Improv and Magic

Welcome to Season 3 of Improv and Magic! To kick off Season 3, my guest today is the amazing Will Naameh, known all of the world as MC Hammersmith. He is a multi-award winning hip hop comedian. He writes and performs original hip hop comedy tracks, and performs improvised freestyle rap comedy based on audience suggestions.  He is the world's leading rapper to ever emerge from the ghetto of mid...

This week is the 2024 Miami Improv Festival! To start the celebration, my guest today is the guy who makes it happen every year, my dear friend David Christopher. David is the first return guest here on the podcast.  You may remember he was on the very first episode of Improv and Magic.  We had such a great time, but unfortunately there wasn’t enough time to get into everything.  So today, we pick...

I’ve had the opportunity to talk to a lot of inspiration people on this podcast, but I have to say today’s guest has one of the most inspirational stories I’ve ever heard.  He lives by the motto “being different is your superpower”, and his name is John Kippen. John is a magician, a motivational speaker, and a master storyteller.  He’s a performer at the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, and...

Today I get to talk to another improv legend, Mick Napier. Mick is known both nationally and internationally as an innovator and creative force in comedy, improvisation, and theater. His belief in the element of risk-taking is what influences his work and his direction.  He is one of the founders of the world-famous Annoyance Theater in Chicago, where Mick has spent more than 20 years developing a...

Today, I’m talking to an old friend who I’ve had the pleasure of learning with, shared the stage with and have watched develop into an amazing performer.  My guest today is Diane Jorge. Diane has been a comedic performer for over 13 years in South Florida, and has performed with various theaters including Just The Funny, Front Yard Theater Collective and ImprovU.  Diane performs improv and stand-u...

Failure can be a tough thing to deal with, but it's only a failure if we don't learn from it. In today's tip, I talk about having to deal with failure as a performer, and how it's only part of the performer's experience. It's also part of the human experience.

My friends, today’s guest is Bruce Gold. He is by far one of the greatest comedy magicians today.  He has performed all over the country as both a magician and a stand-up comedian, and has performed in various venues in Las Vegas, aboard the world’s largest cruise ships, and he’s a regular at the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood.  Bruce has also had many television appearances, including Opr...

Today I’m talking to Douglas Widick. Douglas is a professional actor, and is a veteran of UCB Theater, PIT Theater, and Magnet Theaters in New York City.  He has performed in various shows and festivals across the country, and has also had multiple television appearances including on Comedy Central and ESPN.  Douglas is also a founding member of the world-renowned improv group, North Coast, a hip...

Today we go outside the norm with my guest who is not an improv actor or a magician. But he's someone I admire tremendously. He's my best friend of 30 years, he is Jose Prendes. Jose is a director, writer, and producer of various films that include The Monster Man, Corpses Are Forever, The Haunting of Whaley House, Mega Shark vs. Mecha Shark, Unspeakable Horrors: The Plan 9 Conspiracy, The...

My guest today is Will Luera. Will is a comedic actor, presenter, writer, trainer and director, with a varied tool set that adds so many layers to his performances.  He is currently the Director of Improvisation at Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota, Director of Big Bang Improv and serve as the Artistic Director Emeritus of ImprovBoston.  His professional skills also include corporate training, wo...

Today's guest is one of the current top magicians.  He’s become an international sensation, and his name is Javi Bentiez. Javi is a master of sleight of hand, but more importantly he performs with such a high level of charm, beauty and passion.  What Javi presents aren’t simply tricks; they are pieces of art.  He hails originally from Sevilla, Spain, and was a student of some of magic’s biggest in...

My guest today is someone who also holds a special place in my heart, Mark Sutton. Mark has performed, directed, and taught improv for over 30 years.  He’s one of the founding members of The Annoyance Theater, he’s performed and taught improv at Second City, both in Chicago and Toronto, and has performed at numerous venues and festivals all over the world.  Mark also teaches improv to people in th...

For today's tip, we talk about the important of performing in your own voice. Don't try to be like anyone else, just be you. You are the one we want to see, and you are just as special. You'll hear some examples regarding this, and you'll hear a story about someone I knew who tried to be like someone else...it didn't end well for them! Be sure to keep tuning in for more tips he...

Today's guest is the Mega Magic star himself, Franz Harary. Franz Harary’s groundbreaking illusion designs have changed the entire scope of modern magic, and his spectacular brand of grand illusion has been dubbed, “Mega Magic” by the international press.  His magic is on really a large scale, and includes such feats as vanishing the Taj Mahal, moving Hawaii’s Diamond Head volcano two miles ou...

My guest today is Nnamde Ngwe. Nnamdi is an actor, model, Improvisor, teacher, and writer. He studied and teaches at iO and The Second City, and was recently awarded teacher of the year at iO Theater.  Along with his twin brother, Amechi, Nnamdi wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed show Julius which earned him a trip to the New York Television Festival and a nomination for Best Screenplay...

For today's tip, I'll share what happens when you get conflicting notes for your performance. As we learn and grow in improv and in magic, we'll often get different points of view from people on how we should be performing. This can get confusing at times, right? So here's my tips on what to do when dealing with conflicting notes. Ultimately...it's your own cookbook!

Today I get to talk to one of my childhood heroes, the amazing Jeff McBride! Jeff is known as one of the world’s most innovative and exciting magical performers. His shows have won rave reviews and standing ovations in Vegas showrooms,  theaters, and arenas around the world.  Jeff has also had multiple television appearances on such major television shows like The Art of Magic on PBS, World’s Grea...

In today's episode I chat with my friend, Casey Casperson. Casey is a fantastic improv actor, teacher, and comedian, and is co-owner of Sick Puppies Comedy, a fantastic comedy show that performs at the Doghouse Theater in Boca Raton, Florida.  This guys is one of the most passionate and driven individuals I’ve ever met.  Casey is a hard worker and a true gentlemen.  You’ll hear a lot about how...

This is the first of a new segment called LD's Tips, where I share some of tips I've learned on becoming a better improvisor and magician (and some are for both!). These will be shared at various times during this season, so be sure to tune in for some tips you might find useful. Today's first tip is on how to start a scene. How do you get a scene going? What's the first thing you...

Today we officially kick off Season 2 with the very special Stacey Hallal. Stacey is the founder and artistic director of Curious Comedy Theater in Portland, Oregon, and has been performing, teaching, and directing improv for over 20 years.  She’s trained and performed at Second City, iO, Annoyance, and ComedySportz in Chicago, and has performed and taught improv and sketch comedy at over 100 fest...

Today is our season finale of Improv and Magic Season 1! Today, we're sharing my favorite moments from all of my conversations with my amazing guests. Some of them are meaningful, others are funny, some are even both! You'll hear my favorite moments from these great guests (in order of appearance): David Christopher Marlene Marcos Anthony Francis Rick Munarriz Mark Mocahbee John Sturk Jona...

Today's guest is another true legend in the world of improv, Susan Messing. She’s one of the founding members of The Annoyance Theater, where she has created roles in over thirty original productions including the longest-running musical in Chicago, Co-Ed Prison Sluts.  Susan teaches and performs at the Annoyance Theater and the iO Theater and has also taught improvisational comedy for DePaul...

Today's guest is the amazing Carisa Hendrix, also known by her character Lucy Darling. Carisa is an award winning magician, circus stunt performer and fire eater.  She was awarded Stage Magician of the Year twice at the world famous Magic Castle, she was a recipient of the Carlton Award from the Magic Circle in the UK, and also received Magical Valentine’s Magician of the Year award from Vanis...

My guest today is a very talented and passionate performer, Nelson Velazquez. Nelson Velazquez performs non-stop at venues and festivals all over the country. His most popular shows include Los Improviachis, the world's only improvised Mariachi bank, and The Grid, an online improv comedy show. He is also the founder of Improductions LLC, which is focused to push do-it-yourself productions in t...

Today's guest is my improv hero, David Razowsky. Dave has performed in 10 revues at Chicago's Second City performing with the likes of Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris, and Rachel Dratch. He also served as Artistic Director of The Second City Hollywood, and has conducted countless worldwide workshops and performances. Dave's approach to improv is simple: Your present awarenes...