No but or Yes and: Playing with Contrast

Compare and Contrast Contrast is the theme of our classes this week over at AndAlso. Contrast may seem like an odd choice of theme in an artform that is all about agreement and building, but this is precisely the reason that…

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Episode 15. Happiness & Sadness with Joe Bill

Heather chats with Joe Bill about the emotional range in improv, focusing on how happiness and sadness can be used to create compelling and authentic scenes. They discuss balancing humor and emotion to deepen performances and connect with audiences. This podcast was recorded live on location at…

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Episode 14. Dumb is Fun with Cédric Marschal

In this lively episode, Heather chats with improv teacher Cédric Marschal about embracing the joy of “dumb” on stage. They explore why letting go of perfection and allowing silliness can open up creativity, build connection, and make improv more fun. Expect playful insights and inspiring stories that encourage you to…

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How to Smash the Patriarchy with Improv

How to Smash the Patriarchy with Improv It’s International Women’s Day on the 8th of March, and the theme of our classes this week. I’m a woman, and a feminist but I somehow still feel I’m not allowed to celebrate – what is…

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A Pocket of Change

Considering I’m a professional improviser, I’m really not great with change. For isn’t improvisation the art of change? No two shows are the same, and once a show is done, it’s gone forever, never to be repeated. When it feels like it’s gone badly, this can be a…

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Episode 13. Beginnings & Endings with Joe Samuel

Heather is joined by our Musical Director Joe Samuel to explore the art of beginnings and endings in improv. They discuss how to kick off scenes with clarity and energy, and how to spot or shape satisfying endings—whether emotional, musical, or narrative. A thoughtful, practical conversation packed…

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Episode 12. Failure

Heather and Jules explore the important role of failure in improv, discussing how mistakes can lead to growth, creativity, and unexpected moments of brilliance. They share tips on embracing failure without fear and using it as a tool for better performance.     This episode is part of our…

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An Abundance of Abundance

I am a big believer in the idea of abundance. I don’t want to go all Tony Robbins or anything but having an abundance mindset has always served me well. At the very least, it has certainly served me as an improviser. Or…

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How to talk less in improvisation – a Poem

One of the first questions people ask when they find out I am an improviser is ‘What happens if you can’t think of anything to say?’ As if saying things is the most important part. And it’s true: some improvisers tend to conflate how much dialogue…

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5 Animals that are like Improvisers

This week is Animal Week at AndAlso (that means all our drop-in classes will have this theme). So to celebrate, here’s a list of 5 animals that are like improvisers. Both as performers and as characters. Peacocks  (or ‘Peapocks’ as my 2-year-old Iggy calls them) As…

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Playing Status

If you ask an improviser to define status, I suspect many would struggle to pin it down. But I’m also willing to bet that most of them could show you status in a heartbeat. Because status, like stories and songs, is everywhere. It happens all the time in every interaction…

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Getting emotional

Confession: I’m a very emotional person. Watching my 2 year old son trying to blow seeds off a dandelion makes me squeal in delight. Trying to insert a signature into a PDF will make me fly into a rage. A grey haired sweet old dog shuffling slowly along in the…

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