PODCAST · comedy
Off Book: The Improvised Musical
by Jessica McKenna and Zach Reino
It takes years for a Broadway musical to hit the stage, but on OFF BOOK: The Improvised Musical, you get a brand new original musical every week! Each episode, Jessica McKenna, Zach Reino and a special guest create a new musical on the spot. Accompanied by Scott Passarella, King of Pianists, Pianist of Kings.
Episodes
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373. The King of the Forest's Ball: LIVE from Netflix is a Joke 2026
The following was recorded LIVE for the Netflix is a Joke Festival at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever on May 4th 2026. It features the whole dang fam band: Scott Passarella (Keys) Brett Morris (Guitar) and Dana Wickens (Drums)! Is anyone surprised that this one is #OopsAllAnimals? If so…
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372. Baby Shark: A Knight's Tale (LIVE from Dallas)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Kessler Theater in Dallas TX on 4/12/2026, and features musical geniuses Eric Gersen on keys and Marty Eck on drums! Look, dating is hard. Dating when one of your families owns a restaurant filled with a series of physical/emotional tests? Even harder. But…
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371. Defending Your Art (LIVE from Houston)
The following was recorded LIVE at The Heights Theater in Houston TX on April 4th 2026. It features New York legend Eric Gersen on the keys and Houston's own Mary Eck on the drums. What makes art good? What makes a dance perfect? What was Elton John always meant to do!? These questions and more...
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1. COLLEGE TOWN: And It Was Called Jello ( An OFF BOOK adjacent bonus episode)
A guest podcast has entered the feed! Zach and Jess did a musical episode of the incredible Erin Whitehead and Seth Morris' podcast "College Town" and now it's here JUST FOR YOU! And It Was Called Jello: Don’t ghost us this week, Kevin, have we got a show for you: Beebo and Jan chat… and SING?...
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370. The Shovel (LIVE in Austin)
The following was our SECOND show recorded LIVE at the Paramount Theater in Austin, TX on April 9th. It once again features the amazing Eric Gersen on keys and Marty Eck on the drums! What is a toy by something that lets you see reality in a whole new way? And what is reality but a fragile veneer...
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369. If The Shoe Fits: A Wall That May or May Not be a Plethora of Bees (LIVE from Austin)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Paramount Theater in Austin, TX on April 8th. It features the incredible Eric Gersen on keys and Marty Eck on the drums! They say you can never go home again. We know exactly what that means, and you will too after listening to this show. Check out...
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368. G.O.A.T. The Musical (LIVE from SF Sketchfest)
The following was recoded live at San Fransisco Sketchfest at the Palace of Fine Arts on January 25th 2026. We’ve got the whole fam band on this one (Scott Passarella on Keys, Brett Morris on Guitar, and Dana Wickens on Drums!) This one is about brothers, cheese making, calculus, and the…
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367. Kirkland Signature Musial (LIVE from Charlotte)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Neighborhood Theatre in Charlotte NC on December 7th 2025, and features genius musicians Eric Gersen (keys) and Ross Montsinger (Drums)! Prepare to throw away everything you think you know about Costco, as we delve into secrets we dare not ever write in this...
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366. Knight Vision (LIVE from Atlanta)
The following was recorded LIVE in Atlanta on December 6th 2025 and features the astonishing skills of genius musicians Eric Gersen (keys) and Ross Montsinger (drums). How did the people of the past want to be remembered? Well we can tell you with 100% accuracy because of a stone we found we with...
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365. The Knowledge of Crows (LIVE from Tampa)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Straz center in Tampa, FL on December 5th 2025. It features brilliant duo of Eric Gersen on keys and Taisha Perez on drums. Ghosts, Crows, a hospital staff of varying levels of competency, this one has it all! We think you should give it a listen, but we’re...
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364. Blue Smoke Kill Switch (LIVE from Orlando)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando FL on Dec 4th, 2025. It features the incredible combined powers of Eric Gersen on keys and Taisha Perez on drums. This one is spoiler-able so all I'll say is It's so so important to have good…
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363. LIQUID DEATH (LIVE from Boston)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Wilbur Theater in Boston, MA on November 23rd 2025. It features King of Pianists (Pianist of Kings) Scott Passarella on the keys, and drum legend Dave Byer, being legendary on the drums. For legal reasons, this episode is NOT officially sponsored by or...
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362. Heartography! (LIVE from Montreal)
The following was recorded LIVE at the La Maison Theatre in Montreal QC on November 22nd 2025, and features the brilliant international combo of Scott Passarella on keys and Ainsley McNeaney on drums! This one takes place at a cartography school, obviously. There is a lot we COULD tell you about…
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361. Captain Nameless and The Ocean's Eleven (LIVE from Toronto)
The following was recorded LIVE in Toronto Ontario on November 21st 2025 and features K.O.P.P.O.K. Scott Passarella on keys and the legendary Sarah Mullins on drums. Sometimes you have to put your son on a boat and send him out into the world without a name and just hope that he will assemble a...
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360. Two Jennys in St. Louis (LIVE from Brooklyn)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Bellhouse in Brooklyn NY on November 20th 2025. It' features the divine talents of Scott Passarella (KOPPOK) on the keys, and our guardian drum angel Max Ash on said drums. Sometimes you get in a taxi cab and your life changes forever. This is one of those...
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359. Mouth Music! (LIVE from NYC)
The following was recorded LIVE at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC on November 19th, 2025. It features the brilliant dynamic duo of Scott Passarella on the keys and New York's own Max Ash on the drums. The rivalry between band kids and choir kids is as old as time. Can they ever get along, or will…
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358. The 14th Annual Magnanimous County Spelling Bee (LIVE from Eugene)
The following was recorded LIVE at the W.O.W. Hall in Eugene OR on November 3rd 2025, and is accompanied by the incomparable Scott Passarella (Keys) and the also incomparable Kyle Stebbins (Drums.) This one's got all the classics: A girl too smart for her town, a town willing to pull off an...
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357. The Tale of Moby Wick: The Same Light for Wishmas (LIVE with Paul F Tompkins and Nicole Parker)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Lodge Room in Los Angeles on December 16th 2025, and is the NINTH annual Off Book Holiday Spectacular! It features the entire fam band (Scott Passarella, Brett Morris, and Dana Wickens) and as per tradition welcomes the return of our incredible friends Paul…
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356. Twiright (LIVE from Seattle)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Neptune theater in Seattle on 11-2-25. It features the incredible Scott Passarella on keys and the incomparable Jonathon Wood on drums. This is certainly the most Seattle musical we've ever done and MAYBE the most Seattle musical of all time? It's tale of...
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355. Hey Bar! (A Monster God Musical) (LIVE from Portland)
The following was recored LIVE at Revolution Hall in Portland on Nov 1st 2025. It features the incredible music wizardry of Scott Passarella on keys and Kyle Stebbins on drums! This one has hot monsters, greek gods, and despite all odds, MATH. We're still on this tour (depending on when you're...
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354. The Bird Inside (LIVE from Phoenix)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix AZ on October 3rd 2025. It features the incredible Scott Passarella on the keys and the also incredible Davy Paul on the drums! This one is about a big house, a storm, growing up, and facing your fears (specifically if your fear…
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353. Cruise Control (LIVE from Cleveland)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Globe Iron in Cleveland on September 10th 2025. It features geniuses Eric Gersen and Jack Harris on keys and drums respectively. Boats, Shakespeare, disregard for a certain giant corporation's IP, this one has it all! Wanna see us live? Get tickets at...
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352. Campsite 64 (LIVE from St. Louis)
The following was recorded LIVE at the City Winery in St. Louis on September 9th 2025 as the fist show of the Up and Autumn tour! It features Key Change King Eric Gersen on keys, and the incredible Des Jones on drums.In this one a couple goes to a campsite and their lives are changed forever. Are...
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351. See the World - Legend of the Shadow Zoo (LIVE from San Diego)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Music Box in San Diego on July 24th 2025! It features the entire fam band (Scott Passarella, Brett Morris and Dana Wickens) on their respective keys, frets, and sticks. Have you ever wondered about the Shadow Zoo? The zoo BEHIND the zoo? How much do you want...
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350. A Streetcar Made of Beans (LIVE from Minneapolis)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Cedar cultural center in Minneapolis on March 23rd 2025. BACK TO BACK SHOWS BABY It once again features the incredible Scott Passarella on the keys, and the still incredible Josh Kaplan on drums! This one may SEEM like it was painstakingly crafted by a very...
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349. Retirement Community (LIVE from Minneapolis)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Cedar cultural center in Minneapolis on March 22nd 2025. It features the incredible Scott Passarella on the keys, and the also incredible Josh Kaplan on drums! It's a tale as old as time when a retirement community rallies to help a grandma show her…
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348. Lighthouse! (LIVE from Madison)
The following was recorded LIVE on March 21st at the Bur Oak in Madison WI. It features keys by Scott Passarella (K.O.P.P.O.K) and Jack Harris, hometown hero of an Ann Arbor who drove all the way here to crush it again on the drums. Have you ever wondered about who works in that old lighthouse?…
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347. Peter Man! (LIVE From Chicago)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Park West Theater in Chicago on March 20th, 2025. It features K.O.P.P.O.K. Scott Passarella on the keys and the legendary Chris Ditton hit-on the Drums. This show is important for many reasons: 1. We get to correct the lore of Peter Pan, 2. It's the largest...
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346. Snapple Facts! (LIVE from SF Sketchfest)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Marines' Memorial Theater as part of San Fransisco Sketchfest on February 1st 2025. It is accompanied by the consistent brilliance of the entire FAM BAND (Scott Passarella on Keys, Brett Morris on Guitar, and Dana Wickens on drums.) We're flying too close to...
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345. 15 Year Old Portal (Act 1 Demo Tracks)
This is all the 15 Year old Portal Act 1 Demo tracks, compiled with no long prelude or advertisements for your listening convenience. If you've stumbled across this with no context, check out the episode directly before it, or any of the earlier ON BOOK episodes if you want the full lore/process....
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345. On Book: A Tour! A Movie! An Act of Music!
This episode of Off Book is not an improvised musical, but it does have ALL the special announcements you didn't know you were waiting for! We're going on tour! We're making an improvised movie about MOCK TRIAL! We've got demo tracks for all the Act 1 songs of our original musical "15 Year Old...
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344. Pure Michigan! (LIVE from Ann Arbor)
The following was recorded LIVE from The Ark theater in Ann Arbor Michigan on 3/19 2025. It is accompanied by Scott Passarella (KoP. PoK) and hometown hero JacK Harris on drums! It is rare that we do an episode of this show that almost entirely about the city we happen to be touring in, but it…
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343. Enuiiiiiiiii! (LIVE from Toronto)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Royal Theater in Toronto ON on December 10th 2024, and features masters of their craft (instruments) Eric Gersen on keys and Nick Fraser on the drums! Due to some technical difficulties the audio quality of this recording is unfortunately slightly distorted,...
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342. The Pyramid of Needs (LIVE from Brooklyn)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Bellhouse in Brooklyn NY on December 7th 2024. The brilliant Eric Gersen (keys) and also brilliant Sarah Mullins (Drums) played such a fantastic show the night before we decided to let them play this one too, and ya know what? They killed it. Never has a...
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341. One Great Day on Mount Olympus (LIVE from Brooklyn)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Bellhouse in Brooklyn NY on December 6th 2024. It features the combined majesty and genius of Eric Gersen (keys) and Sarah Mullins (Drums). For legal reasons we've been told we can't call this one Hadestown, despite the fact that both Hades and a Town are...
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340. Spark of Salvador Dali (LIVE from Philly)
The following was recorded LIVE at the Theater of the Living Arts in Philadelphia on December 5th 2024. It features the massive talents of Eric Gersen on the keys and Sam Pasternack on drums. I know we frequently say "this one gets wild" but would be believe, this one in fact does get wild? Come...
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339. A Club For You (LIVE from DC)
The following was recorded LIVE at The Howard in Washington DC on December 4th 2024. It features the return of the key change king Eric Gersen on keys, and the incredible Shareef Taher on drums. This one is about clubs (the school kind), bugs (the metaphorical kind), and blatant product placement...
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338. Mistake on a Plate (Live from Denver)
The following was recorded LIVE on November 25th 2024 at the Gothic Theater in Englewood CO, which we know ISN'T Denver, but also isn't NOT Denver. It features our beloved Scott Passarella on keys and the incredible Steve Wright on drums. This one is kinda wild so we're not even gonna attempt to...
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337. Focus on Now (LIVE from Nashville)
The following was recorded LIVE in Nashville TN, on November 24th 2024. It features Scott Passarella (KoPaPoK) on keys and the incredible Donnie Moretti on drums! This is the tale of a generational feud between a zoo and an aquarium, and saying anything more than that would be a spoiler so let's...
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336. The Center of The Bullseye (LIVE From Asheville)
The following was recorded live at the Orange Peel in Asheville NC on November 23rd 2024, and features geniuses Scott Passarella and Ross Montsinger on keys/drums. This is what happens when two dudes share their stories, and embark on two equally high stakes adventures. Put in your most daring...
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335. Captain Dangersky and the Daily Special (LIVE from Austin)
The following was recorded live the State Theater in Austin Texas on November 22nd 2024. It features the return of the king (of pianists, and pianist of kings) Scott Passarella on keys, and the incredible Marty Eck on the drums. Prepare to set sail on an adventure of self discovery, seafood, and...
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334. A Big Strong Stretchy Kiwi Christmas: (LIVE with Paul F. Tompkins and Nicole Parker)
It's time again for Off Book's annual holiday musical with the incredible Paul F. Tompkins and Nicole Parker (and of course, the Fam Band!) For the first time ever, the holiday spectacular was recorded LIVE at the Lodge Room in Los Angeles (December 18th 2024.) Follow the Christmas star (The...
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333. LIVE from Somerville: GoldenEye and The Three Bears
We're jumping out of order for our tour episodes because this one ended up having holiday vibes! Who could have guessed? Not us. The following was recorded LIVE in Somerville MA at Arts at the Armory on December 8th 2024. It features the key change king/helpful bear Eric Gersen on the keys, and…
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332. LIVE from Portland: The Penguins of the Phantom Club
The following was recorded LIVE from the Aladdin Theater in Portland on October 23rd 2024. It features the incredible Zach Marsh on the keys and the also incredible Kyle Stebbins on drums. If you suspected this one would be about Club Penguin, The Phantom of the Opera, and the Titanic, WOW that's...
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331. LIVE from Vancouver: The Hero of Marathon
The following was recorded LIVE at the Rio Theater in Vancouver BC on October 22nd 2024. It features Zach Marsh on keys (the best) and Malcolm Craig on drums (also the best.) Get ready for the history they WON'T teach you in school (because it's wrong.) See Privacy Policy at...
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330. LIVE from The Lodge Room LA: The Names Of Our Family
The following was recorded LIVE at the Lodge Room in Los Angeles on August 7th 2024. It's got the whole fam band! Speaking of family, this one is all about a bunch of people in a family and they've all got names! Will we list them all? Are the moms tech-savvy? Will the dad come out of the…
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329. On Book: Three Short Bits
Look, you wanna know what happens in this one? Zach and Jess are gonna continue writing a musical. There's gonna be new lyrics. There's gonna be new parts of songs. There's gonna be a tour announcement. And yes there is gonna be a brief check in re: Love Island. See Privacy Policy at...
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328. Every Place I Cry: Four Bespoke Funeral Songs LIVE at Dynasty Typewriter
The following was recored LIVE at Dynasty Typewriter (hosted by Holy Sh*T Improv) in Los Angeles on June 23rd 2024. Everyone's favorite four lead singer emo band is back to talk tapas, long time beefs, whether their girl is or is not a car, and reveal the songs they will sing at each other's...
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327. LIVE from Dublin: Phew!
The following was recorded live in Dublin at the Laughter Lounge on May 22nd 2024. It is accompanied by the incredible Paul Prior on keys, and features fire-jumpers, jet skis, bad medical guidance, and a number one jam from Ireland's youth. Think you can stop we we do? I doubt it, we already...
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326. LIVE from London: Take Me To There : The Story Of The Tunnel!
The following was recorded LIVE at Bush Hall in London on May 20th 2024. It features the absurdly talented Jordan Paul Clarke on keys, and the also absurdly talented Georgia Ayew on drums. We know everyone has been very curious about how the London underground was created, but don't worry, these...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
It takes years for a Broadway musical to hit the stage, but on OFF BOOK: The Improvised Musical, you get a brand new original musical every week! Each episode, Jessica McKenna, Zach Reino and a special guest create a new musical on the spot. Accompanied by Scott Passarella, King of Pianists, Pianist of Kings.
HOSTED BY
Jessica McKenna and Zach Reino
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Off Book: The Improvised Musical have?
Off Book: The Improvised Musical currently has 379 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Off Book: The Improvised Musical about?
It takes years for a Broadway musical to hit the stage, but on OFF BOOK: The Improvised Musical, you get a brand new original musical every week! Each episode, Jessica McKenna, Zach Reino and a special guest create a new musical on the spot. Accompanied by Scott Passarella, King of Pianists,...
How often does Off Book: The Improvised Musical release new episodes?
Off Book: The Improvised Musical publishes regularly with 379 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Off Book: The Improvised Musical?
You can listen to Off Book: The Improvised Musical on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Off Book: The Improvised Musical?
Off Book: The Improvised Musical is created and hosted by Jessica McKenna and Zach Reino.
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