The Backline

This week Rob and Adam discuss connection, rapport, relationships onstage and offstage. Also, is it possible to have a meaningful connection with a stranger onstage? Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week Rob and Adam discuss improv forms!  What makes a good improv form? When does your improv format get in the way of your scenes? Also, the beloved format "Darwin's Christmas Tree" returns to the podcast! Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week, Rob and Adam dive into where improv ideas come from, how to wrestle with creative blocks, and why the supposedly “whimsical” act of creating can be surprisingly… boring. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

There's nothing more unfair when an audience picks their collective favourite onstage.  How important is it to be likable onstage? What can you do to stay on the good side of a discerning crowd?  Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week Rob and Adam discuss the careful art of taking lessons from the classroom and applying them to the stage.  Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week Rob and Adam discuss personal growth, improvement, and developing yourself throughout your improv career. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week Rob and Adam discuss one of the foundational rules of improv, "Always make the active choice."  Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

We're told that Yes And is the building block of every improv scene, but are there are drawbacks when using this tool? This week Rob and Adam discuss the origins of Yes And, how to agree effectively, and how to use emotion to hold the story in place. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week Rob and Adam discuss how to find your ending onstage, what a resolution looks like onstage, and how your ending might differ based on what format you're playing. Thanks to ITS Company Director Kate Coates. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week Rob and Adam discuss scene painting within scenes, openers, and transitions.  As well as Mitch Marner, ceremonial swords, and the science of revenge. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week Rob and Adam discuss story-structure, the limitations of modular improv, and how to create simple narratiaves for your improv show. Thanks to Garrett for his contribution to the Backline Mailbag. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week Rob and Adam discuss nuanced characters, creating active audience members, and avoiding going "too big" in a scene. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week Rob and Adam discuss finding the fun in physicality, object work for your improv essay and the antidote for Talking Heads Syndrome.  Also covered: playing negative, not judging yourself, and Adam admits he was wrong about stacks/sacks. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Every improviser has experienced "being in your head" and every improv podcast has discussed what it feels like. In this episode, Rob and Adam discuss the opposite, being "in the pocket". Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week Rob and Adam discuss what to do when your improv team breaks up, and how to move forward with the artform you love. Also, a birthday week, reconnecting after a long break, and the Backline Stacks VS. Sacks 2025 debate. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

While there are many different forms of improvisation, there are none more derided than Barprov. This week Rob and Adam discuss crowds, controlling the room, and why improv performed outside of a theatre is classified as it's own format. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week Rob and Adam pull a handful of questions from the Backline Mailbag to discuss casting an improv show, creating community, building energy throughout a show, teaching a new workshop, and support scenes. Also, a mystery. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

It's the launch of Season 9! Rob and Adam discuss how to start off a monoscene, things to avoid in your initiation, and finding a nonverbal, secret contract between you and your scene partner. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

It's the season finale of The Backline.  This episode Adam and Rob reflect, vivisect, and/or project the past, present, and future of improv. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

It seems like there's a billion improv teachers each with their own philosophy, terms and way of improvising.  But what do you do when those ideas contradict each other? Who do you listen to? How do you choose what you to practice onstage?  Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

To perform comedy, you have to be vulnerable - but its incredible difficult to do so when surrounded by people who make fun of things for a living. In this episode Rob and Adam discuss vulnerability, courage, likability, and uncynical play. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

In this episode, Rob and Adam open up the Backline Mailbag to answer listener questions about Rob's book Improvising Now: A Practical Guide to Modern Improv and the new concept of "The Act of ..." Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week Adam and Rob, use extensive metrics and data (definitely not just their opinion) to determine an ongoing ranking system for all shortform games.  Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

After a big audition, it's not uncommon to be disappointed with the results. This week Adam and Rob discuss their own feelings about rejection, disappointment, and feeling lost. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Built into the fabric of improv is going with the flow, not thinking ahead, and letting go of control.  But being completely "out of control" isn't a good thing either? This week, Rob and Adam discuss the need to control what happens next. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/