Ep. 60: The Black Version featuring Jordan Black (Creator) and Karen Maruyama (Director)

Ep. 60: The Black Version featuring Jordan Black (Creator) and Karen Maruyama (Director) The Black Version is a completely improvised show that started at the Groundings Theatre in Los Angeles in 2010 to sold out crowds and great reviews. Rolling Stone magazine calls the show “Hot” and the cast a “Comedic A-Team”. LA Weekly says the show is “Red Hot” and “Scores more than its share of belly laughs” while the LA Times calls the show “A Winner”.The all African American cast of regulars includes show creator Jordan Black along with other comedy veterans Cedric Yarbrough, Gary Anthony Williams, Daniele Gaither, Phil Lamar, and Nyima Funk all under the direction of Karen Maruyama. Special guest performers include Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele of Key & Peele (former original cast members), Wayne Brady, Maya Rudolph, Tiffany Hadish, Niecey Nash, Jerry Minor, Angela V. Shelton, Misty Monroe, and others who come and perform in the show from time to time.This talented cast has vast film and television credits ranging from Mad TV and Saturday Night Live, to The Boondocks and Reno 911. The show begins when the director asks the audience to suggest a popular film title and then the cast, right there on the copy, improvise the “Black Version” of that film. The show regularly performs at the Groundlings Theater and the Largo at the Coronet.https://www.theblackversion.com/Jordan BlackJordan Black is a former writer for “Saturday Night Live,” “The Last OG,” and a former writer/producer for “Last Man Standing” and the reboot of “Punky Brewster”. He’s currently a writer/producer on the reboot of “The Wonder Years” on ABC. As an actor he has appeared in such shows as “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “The Mindy Project,” “2 Broke Girls,” and “Key and Peele” among several others including a recurring role on “Community” as “Dean Spreck.” As a voice actor he’s worked on many shows including “South Park,” “The Cleveland Show,” and “American Dad”. Black is an alum of The Groundlings, the Los Angeles-based improvisational and sketch comedy theater and where he created the all black improv group The Black Version.Karen MaruyamaKaren not only enjoys acting and improvising but also teaches all class levels as well as having the privilege of directing Main shows, Sunday shows, Gas Shows, and the Black Version at the Groundlings. She is also currently part of the directing faculty at the American Film Institute. Some of her recent television credits include playing a forensics tech on Bosch, a gynecologist on Shameless, and a body waxing mother/grandmother on Tacoma FD. Credits Produced and Edited by Otter Castro   Research and Interview by Rich Wexler  Music  Richie by B.J Snowden⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bjsnowdenmusic.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ There Was a light Instrumental  I Never Feel Alone Instrumental by Stephen Bluhm ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.stephenbluhm.fun/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠