Advertise on podcast: Building Bridges Improv Podcast

Ally joins Jen and David on a bridge to discuss their improv journey, improv in Tucson, and who exactly Uncle Roger is. Ally Tanzillo ( She/They) is the Creative Director of Etcetera, the Late Night Series of Live Theatre Workshop in Tucson. She is an actor, director, and improvisor, formerly of the improv duo Ex-Boyfriend, who performed in festivals across the country. instagram.com/armazillo  

Shaun joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to talk about her journey through improv, performing with her husband, and what starting a new theatre was like. Shaun Landry is the Founder of Los Angeles’ new theatre The Ledge Theatre.  She also co-created the first African American Improv Ensemble in the country OBN, and co-created The San Francisco Improv Festival.  She performs with her husband Hans Summers as Landry & Summers since 1986, teaches at The Pack Theatre and has done a large amount of acting and improv things. She also is finding it hard to write in the third person the older she gets.  www.ledgetheatre.org and www.shaunlandry.com

Lavender joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss her mom tricking her into an improv audition, what she likes about long form improv, and the rich history of the Flaming Hot Cheetos brand. Lavender has been doing improv for about 7 years. She started when she was 13 in middle school. Since then she has done many shows, featuring various different styles of improv. She currently does improv at Improvmania and occasionally teaches kids and teens. improvmania.net bridgeimprovtheater.com

Carla joins Jen and David on a bridge to discuss how she got started doing improv, her duo with her husband Craig, and how much the pandemic has affected improv in general. www.instagram.com/carlacackowski/ twitter.com/carlacackowski  

Paul joins Jen and David on a bridge to talk about his tenure in improv, moving west, and his absolute pure joy and love for the craft. Paul Vaillancourt is the co-founder of the iO West and the Revolution Theater and has been teaching and performing improv for close to 30 years. As a teacher, he has worked with a wide variety of audiences from high school students looking to augment their suicide, depression and substance abuse peer out reach to corporations looking to free up creativity, improve communication and strengthen their teams to actors and actress on a professional performer track. As a performer, he has appeared all over the country including such notable venues as HBO’s Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Chicago’s iO (where he studied with the immortal Del Close), New York’s UCB Theater, and Austin's Out of Bounds Festival to name a few. Paul has also had success as a writer and producer, co-creating and serving as supervising writer for the MTV hit “The Blame Game” as well as lending his writing, producing and consulting talents to a score of other shows for MTV, VH1, USA, Oxygen, Bravo, AMC and MGM. He published a book about improv called “The Triangle of the Scene” (available on Amazon) and produces a weekly series of videos called “Improv Tips” available on his YouTube channel PVImprov. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatsupwithpv/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/pvimprov “Triangle of the Scene” on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xDMrMh

Dave joins David and Jennifer on a Bridge to discuss ImprovMANIA's new location, wrestling, and what he loves teaching about improv. David & Colleen Specht own and operate ImprovMANIA Comedy Club in Historic Downtown Chandler, Arizona.   Colleen is a Chandler native and David moved to Chandler from Chicago. They met while performing improv and opened their boutique theatre in 2014. ImprovMANIA provides shows, classes, corporate entertainment and teambuilding workshops.   https://improvmania.net/   https://www.bridgeimprovtheater.com/

Gabe and Ryder join Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss the move from Denver to LA, what's important for their duo, and how insanely strong Gabe is. = = = Links: = = = www.YouTube.com/TVunscripted www.TVunscripted.com   = = = TVunscripted Bio: = = = Based out of Los Angeles, TVunscripted is an improv and sketch comedy duo with a love of fast-paced, highly-physical comedy. Ryder and Gabe are originally from Denver, and their creativity and chemistry have sold out shows across Colorado and beyond. A few of their original shows include TV-scripted a Sketch Show, Dungeons & Dragons Unscripted, Star Wars Unscripted, and Lethal Weapon Live.    TVunscripted brings a diverse spin to their comedic outlook with representation of Asian American, Hispanic, and LGBTQ groups.   As seen on: Improfest International Comedy Festival (Gothenburg, Sweden) Trill Comedy Festival (Headlining Act - Houston, TX) Westside Comedy Festival (Santa Monica, CA) Denver Improv Festival (Denver, CO) North Carolina Comedy Festival (Greensboro) As well as at Impro Theater (LA), 3E's Comedy Club, The Colorado Springs Independent, ENT Center for the Arts, and KCME Radio.   = = = Ryder Bio: = = = Ryder Tam is a tall palm tree from Honolulu, Hawaii. As an aerospace engineer, he launched three satellites and loves to bring a science spin to his comedy. Ryder has taught for Rise Comedy (Denver) and Bird City Improv (Baltimore), including his original curriculum for Improvised Dungeons & Dragons and Improv for Scientists. Ryder brings an Asian-American perspective to his standup, and loves exploring science in comedy. Ryder is an Upright Citizens Brigade alumn, and also trained at iO Chicago, The Groundlings, and Second City. A self-professed nerd, Ryder would love to show you just how much fun you can have with your imagination. = = = Gabe Bio: = = = Gabriel Michael Valdez is a Colorado native actor, improviser, and writer. An instructor for Rise Comedy, he is an Upright Citizens Brigade alumnus and has trained with The Groundlings and Bird City Improv (Baltimore). He is a playwright with work featured at the Denver Fringe Festival, and has over 50,000 views on his sketch comedy work. Gabe has performed internationally at the Auckland Improv Marathon (New Zealand), as well as at Second City, Upright Citizens Brigade, Westside Comedy and more.  A professionally trained environmental analyst and geologist, Gabe would love to talk with you about protecting the environment and his rock collection.

Taylor joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss how improv is now Dungeons and Dragons, Laughing Pig Theatre, as well as her work with the Bridge Initiative.  @borntoeatcupcakes Theatres to check-out laughingpigtheatre.org bridgeinit.org

Charlie joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss improv during the pandemic, where they got their start, and why large improv teams are not their favorite. Charlie James is a comedian from Los Angeles. They're known for their TikTok sketches (@nonbinarycowboy) and comedy tweets for Chicago's Field Museum. charliejamescomedy.com

David joins Jen on a bridge to discuss his start in improv, doing improv at an art show, and now what it means to own and operate a theater. David found his love for improv, like many, in high school.  Pursuing it after graduating he ran a few troupes, most notably Names From a Hat in Tempe. He grew and learned performing at Torch Theatre, JesterZ, Mesa Arts Center, just a to name a few.  After years of dreaming of having his own theater to run, it came true, albeit during the pandemic.  The Bridge Improv Theater has now been running for the majority of 2021, and truly has been everything and more for David.  His dream of building a strong and welcoming community for all, is just getting started.   www.bridgeimprovtheater.com/

Brandi joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss their first ever experience doing improv, their new adventure in stand up comedy, and what doing better comedy means to them. Brandi (they/them/she/her) started doing musicals when they were 14 and became addicted to theatre. Improv has helped them become a kinder and more well rounded performer. They've always wanted to do stand up and now they’re doing that too. They recently co-founded Do Better Comedy to produce anti-racist, anti-misogynist, LGBTQIA+ friendly, respectful comedy with a vision to create safe spaces for all genders to try stand-up. Follow them on social media!   DoBetterComedy.com BrandiBigley.com

Anthony joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss the sounds of animals dying, his improv start, and his beautiful singing voice. Anthony Thornton is a stand-up comedian, turned improvisor, turned stand up comedian (who does improv). He started his comedy journey at 18 and found some minor success on the stand-up stage. Wanting to improve, he turned to The Neighborhood Comedy Theatre in Mesa, AZ and spent 8 years performing, producing, and teaching on the NCT stage. Now, after a 3-year break, he is back in the world of comedy; splitting all of his free time between stand up and improv (though admittedly, mostly stand-up). IG: @ATComedy5 www.atcomedy.com www.bridgeimprovtheater.com