Charm Scene: Improvised Musicals

It's a Fringe-fueled new episode of Chat Scene as we sit down with the incredible Chris Grace (Dropout.tv, Superstore, Baby Wants Candy). We go deep into the differences between Chicago and LA, Chris's history with Baby Wants Candy, producing your own content, and more. Chris Grace (he/him) is best known for his regular appearances on Dropout.tv and NBC’s “Superstore.” He performs stand-up and imp...

We're alive! And ready for a (food) fight. We travelled to sunny Cleveland, Ohio for an all new improvised musical - filled with rugged wrestlers, juvenile Jersey Boys, catapulted Case Western cabbages, and Austin's mom. Oh what a night - in Cleveland! Recorded Saturday, September 26 at Cleveland's own Imposters Theater. Special thanks to Michael, Ben, and all of the amazing people at Imposters. C...

It's a "Chat Scene" bonus surprise! In celebration of our award-winning 100th episode, we look back at the past two years of Charm Scene, discuss the show's creation, answer listener questions, and more. Happy 100! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Sam Scheidler, Chris Ditton Charm Scene is performed entirely by humans in sunny Chicago, IL. For more on the podcast, follow us @CharmScenePod on Ins...

Our LIVE 100th episode, and we're celebrating with a classic Charm Scene road trip - complete with NINE surprise guests - all at Chicago's own iO Theater. Old orphans, haunted hotels, precious programmers and more. Here's to the next 100! Recorded Sunday, July 12 at iO Theater. Special thanks to Brad Pike and the entire iO team <3 Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Ben Auxier, Jessica Joy, Bran...

It's a new day for podcasts as Charm Scene is visited by two LEGENDARY music improvisers - Ashley Ward and Adrien Pellerin! We combine their stories in this newborn improvised musical, complete with bobbing babies, dangerous dams, heroic horses and more. Did we mention it's a new day? Ashley Ward has been improvising for over 20 years and performed everywhere from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to...

A tale as old as time. Boy jumps in water. Boy drowns in water. Boy gets saved by a hot mom. It's our take on this classic story, told by 5 time charming guest Brandon Michael Thomas, that finally peels back the curtain on just who that hot mom was. Complete with chatty children, maternal muscles, and ill-advised improv invitations, this week's Charm Scene dares to ask the question, "Hey, aren't y...

Stunning one and two bedroom units available in this classic Chicago improvised musical. An easy walk to charming guest Megan Ramsey, with ample space for chore charts, in-unit babbling babies, erroneous air-conditioning, and crown molding. Laundry and maintenance on-site, no security deposit, pets welcome. Managed by @charmscenepod. Megan Ramsey is a performer, musical improviser, and writer; ori...

Duck quack! It's a ducking duckprovised ducksical with charming duck Tess Abeduck (Holy Fuck Comedy Hour, Tuesday Musical Improv, Pigskin). Melodious mallards, aquatic actors, feathered families, and more on this week's Duck Scene. You just got DUCKED. Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Tess Abedon Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Charm Scene is performed entirely by humans in sun...

Welcome to Door County Summer Stock! We're sat as charming guest Delaney Sterling (Tuesday Musical Improv, Marquee) manages the house in this week's fully improvised musical. Talkative ticket buyers, shushed Shakespeare, and somehow Sara Bareilles - all this and more on this episode of Charm Scene. Shhhh! Delaney Sterling (she/her) is a Chicago-based actor, improviser, and singer. She has been see...

A crossover episode?? We've got the incredible Katie Terres in this week with her own special blend of multiverse. It's an improvised musical of sexual celebrities, cigarette sandwiches, shipped Chalamet's and more as we enter the world of Katie's own creation - Bi-Curious George. Will we succeed? Find out NOW on Charm Scene! Katie Terres originally comes from Florida but now resides in Chicago. I...

LIVE from Coalition Theater's 2nd Best Fest in Richmond, Virginia! We looked to the crowd for a quintessential Richmond story, and boy did we find one. Inspired by audience member LJ's whirlwind romance, it's a fully improvised musical of motorcycle mayhem, juxtaposed generations, protective pups, and more! We hit the open road on this week's Charm Scene! doesthedogdie.com Thank you to everyone at...

Welcome to a show about death. We've got some unfinished business as Alex Garday returns (from the dead?) for an all new fully improvised musical. Crashing cars, mystical mirrors, liminal limerence, and more as we put the FUN in funeral on this week's Charm Scene! Alex Garday is a performer from Phoenix, Arizona. He has performed in Chicago for the past 16 years at all of the major comedy theaters...

It's Christmas in June as charming guest Rob Grabowski (Clued In, Hitch*Cocktails) joins us for a merry murder mystery. Was it the sinister son? The revengeful rabbit? The horrible head of HR? Everyone has a motive on this week's fully improvised cluesical. Rob Grabowski is a Michigan native but has called Chicago home for over 15 years. He performs regularly with Hitch*Cocktails: an improved thri...

Cat's out of the bag - and we're breaking out of the pound with the very beautiful Amber Linde! It's an all new improvised musical, this time inspired by Amber's real life love of cats. Feathered friends, Vegas vaudeville, and good old fashioned train travels on this week's Charm Scene! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Amber Linde Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Charm Scene is...

Get ready to work as FIVE TIME charming guest Ben Auxier returns! It's another fully improvised musical, inspired by Ben's real life experience gig working in comedy. A frivolous fair, corporate costumes, a deep nuanced look at America's military recruitment efforts and more on this week's Charm Scene! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Ben Auxier Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton...

Who's that ominous figure in the back of your childhood pics? It's charming guest Max Lazerine in a fully improvised musical! Flip through for fateful photos, prescient peepers, risque relatives and more. We've seen the future, and it's Charm Scene. Max Lazerine (He Him) Is a performer from Minneapolis Minnesota. Max is a member of the Second City National Touring company and can also be seen perf...

Welcome to the wild! Charming guest Landree Fleming joins us for an all natural improvised musical much better than Shakespeare's original, complete with shrewd shrews, sick scientists, and a ravenous revolution. La la la! Landree Fleming (She/Her) is a Chicago-based actor, director, and improviser. Catch her most Tuesdays in TMI at the Annoyance Theatre. She's performed at the Paramount Theatre,...

No, you're not dreaming. It's charming guest Maura Chappelle in a fully improvised musical straight from the subconscious. Concocted coffees, made up mariachis, pictured performances and so much more on this week's Charm Scene. Sweet dreams! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Maura Chappelle Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Charm Scene is performed entirely by humans in sunny Chic...

Gather round, Charm Family, as we welcome back charming guest Ben Hebert! We look back at one fascinating, fictional life in this fully improvised musical, complete with back row banjoes, scuffling siblings, ragtime romances, and more. Who will win Ben's love? Find out this week on Charm Scene! Ben Hebert is a Canadian curler, 2010 Winter Olympics and 2026 Winter Olympics gold medallist, 2008 and...

Tired of words in your podcast? Not enough mimes? Have we got the episode for you. Charming guest Annie Farwell joins us for our most descriptive improvised musical yet, complete with corporate clowns, mermaid minxes, objectional object work, and more. You're trapped in a box - with Charm Scene! Annie Farwell is a Chicago-based writer and performer, known for breaking in improv scenes and dancing...

Things get 'familiar' as we welcome charming guest Brady Barrow! Inspired by Brady's haunting experience playing Dracula's #1 sidekick Renfield, we travel to the monstrous, blood soaked streets of New York City, where we find collegiate creatures, waltzing werewolves, man-made men, and so much more. It's time to transform on this week's Charm Scene! Brady has been waiting her whole life to be on C...

April Fools! Oh you thought we'd only have one episode this week, didn't you? Got your ass. It's a twofer Charm Scene April Fools extravaganza, and what better way to commemorate the funniest of holidays than a good old fashioned just us challenge-sode. Reminiscent romance, ear-plugged pianos, and not a single Scheidler sibling in sight. All this and more on this week's Charm Scene! Cast: Lily Lud...

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It's a vegetable revolution as charming guest Jonathan Allsop returns for another fully improvised musical. Don't miss our savoy spectacles, leafy liberation, and Mr. Corn Orville Redenbacher De Beers Diamonds Jr. himself. Lettuce entertain you on this week's Charm Scene! Jonathan Allsop was born and raised in Reading, PA. He is a proud first gen American with his mom/family immigrating from the i...

It's 'Almost' time for an all new Charm Scene! Charming guest Liz McCreight (Tuesday Musical Improv, Teen Girl Book, Tent Peg Productions) returns for a surprisingly grounded improvised musical, inspired by the actual play, "Almost, Maine." Residents of this fictional town include sapphic stitchers, emotional exes, tired toddler parents, and more. Don't go breaking my heart! Liz McCreight is an im...