Cascade Improv Podcast

An episode of the Troy Mink Moment, where we explore scenes or stage experiences where everything went off the rails!

An episode of the Troy Mink Moment, where we explore scenes or stage experiences where everything went off the rails!

An episode of the Troy Mink Moment, where we explore scenes or stage experiences where everything went off the rails!

We wrap up season 1 of Cascade Improv Podcast with the amazing Obadiah Freeman, an actor of stage, film, and television, as well as improviser and ensemble member with Unexpected Productions. We talk with Obadiah about his start in improv and performance, teaching kids, the Seattle acting scene, emotion and taking risk in improv, and do much more. Join us for more than two hours of laughs and conversation with this amazing performer.

This week, we speak with writer, improviser, and performer Joe Guppy about the early days of Seattle's improv. With 8 regional Emmys and a national Writers Guild award for comedy writing and performing, Joe is a renowned director, actor, and founder of Off the Wall Players, Almost Live, and Unexpected Productions. He speaks with us about listening, the difference between improv and sketch, and the formation of several of Seattle's timeless comedy groups.

We spend a laugh-filled two hours with Faith Perrenoud, an improviser with Seattle's own "Formerly Known As" troupe, as well as a tech improviser, and world traveller. Faith shares her thoughts on what makes for great scenes, her intro to improv, how her troupe formed and operates, and her approach to internal screaming. Join us for another episode with a PNW superstar!

This week we're speaking with Alan Hawkins, a veteran improviser and member of the Unexpected Productions ensemble. Alan talks with us about his time in the Second City Conservatory, the differences between Chicago and Los Angeles improv, his Shakespeare troupe "The Brothers Falstaff", and how he came to author "You Can't Learn Improv From A Book." Join us for a two hour conversation with this master performer, actor, director, teacher, and improviser.

This week we’re speaking with Domeka Parker, Artistic Director at Portland’s Deep End Theater. Domeka shares with us how she caught the bug for improv by performing on stage at age 9, talks about her show “Relations”, the pillars of Sound Improv, her collaboration with the Five Corners Improv Group, and what lead to her becoming Artistic Director. Join us for a great 90 minute conversation!

Jay Hitt is the Managing Director of Unexpected Productions and the Market Theater in Seattle. With a history in improv spanning decades, we speak with Jay about his humble beginnings playing as a make-believe ninja in the 80's to running a premier theater in a major metropolitan area, with side forays into volunteering, physical performance, clowning, and the many shows he directs. Join us for a conversation with the chattiest mime we've ever met!

This week, we speak with Bonnie Kate Wolf, a director, performer, and improviser with ComedySportz Seattle. Bonnie Kate shares stories of how she selects and directs shows, the perils of imposter syndrome, what makes a good audition, and the importance of website templates and online calendars. Join us for a great conversation with this hilarious and brilliant PNW improviser!

Join us for this charming conversation with Cynthia Lair, a performer, teacher, luminary, and student of Uta Hagen, as she shares her thoughts on remaining present, what makes great scene work, and being surprised by the offers of your fellow performers. Cynthia has been a long time television, stage, and improvising actress, and is a member of the Unexpected Productions ensemble.

Podcast Cross-Collab! We talk to Ben Lidgus, host of the Improv Good Vibes Podcast ( https://sites.libsyn.com/589180 ), teacher, puppeteer, former member of the Jet City improv troupe, and current member of Comedy Sportz Seattle. It's a zany two hours of theory, experiences, philosophy, and more than a little Elvish! 

This week, it's a boisterous conversation with Seattle improviser Issiah Harris, who is a performer and frequent MC at the Market Theater's own Theater Sports show. We talk with Issiah about performing, how he got his start in improv, his improv idols, and acting in shows like Black Ice (an improvised sitcom). Join us for a raw and unedited session filled with laughs and insight!

Join us for a lively discussion with Seattle improviser Dominique Sagiao, an ensemble member at Unexpected Productions. Dom, Chazz, and Paul have a lively discussion on physicality, scripted vs. improvised theater, performing as a Pacific Islander, mindfulness, and taking shortcuts in improv.

The second of a 2-part interview with long time Artistic Director of Seattle's Unexpected Productions, Randy Dixon. Randy shares tales of improv in Europe and around the Pacific Northwest, the background on his book, as well as his philosophy on improvised theater after decades of work in the craft. Join us for the second half of this extensive conversation with a luminary of the PNW improv community!

The first of a 2-part interview with long time Artistic Director of Seattle's Unexpected Productions, Randy Dixon. Randy shares tales of the founding of UP, his work with Keith Johnstone, Del Close, Paul Sills, and other improv luminaries, as well as his philosophy on improvised theater after decades of work in the craft. Join us for the first half of this extensive conversation with a luminary of the PNW improv community!

Today we're speaking with Akhilesh Balachandran, an Indian National here in Seattle who rediscovered improv here in the States. We talk with him about teaching improv in Seattles Eastside community, experiencing improv as both a student and a teacher, the various schools and theaters in Seattle, long form vs. short form shows, the importance of representation, and his debut as an improv director with "What If?"

Our guest this week is Actor, Director, Poet, Teacher, Software Engineer, and the newest Artistic Director at Unexpected Productions, Tony Beeman. Join us for a conversation about genres, classic Star Trek, adjusting to their new role, and how they envision the improv scene in the PNW evolving in the coming years. Musical backing by Anomie Belle - https://anomiebelle.bandcamp.com/

On this episode, we have a conversation with Unexpected Productions Artistic Director Jill Farris right before her retirement from the Market Theater. We take a walk down memory lane, explore improv internationally, different formats, trips with Randy Dixon, the joy of giving notes, and Jill shares her advice for improvisers who are auditioning for shows, troupes, and theater companies. Join us as we learn from Jill, and celebrate her contributions to the Seattle improv theater community! Musical backing by Anomie Belle - https://anomiebelle.bandcamp.com/

A conversation between hosts, veteran improviser and teacher Chazz Kaskes speaks with student and beginning improviser Paul Furio about our histories, goals, philosophies, and observations on improv in the Pacific Northwest. We swing from serious to silly, real to hypothetical, all the time exploring what we bring to the stage and the microphone. Join us for 90 minutes of us totally not just slapping each other on the backs!

Chazz, Paul, and a bunch of PNW Improvisers wish you all a very Happy Holiday Season!

Our third episode features improviser, character actor, musician, and long term Seattle fixture Troy Mink. Troy tells stories about coming to Seattle, his transition to improvisational theater, the many characters he's created, taking risks, and shares stories of favorite performances from his storied history. When not performing on stage, Troy is a Social Worker in the Seattle area. Musical backing by Anomie Belle - https://anomiebelle.bandcamp.com/

Our second episode is a charming conversation with improviser, poet, director, author, and world traveler Audrey Kohler. Join us as we talk about what brought Audrey to improv, her experiences in Alaska and LA, the art of slowing down, and her thoughts on narrative in the world of improvisational theater. Musical backing by Anomie Belle - https://anomiebelle.bandcamp.com/

Our first conversation with veteran improviser, actor, director, and musician Ron Hippe. We cover the history of Improv in the Pacific Northwest, the early days of Unexpected Productions, Almost Live, the fringe scene, and other topics related to his vast experience. Join us for our inaugural show with this funny and talented performer! Musical backing by Anomie Belle - https://anomiebelle.bandcamp.com/