It’s the Magnet Theater Podcast’s ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY (!!!) and to celebrate, we’ve got Magnet alumnus George Basil on the show. George stopped by while he was in town for the theater’s 10th Anniversary and talked to host Louis Kornfeld about getting into improv, Michael Keaton, and the art of living. These two friends who […] The post #41: George Basil appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
Episode #40 of the show has Rebecca Robles in the studio and with her she brings immediate laughter. Host and teammate from The Boss, Louis Kornfeld, speaks with Rebecca about the romantic nature of engaging with things that you werent around for, like antiques and old music, and they chat about how jumping into an external character can remind you of who […] The post #40: Rebecca Robles appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
Join us on this week’s episode to hear from Aaron Gold and Grant Goldberg, creators and hosts of You Are Not Alone: An Uplifting Show About Depression. Host Louis Kornfeld asks our two golden boys about their show and how something so connected to depression can be funny. The show, which features essays on […] The post #39: You Are Not Alone appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
Improviser, actor, and brave soul, Shacottha Fields joins host Louis Kornfeld on this episode of the podcast to talk about her solo show, following your heart, and how she got started in improv. We begin with a discussion of Shacottha’s solo improv show, 1 Deep, a one-person Harold that begins with its star clowning and taking in the audience. […] The post #38: Shacottha Fields appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
Whoa boy we’ve got an interview with the one and only Jeffrey Sweet! The famed playwright, historian, and author of Something Wonderful Right Away joins host Louis Kornfeld for this extended episode of the podcast. They start out by discussing the relationship between the Jews fleeing the Cossacks and the rise of satire […] The post #37: Jeffrey Sweet appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
On this episode of the podcast we are joined by Jon Bander, a seasoned performer with Premiere: The Improvised Musical (Magnet), Aquarius (Magnet), Dagger (The PIT), and Characters Welcome (UCB). Host Louis Kornfeld jumps right into a discussion on musical improv with Jon, talking about Aquarius’ signature form, The Malkovich. They revisit Jon’s first-hand account of the development of musical improv in NYC […] The post #36: Jon Bander appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
Stand up, radio host, and improviser Chris Duffy joins us this week on the podcast to discuss the various shows he produces and how learning and laughing go together so well. Host Louis Kornfeld asks Chris about the origins of his show Youre The Expert, a radio program, podcast, and live show that asks a panel […] The post #35: Chris Duffy appeared first on Magnet Theater .
Our guest this week, Charlie Whitcroft, has known our host, Louis Kornfeld, for 23 years and they have been best friends just as long. Join us on this episode for a trip down Memory Lane as Louis and Charlie revisit their younger days, but also reflect on the upcoming 10 year anniversary of the Magnet. Part of a group […] The post #34: Charlie Whitcroft appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
Long-time Magnet performer and all-around swell guy, Sean Taylor, joins host Louis Kornfeld in the studio for an interview. A military brat growing up, Sean has called New York City home longer than anywhere else and, since moving to NYC right out of college in 1999, Sean has watched the improv boom happen first-hand. He’s gone from diehard ASSSSCAT fan […] The post #33: Sean Taylor appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
On this episode of the podcast, we welcome UCBT performer, instructor, and improv nerd Brandon Gardner into the studio to talk about college improv, his class focused on creating improvised plays, and various elements of compelling improv. Our host, Louis Kornfeld, begins the hour getting into Brandon’s vast experiences working with college improv teams and […] The post #32: Brandon Gardner appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
**SPECIAL RELEASE** Gather around, friends! For this episode, we’ve got Carly and Justin from Now We Are Friends, a monthly variety show in New York City that features improv, sketch, and live music. They sit down with our host Louis Kornfeld to talk about their show, which is celebrating its second anniversary this Sunday, February 8th. […] The post #31: Now We Are Friends appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
Our host Louis Kornfeld sits down with Ross Taylor, director of February’s Directors Series: Shlongform, to chat about growing up in Missouri, touring with Second City, and doing comedy in NYC. Having somewhat recently celebrated his five year anniversary of NYC and improv, Ross tells Louis about getting his start in hometown Missouri with speech and debate […] The post #30: Ross Taylor appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
Hosts of Magnet Theater’s monthly character show, Jana & Lauren Presents, Jana Schmieding and Lauren Olson have a long history of collaboration, dating back to their days at University of Oregon all the way to today. Our two guests sit down with host Louis Kornfeld to discuss improvising from their guts, their creative processes, and what they […] The post #29: Jana & Lauren Presents appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
From his young days dancing cumbia in Colombia through his college years at SUNY Purchase and onto his professional life as a comedian in NYC, Oscar Montoya has always kept it real. He joins host Louis Kornfeld on this week’s episode of the podcast to discuss the college they both attended, transitioning from a […] The post #28: Oscar Montoya appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
The Devil himself, Branson Reese, joins us on this episode of the podcast as he sits down with host Louis Kornfeld to discuss performing for children, the links between rock music and improv, and why he hates the term “flawless.” Branson tells us about his work with Story Pirates and why children make the […] The post #27: Branson Reese appeared first on Magnet Theater .
Lee Overtree, Artist Director of Story Pirates and writer/director of FOUND The Musical, sits down with our own Louis Kornfeld for a discussion on effective education, how children are amazing writers, and his experience in adapting unconventional source material for the stage. Story Pirates is a nationally respected education and media organization founded in 2003 to […] The post #26: Lee Overtree appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
Sketch writer, actor, and improviser Jesse Acini sits down with host Louis Kornfeld to talk about getting his start in comedy, the growth of the Magnet community, and having more fun along the way. An active participant in the NYC improv and sketch scene since the early 2000s, Jesse talks about The Second City […] The post #25: Jesse Acini appeared first on Magnet Theater .
Host Alex Marino sits down with stand-up, improviser, writer, and podcaster Brian Frange to talk about all things comedy. Brian brags about being the best actor in his high school but admits that becoming a stand-up ruined his chops. He discusses his feat of doing 70 open mics in 30 days and his appearance at this year’s Montreal’s […] The post #24: Brian Frange appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
The multi-talented sketch writer/performer, improviser, and head of Musical Megawatt, Michael Lutton, sits down with host Louis Kornfeld to discuss what makes for good musical improv and how it can benefit “regular” improv. He talks about the advantages of pushing boundaries when no one is looking and provides advice for improvisers looking to learn […] The post #23: Michael Lutton appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
Louis Kornfeld gets up on his soapbox along with Michael Girts and Mike Descoteaux to preach the virtues of bringing musical improv to the big stage. Blank! The Musical is a big budget improvised musical playing Off-Broadway at New World Stages in NYC. Louis talks with both Mikes about the hard work and planning […] The post #22: Creators of Blank! The Musical appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
On this episode of the Magnet Podcast, host Alex Marino chats it up with improviser and yogi Emily Shapiro about teaching yoga and doing improv in Costa Rica, Emily’s affection for Lord of the Rings, and people who look like Smeagol. Subscribe to the Magnet Theater Podcast via iTunes here. Enjoy Episode #21 […] The post #21: Emily Shapiro appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
Louis Kornfeld talks with the amazing Caitlin Steitzer about teenagers, the links between improv and social work, and the uses of theater for community development. Subscribe to the Magnet Theater Podcast via iTunes here. Enjoy Episode #20 on iTunes or below via SoundCloud. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/175170028″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true&show_playcount=true&show_comments=true” width=”100%” height=”81″ iframe=”false” /] The post ...
Louis Kornfeld chats it up with improv wunderkind Sebastian Conelli. They talk about growing up on Staten Island, using humor as a way to get through childhood, learning to love and show what you love on stage, and being a bad student. Subscribe to the Magnet Theater Podcast via iTunes here. Enjoy Episode #19 […] The post #19:Sebastian Conelli appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
Alex Marino occupies the Magnet Training Center office with North Coast members Jonathan DeMuth and Douglas Widick. They talk about the origins of Hip Hop Improv, the beatbox community, their personal improv journeys and bagel bites. Subscribe to the Magnet Theater Podcast via iTunes here. Enjoy Episode #18 on iTunes or below via SoundCloud. […] The post #18:North Coast appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
Here it is. Nick Kanellis – actor, improviser, teacher, story pirate and motion capture professional. Louis interviews one if the kindest and funniest improvisers ever to get killed by Peter McNerney onstage every week for years. They talk about his critically loved show Trike (w/ Peter McNerney), the perils of self-judgment, the joys of […] The post #17:Nick Kanellis appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
TJ Jagodowski and Dave Pasquesi have a completely deserved reputation as a supernaturally skilled duo. They also deserve their reputations as gentlemen, thoughtful artists, kind improvisers and generous souls. And you could not have two bigger fans than Louis Kornfeld and Alex Marino, the co-hosts of this episode. TJ and Dave expound on their work, both improv […] The post #16:TJ and Dave appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
Elana Fishbein was in the first ever show at Magnet. And she was really good. 10 years later she’s an improviser, actor, writer, and teacher. She has Master’s Degree in Educational Theater from NYU, leads our Youth Program, and co-created two professional development workshop series for teachers: Beyond Winging It: Improv in the Classroom […] The post #15:Elana Fishbein appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
It’s our pleasure to share this intense and hilarious archive conversation with Dave Razowsky and Ed Herbstman recorded live at Magnet Theater. Alex Marino asks the right questions and doesn’t get any of the answers he wanted. Neither does the audience when it’s opened up to questions at the end. A fun listen to be […] The post #14:Dave Razowsky (with Ed Herbstman) appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
John O’Donnell, longtime friend of Magnet Theater and kind onstage powerhouse talks about how he first fell in love with performing, improv, and stumbling upon the early evolution of musical improv. John has appeared in pilots for Comedy Central, the HBO Aspen Comedy Festival, on Late Night With Conan O’Brien, as well as numerous commercials. He has […] The post #13:John O’Donnell appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
18-time Moth StorySlam Champion (2-time GrandSlam Champion) and Magnet instructor, Adam Wade, as interviewed by Alex Marino. Adam Wade is an actor and storyteller based in NYC. He was recently seen on Comedy Central’s ‘Inside Amy Schumer’. Adam has been featured on The Moth Podcast numerous times and has performed at renowned NYC shows such […] The post #12:Adam Wade appeared first on Magnet Theater ....
