Ladies and Gents, it gives me great pleasure to introduce Dave Razowsky to you. Dave has created and performed in countless Second City revues, where he performed with Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell and Rachel Dratch. He was the artistic director of the Second City Hollywood. He is also a worldwide teacher of a methodology that stand improv on its ear and connects people through relationship and emotion. He definitely put me through my paces, and I want to learn more. Give it a listen, please! --...
May 01, 2023•59 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Let me introduce you to Deana Criess, Senior Organizational Development Specialist at Perkins School for the Blind and accomplished improviser! Deana uses applied improvisation for training staff and students to help the visually impaired. She has led workshops at festivals, theaters and colleges all around the USA. We discussed critical thinking in improv and how improv can be anything--especially during a pandemic! Give it a listen! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/p...
Apr 15, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Let us introduce you to Phillip Faiss--actor, playwright, writer and Las Vegas treasure! He's trained with the Groundlings and the Second City in his past, including stints with Liz Allen and Cheryl Hines. He's written a book, Philoween, and has written and performed three one-man shows based off this book! He currently works for MGM as a trainer teaching, well, I guess you'll have to listen to find out! Give it a listen! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chris...
Apr 01, 2023•33 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Let me introduce you to one-man indie powerhouse, Jason Narducy. Jason is the touring bassist for Superchunk, the bassist for Bob Mould, and the front man for his project, Split Single. He's touring the midwest and east coast during March and April (Including Cleveland! Shows are listed in this episode.). Jason started playing guitar at nine in his band Verboten, whose singer, Tracy, is Dave Grohl's cousin. Grohl credits seeing Verboten as a teen with convincing him that he needed to be a perfor...
Mar 15, 2023•39 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Frances Callier and Angela V. Shelton are real life best friends who met and honed their skills at the world famous Second City Theatre. Frangela is known for NBC’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. They were featured on The Oprah Show on the “Best Standups in America” episode. They are well known for their commentary on VH1’s Best Week Ever and hilarity on the big screen in the hit films He’s Just Not That Into You and Slow Learners. They are also recurring fan favorites on HULU’S Quick Draw....
Mar 01, 2023•42 min
If This Is True has the distinct privilege of welcoming Jon Wurster to the show! Jon is the drummer for Superchunk, the Mountain Goats, and the Bob Mould Band. Did you know he has also played with the Pretenders, R.E.M., the Buzzcocks and the New Pornographers? Jon also has a burgeoning comedy career working with his partner Tom Scharpling on the Best Show. His #mynewworstfriend on Instagram is also the best scavenger hunt on the internet. If you know, you know. Please, do yourself a favor and g...
Feb 15, 2023•45 min
A "Jack of All Trades" (and master of some), Jay Sukow has been performing with and without a script for the better part of the past 27 years. He has trained with, among others, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell and Del Close. He is a graduate of training centers of The Second City, The Second City NW, iO Chicago, and ComedySportz Chicago. He is the founder of Today Improv, who teaches improv to actors, businesses and everybody else. He has extensive experience helping businesses drive behavior chan...
Feb 01, 2023•53 min
Asif Khan is what Rush would call a "New World Man!" He has become an immunologist and allergist, while also performing as a drummer in bands such as Overlord, Johnny Hi-Fi and, most recently, Spy Convention. He's handled adversity as well as allergies and touring over the years, and he's done so while raising a family and guest lecturing about Passion and Profession at universities so students can learn about feeding the soul and putting food on the table at the same time. He's especially proud...
Jan 15, 2023•52 min•Season 3Ep. 2
If This Is True would like to kick off the year with Charone Frankel. Charone is a lawyer, an improviser, a mezzo soprano and a podcaster here in Cleveland. Her Habeas Humor podcast has covered everything from Aaron Hernandez to Vladimir Putin. Charone has lived in California and in the NYC area, studied with UCB Theater and has been featured in independent films and TV pilots. We talked about DIY auditioning and podcasting and what it takes to bloom where you're planted. Give it a listen! --- S...
Jan 01, 2023•37 min•Season 3Ep. 1
If This Is True would like to wrap up the year with the esteemed Paul Bellini! Paul, better known as the "Man in the Towel" from The Kids In The Hall, is a Gemini Award and Cable Ace Award nominated writer for the Kids and This Hour Has 22 Minutes. He teaches sketch comedy as part of Humber College's comedy program. We discussed the bravery it took to be out and gay in the late 80's and on The Kids In The Hall, his writing partnership with Scott Thompson and their queer core band, Mouth Congress...
Dec 15, 2022•35 min
If This Is True would like to introduce you to Kevin Mullaney. Kevin created the Improv Resource Center--a Facebook for improvisers before Facebook--in the early 2000's. He teaches through the IRC and often travels around the country conducting workshops. Kevin started teaching improvisation 25 years ago at iO Theater in Chicago, later at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre in New York and more recently Under the Gun Theater in Chicago. Currently, Kevin resides in Peoria, IL, where he is an IT...
Dec 01, 2022•35 min•Season 2Ep. 23
If This Is True would like to introduce you to Anya Marina! This singer-songwriter has songs in movies like Twilight: New Moon and TV shows like Grey's Anatomy and Gossip Girl. She left alternative radio more than ten years ago when she received her first record contract and she hasn't looked back. We talk about what it takes to make it as a performer and what it's like to tour with a comedian like her best friend, Nikki Glaser. Give it a listen! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.s...
Nov 15, 2022•27 min
If This Is True would like to introduce you to Jim Phillips, my Dad's best friend and accomplished songwriter. He recently retired as a school treasurer and wrote and recorded a song in honor of my Dad, Jim Hall. They had over a 20 year friendship, before my Dad passed in February 2021. We talked about my Dad and their friendship and Jim's future as a singer/songwriter. Give it a listen! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/christopher-hall7/message Support this p...
Nov 01, 2022•27 min
If This Is True would like to introduce you to Jeff Scherer! Jeff is a veteran of the NYC improv scene (Magnet, PIT, UCB) who currently performs with Vern musical improv and Chicago City Limits. He was also an improv rocker with the BTK Band. We talked about musical improv, finding what makes you happy and the NYC improv scene over the years. Give it a listen! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/christopher-hall7/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.s...
Oct 15, 2022•29 min•Season 2Ep. 20
If This Is True would like to reintroduce you to Jimmy Carrane, the master of the art of slow comedy. Jimmy has worked and taught at the Second City, iO, and is a founding member of the Annoyance. He was also in the original cast of the Armando at iO! He has written two books, Improv Therapy, and Improvising Better: A Guide for the Working Improviser with Liz Allen. Jimmy also hosts the Improv Nerd podcast. He teaches the art of slow comedy nationwide. We talked about improvising better and bein...
Oct 14, 2022•30 min
If This Is True would like to introduce you to Craig Cackowski! The veteran of the Second City and iO Theater has appeared in all your favorite TV shows--Veep, Community (as Officer Cackowski!), Drunk History and the Secret Lives of College Girls. We discussed his being a theater kid, his current travel schedule with Orange Tuxedo (with his wife Carla), and his many podcast efforts (Kevin Pollak's Alchemy This and Craig's List). Give it a listen! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.s...
Oct 01, 2022•37 min•Season 2Ep. 19
