Brad Sherwood: From Free Improv Shows to Whose Line Success and 17 Years on Tour

Brad Sherwood, beloved performer from "Whose Line Is It Anyway?", reveals his journey from performing six to seven free improv shows weekly across Los Angeles in three different groups to landing his career-defining television role. Working his way up through Second City's touring company as Ryan Stiles' understudy, Sherwood recounts the brutal five-hour audition with 50 other Los Angeles improvisers—all of whom he knew personally—that would change his life forever. He credits Stiles, who was in the main Second City company, for alerting him that "Whose Line" producers were coming to town and encouraging him to audition. Sherwood explains how the show transformed improv from what's been called "the jazz of comedy"—a basement club art form known only to cool college kids—into mainstream awareness, now taught as curriculum in high schools and elementary drama clubs nationwide. He discusses the challenge improv faced where one bad first experience could turn someone off forever, unlike standup comedy where audiences blame the individual performer rather than the entire art form.The versatile entertainer discusses his 17-year touring partnership with Colin Mochrie, describing their dynamic as "an improv Penn and Teller," and shares his philosophy that every aspect of life is essentially improvised—from conversations that ebb and flow naturally to driving where you know your destination but must adapt moment-by-moment to avoid trucks, rabbits, and other obstacles. Sherwood reveals his approach to character creation, preferring to go with whatever the scene demands rather than relying on pre-planned "angry guy" personas, though he'll occasionally throw on a dialect (which he admits doing "very poorly") to give himself a different perspective. He demonstrates his quick-thinking abilities by engaging in an impromptu wrestling promo, channeling Chris Jericho's mic skills while promoting his "Scared Scriptless" tour (not "Sacred Scriptless" as one might mishear). Beyond improv, Sherwood describes himself as a "Renaissance guy" pursuing music composition, painting, and literary projects while seeking hosting opportunities that showcase his skillset better than playing a fireman on "Chicago Fire," with upcoming tour dates spanning the Midwest, New England, and Eastern seaboard including his May 17th show at the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg, Kentucky.