The Art of Spontaneity: Aaron Kahn on Improv in Paris

Aaron Kahn (b. 1975, Chicago) is a Paris-based performance, sound, and vocal artist whose work spans both decades and continents. He is the founder of Précisément Par Hasard, the first French troupe blending sport poetry and honesty in the Chicago’s Neo-Futurist Theatre tradition to produce an ever-changing living newspaper of 30 plays in 60 minutes. Kahn’s practice is rooted not in critique but in a Socratic ethic—using performance to question, to disturb, and to listen. His research focuses on the ethical stakes of the artist–audience relationship, often privileging process over product and presence over illusion.Kahn holds a BA (cum laude) in Theatre Directing from Marlboro College and School for International Training, where his thesis, Peacebuilding with Collective Creation Theatre, laid the foundation for his enduring interest in performance as civic dialogue. He trained at the École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris, Université de Paris 8, Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre, and USC’s School of Dramatic Arts. His development has also been shaped by workshops with Peter Brook, Judith Malina, Shira Piven, Joseph Chaikin, Complicité, and Goat Island.His current sound-performance work, The Breaking String: Sonification of Nonlinear Collapse, was recently shortlisted for a research residency at IRCAM. He was a devising performer in the Lithuanian sound art performance Bad Weather/Navigations, which won the 2020 Carapelli for Art Prize, and his work can be heard on the associated vinyl LP released by Telemark Editions inGermany. As a member of Company of Strangers, he devised environmental performance in residencies at Hall Farm in Vermont. Earlier in his career, Kahn was recognized with first prize in the YoungArts National Competition for Theatre and was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts finalist.In addition to his stage and sound-based practice, Kahn works in film, television, and voiceover. Recent film appearances include The Substance, Monsieur Aznavour, Along Came Love and the forthcoming Le rêve américain. On television he can be seen in The New Look (Apple TV+), Emily in Paris, and the forthcoming Privileges from HBO/Amazon Studios. His voice work includes theEnglish-language dubbing of L’Amour a ses réseaux for Arte and roles in short films such as Detox. His screen career began with a teenage role in The Magic Door (1992, PBS). IMDbKahn lives and works in France where he is represented by Talented in Paris. His podcast Jiggle It A Little It’ll Open (with Ira S. Murfin, PhD) is available on Apple Podcasts and elsewhere. radio KAHNtents, (experimental works for radio) can be heard exclusively on SoundCloud.bio.site/kahnartistworkskahnartistworks.comonpj.fr This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laviecreativepodcast.substack.com