If This Is True with Chris Hall

In this throwback, If This Is True would like to introduce you to Jo Rou and Ryan Santa of Imposters Theater. Jo is a veteran of the NYC improv scene, having studied and performed at the Magnet Theater, the Pit and the Upright Citizens Brigade. Ryan is a veteran of the Chicago improv scene, having studied and performed through iO Theater and the Second City Conservatory. How are their styles diffe...

In this throwback, If This Is True is proud to introduce you to John Fugelsang! John is a Drama League nominated actor, comedian & broadcaster who hosts the acclaimed "Tell Me Everything" series on SiriusXM Progress #127. He's been murdered on CSI, picketed by Westboro Baptist Church,  interviewed 2 Beatles on 2 different continents in the same week, and once got Mitt Romney's advisor to call Romn...

In this throwback, If This Is True would like to introduce you to the Sohns! Rich and Rebecca Sohn are improvisers/actors/directors living in Los Angeles. They are both veterans of the Second City and Annoyance Theatre. Rebecca has also performed with Steppenwolf, Remy Bumppo and About Face Theatres. She is also an ensemble member of the No Stakes Theater Project. Rich is teaching at the Pack Thea...

In this throwback, If This Is True would like to introduce you to Brad Barton! Brad is an NYC based actor, entertainment journalist, host, and producer. Plus, he's a content writer for Marvel! Brad also works with and for his wife, Lulu French (Friend of the show!) at Rocket Improv, an improv school for youth, in NJ. We talked about Marvel vs. DC (guess which won?), Harrison Ford, Oprah and so muc...

In this throwback, If This Is True would like to introduce you to Neal Dandade! Neal is an actor, improviser and writer based out of Chicago. He has acted on TNT's Sirens, ABC Family's Kevin From Work, and NBC's Shrink. Neal was featured in the 2016 CBS Diversity Showcase. He was also a member of the Second City National Touring Company and a regular writer/performer/improviser at the iO and Annoy...

In this throwback, If This is True would like to introduce you to Siddharth Venkatesh! He is our first guest from outside the continent. Siddharth performs with Improv Comedy Bangalore in Bangalore, India. He recently performed at the ImprovIsAsian festival and works as an engineer when he is not entertaining people. Siddharth believes in connection with others, so he wanted me to share these link...

In this throwback, If This Is True would like to introduce you to Asaf Ronen, recently, of the Institution Theater and currently the Austin Creative Alliance. Asaf is an author (Directing Improv: Show The Way By Getting Out Of The Way), producer (Trust Us, This Is All Made Up) and the founder of www.yesand.com. You can also learn about the Alliance at www.austincreativealliance.org. We discussed t...

In this throwback, If This Is True would like to introduce you to Vik Pandya! Vik is a nationally touring comedian and one-third of Team Us Comedy in Chicago. Vik trained at the Second City, recorded a #1 iTunes comedy album "Friends with (401k) Benefits" with Team Us in 2019. He waxes poetic on this episode on whiskey knowledge, living by his schedule and taking on acting. Give it a listen, won't...

In this 2021 throwback, If This Is True would like to introduce you to David Whitehouse and Jimmy Mak of Shadowbox Live. Dave and Jimmy are old friends and sketch comedy creators and innovators who make live sketches great. They discuss what makes a sketch great and how comedy has kept food on the table for them for more than 25 years. Give it a listen, won't you? This episode, like all episodes o...

In this throwback, If This Is True would like to introduce you to Tara DeFrancisco and Rance Rizzutto of the Nest Theatre in Columbus! Tara and Rance have been engaging audiences all over the globe, whether with iO, the Second City, or with their two-person improvised musical, "Here." These 20+ year veterans of improv have done it all. They opened their theatre, the Nest, in Columbus, OH--with a n...

Welcome to the first city panel on If This Is True! We have Abdul Williams, David Razowsky, Mary Hynes and Rich Baker talking about all the goings on in the City of Angels and in Hollywood from the writer's strike to AI and everything in between! For those of us interested in the entertainment industry, it's a great listen! This episode, like all episodes of If This Is True, brings forth what driv...

In honor of Susan visiting Cleveland this weekend, I'm dropping this flashback to late 2021. I would like to introduce you the indomitable Susan Messing! Susan is an improvisation and comedy legend, who has performed and taught at iO, iO West, the Annoyance, The Second City Chicago and around the globe. Susan is also an instructor at DePaul University, the University of Chicago and the School at S...

Let me introduce you to Bill Chott! He of the Dana Carvey Show/Second City/Improv Olympic kind of fame. Bill has been improvising and acting since he left St. Louis for Chicago back in the early nineties. He was one of the cast members of the cult favorite Dana Carvey Show in 1996. Bill is also known for his role as the Mailman in 'This Is Us.' Bill performs and teaches in Los Angeles with his cor...

Let me introduce you to my pal, LeeAnn Marie Webster! She is an attorney turned international Keynote speaker, Moth Story Slam winner, and entrepreneur with 20 years’ experience in marketing and business development in a range of industries. LeeAnn has a substantial event background, having successfully produced 130+ virtual summits and founding the largest speed dating company in Southern Califor...

Tommy Hough is a media/activist/political powerhouse! Based in San Diego, he's worked as an on-air personality at FM 94/9, KPRI, and 91X. He's also had the good fortune of working for several outstanding environmental organizations, including Surfrider chapter and San Diego Audubon , helping with leadership and coordination of the ReWild Mission Bay campaign, and managing communications and media...

Give a listen to this one with Mr. Improv DIY, Rich Baker! Not only has he written a book, Improv Made Easier , he has performed all over the US with Second City, Mission Improvable, ComedySportz and his duo with Rolland Lopez,  Rollin in Riches. Rich is also a teacher on his YouTube show Improv Breakdown and through his corporate business, Play Like a Team.  He's written and performed for Epic Ra...

Ladies and Gents, it gives me great pleasure to introduce Dave Razowsky to you. Dave has created and performed in countless Second City revues, where he performed with Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell and Rachel Dratch. He was the artistic director of the Second City Hollywood. He is also a worldwide teacher of a methodology that stand improv on its ear and connects people through relationship and em...

Let me introduce you to Deana Criess, Senior Organizational Development Specialist at Perkins School for the Blind and accomplished improviser! Deana uses applied improvisation for training staff and students to help the visually impaired. She has led workshops at festivals, theaters and colleges all around the USA. We discussed critical thinking in improv and how improv can be anything--especiall...

Let us introduce you to Phillip Faiss--actor, playwright, writer and Las Vegas treasure! He's trained with the Groundlings and the Second City in his past, including stints with Liz Allen and Cheryl Hines. He's written a book, Philoween, and has written and performed three one-man shows based off this book! He currently works for MGM as a trainer teaching, well, I guess you'll have to listen to fi...

Let me introduce you to one-man indie powerhouse, Jason Narducy. Jason is the touring bassist for Superchunk, the bassist for Bob Mould, and the front man for his project, Split Single. He's touring the midwest and east coast during March and April (Including Cleveland! Shows are listed in this episode.). Jason started playing guitar at nine in his band Verboten, whose singer, Tracy, is Dave Grohl...

Frances Callier and Angela V. Shelton are real life best friends who met and honed their skills at the world famous Second City Theatre. Frangela is known for NBC’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. They were featured on The Oprah Show on the “Best Standups in America” episode. They are well known for their commentary on VH1’s Best Week Ever and hilarity on the big screen in the hit films He’s J...

If This Is True has the distinct privilege of welcoming Jon Wurster to the show! Jon is the drummer for Superchunk, the Mountain Goats, and the Bob Mould Band. Did you know he has also played with the Pretenders, R.E.M., the Buzzcocks and the New Pornographers? Jon also has a burgeoning comedy career working with his partner Tom Scharpling on the Best Show. His #mynewworstfriend on Instagram is al...

A "Jack of All Trades" (and master of some), Jay Sukow has been performing with and without a script for the better part of the past 27 years. He has trained with, among others, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell and Del Close. He is a graduate of training centers of The Second City, The Second City NW, iO Chicago, and ComedySportz Chicago. He is the founder of Today Improv, who teaches improv to actor...

Asif Khan is what Rush would call a "New World Man!" He has become an immunologist and allergist, while also performing as a drummer in bands such as Overlord, Johnny Hi-Fi and, most recently, Spy Convention. He's handled adversity as well as allergies and touring over the years, and he's done so while raising a family and guest lecturing about Passion and Profession at universities so students ca...

If This Is True would like to kick off the year with Charone Frankel. Charone is a lawyer, an improviser, a mezzo soprano and a podcaster here in Cleveland. Her Habeas Humor podcast has covered everything from Aaron Hernandez to Vladimir Putin. Charone has lived in California and in the NYC area, studied with UCB Theater and has been featured in independent films and TV pilots. We talked about DIY...