lipton’s house, Lloyd team Astronomy Club and an indie improv show called ‘God Tastes Like Chicken.’
1hr 22m Aug 03, 2015
1hr 22m
Craig Rowin
Craig Rowin joins hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel to discuss Harold team Twelve Thousand Dollars, performing improv with Robin Williams, “the Buccaneer” and working on Adult Swim’s Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell.
1hr 2m Jul 27, 2015
1hr 2m
Terry Withers
Guest Terry Withers joins hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel to discuss how seeing Reuben Williams got him hooked on improv, Terry’s play ‘Heart Split In Two’, internet antics, Terry’s short-form competition show, Sandino and becoming a father.
1hr 13m Jul 20, 2015
1hr 13m
Nicole Drespel
This week, Nicole Drespel sits down as a guest and joining Shaun Diston is special guest co-host, Will Hines! Together, they discuss what led Nicole from a possible pursuit in shakespearian studies to improv, how she navigated getting involved with the UCB community, first Harold team memories and what it takes to be a good teacher and/or coach.
1hr 1m Jul 13, 2015
1hr 1m
Matt Mayer
Guest Matt Mayer joins hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel to discuss starting out in entertainment as a mascot, transitioning from stand-up to improv, committing to the scene, and stories from the trenches of Harold Night.
1hr 40m Jul 06, 2015
1hr 40m
Cathryn Mudon
Guest Cathryn Mudon joins hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drepel to discuss harold auditioning, cage match memories, hosting the Kaleidoscope and the park bench of truth exercise. Also, a memorable show at a sushi restaurant booked by a futurist named Elvis.
1hr 26m Jun 29, 2015
1hr 26m
Jackie Jennings
This week, Jackie Jennings joins hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel to discuss the influence of long form in the early aughts for college improv teams, your first harold team, play styles and when Jackie felt part of the UCB community. Also, an infamous email is read regarding ideas for a team name.
1hr 15m Jun 22, 2015
1hr 15m
Kevin Hines
In our debut episode, 15 year veteran improvisor, teacher and UCB associate academic supervisor Kevin Hines joins your new hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel. Together, they discuss Kevin’s early days coming up at UCB, the indie scene, coaching and answer questions from you the (longtime) fans!
1hr 29m Jun 15, 2015
1hr 29m
UCB Long-Form Conversations Returns!
In this mini episode, new hosts Shaun Diston and Nicole Drespel discuss what to look forward to with the return of the podcast. Including carrying the torch forward as the next generation, interview each other about their personal histories, shed some tears and get mad.
31m Jun 08, 2015
31m
Christian Capozzoli
In this episode our guest is Christian Capozzoli, performer on the Harold team Bucky, co-founder/creator of the 4 Square show/form and one of the most popular coaches/teachers in NYC! Listen to him tell tales of discovering improv, coming up at the Magnet, coming up again at UCB and some of his own personal take on how to improve your improv scenes! (Slightly embarrassing note: one of the hosts...
1hr 46m Dec 31, 2013
1hr 46m
Benjamin Apple
Enjoy the New Year of 2014 with a new episode featuring Benjamin Apple. Longtime writer for the Maude Team Onassis, writer for Jimmy Fallon, brand-new member of the Harold team The Regulars and also just a long-time devotee of UCB and improv. Hear his cerebral musings on improv and comedy and sketch! Fun!
1hr 31m Dec 31, 2013
1hr 31m
Shaun Diston
We interview Shaun Diston! Shaun is a long-time student and performer in the UCB system. He just recently got re-placed onto a house team (The Lloyd team Musk). He talks about his work in becoming one of the most respected coaches and teachers in the UCB system. SWAG. I'm not actually sure of the correct way to use that word, but it's used in a lot of Facebook posts about Shaun.
1hr 30m Dec 03, 2013
1hr 30m
Connor Ratliff
Today we interview Connor Ratliff. He's a member of The Stepfathers and Stone Cold Fox and a featured player on The Chris Gethard Show. He talks about his rise up through the UCB ranks, and his obsessive collecting tendencies and intense class experiences and his acting background and his story of getting cast and then uncast from Band of Brothers!
1hr 18m Dec 03, 2013
1hr 18m
Cipha Sounds
Hey, we interview the podcast intern Cipha Sounds! How did one of the most prominent hip-hop radio DJs in the country get interesting long-form improv? What does he do to get out of mental blocks? What's it like founding and running one of the coolest shows at the theatre (TAKE IT PERSONAL)? How have things changed for him in his years (that's right, years) here? How does he feel about being th...
1hr 43m Oct 28, 2013
1hr 43m