Improv in Practice with Synergy Theater

In this episode, I talk with Griffen, director of Synergy Theater’s Improvised Clue , and cast member Lilli about bringing mystery and comedy to the stage. I also feature separate interviews with my cohost Val and Jeremiah from the Lesher Center—woven together into a tapestry of behind-the-scenes perspectives, including a truly unexpected lost-and-found mystery.  Improvised Clue opens April 16th a...

Hello Friends and Improv Festivalgoers! The FIRST ANNUAL Diablo Improv Festival happens October 24-26, 2025, and is only days away as I write this. High on my list of things to look forward to is Diana Brown's workshop The Space Between. In this episode Diana and I talk about Diana's background in Improv, the inspiration for The Space Between, and what Diana sees as a common struggle among her Imp...

Hello Improvisers! It's almost here: The FIRST annual Diablo Improv Festival October 24-26 at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek. Will we see you there? For more info visit DiabloImprovFestival.org. We have another round of back-to-back interviews for you in this episode: Jaime Rich and Randy Wight of Spontaneous Mind - co-creators, performers, and co-producers at the festival. Jaime will also teac...

It's almost here: The first annual Diablo Improv Festival, October 24-26, 2025, at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek, CA! We have a lot to talk about in the run up to the festival and so we have TWO back-to-back interviews for you. First we talk with Kat Koppett - applied Improv pioneer, author, and consultant. Kat joins us from her home on the east coast but if you're a west-coaster who has ever...

Hello Improvised Theater and Alfred Hitchcock fans! In this episode we host Professor Denah Johnston, who teaches The Films of Alfred Hitchcock at San Francisco City College. We also host a virtual Alfred Hitchcock plumbed from the depths of the ethereal world of Artificial Intelligence. If you could ask Alfred Hitchcok anything, would you take his answers as the whole truth? Or would you wonder w...

Hello Improvisers!  Synergy Theater's Improvised Dungeons and Dragons begins April 3rd, 2025 and runs through April 13th, Thursday's through Sundays, at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, California. Don't be left out of the epic adventure! Get your tickets now at SynergyTheater.com . In this our 31st episode, Val and I sit down with Adrián Bousada, creator and director of Improvised...

Hello Improvisers! In our 30th episode, we talk with Elyse Iovino who joined Synergy Theater in 2023. We talk about Synergy's current show: IMPROVISED LAW AND ORDER, what surprised Elyse about the show, and Elyse's passion for helping people as an intuitive psychic. IMPROVISED LAW AND ORDER is part of Synergy Theater's current season at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek, California. Find your tick...

Arastoo Darakhshan is a composer, producer, teacher and performer. Arastoo is an alum of Berkeley Improv and is a familiar cast member in Synergy Theater performances. Arastoo's newest role is as the director of the upcoming Improvised Twilight Zone. Val Jord, Arastoo, and I talk about Arastoo's inspiration for the Improvised Twilight Zone and the show's unique challenges. The Improvised Twilight...

Hello Improvisers! Mark it on your calendars: Thusday July 18th, 2024, The Lesher Center in Walnut Creek welcomes Synergy Theater's latest show:  SPONTANEOUS SOAP!  In this episode, Val Jord and I sit down with Lynn Shields - creator and director. We "sit down", IN PERSON! That's right - this is our FIRST LIVE AND IN-PERSON interview. A big thank you to Lynn and Val for taking the time to meet tog...

Hello Friends! Do you have your My Dearest Love - Synergy's newest show - tickets yet? If yes, then Valerie Jord and I look forward to seeing you April 18 - April 28th, Thursdays - Sundays at the Lesher Center for the Arts. Our show's guest today is Rachel Kumaar. Rachel joined the Synergy Theater cast not long ago. We talk about interesting transitions in life, surprises in Improv, and much more....

Adventure Serial awaits! In this episode we talk about Synergy Theater's newest show based on the adventure-genre storytelling that we all love. Adventure Serial kicks off February 1st, 2024, and runs to February 11th. Get your season tickets now! SynergyTheater.com Griffen Bier Addam Ledamyen  

Hello Friends! Synergy Theater's "Z is for Zombie" is at the Lesher Center now to October 29th! "Z is for Zombie" kicks off Synergy Theater's new season of 2023-2024 shows. Visit SynergyTheater.com to get your tickets and to check out classes and programs. Justin Carns is a long-time performing member of Synergy Theater. For our interview with Justin, Val and I are excited to present you with some...

Valerie Jord and I are happy to present to you - Adrián Bosada, a performing member of Synergy Theater. We talk about Adrián's experiences in Improv, his journey from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and (from his study of animation to...) how Adrián uses physicality in Improv. Synergy Theater's "Z is for... Zombie" - An Improvised Zombie Apocalypse - begins October 19th, 2023, and runs through Octob...

Yet another great reason for you to take a Synergy Theater improv class: you get to meet people like Rev. Beth Carroll and Actor/Writer/Artisic Director Rich Perez! We talk first to Beth about her journey from mild-mannered Sales Manager to Sr. Pastor at Oakland City Church. Then we talk with Rich about his career in The Arts and friendship with Kenn Adams. Beth and Rich each talk about how Kenn's...

Who is Ben Piper? Is Ben a mythical forest-dwelling creature who is elusive when it comes to interviews? Not really. Ben is a Synergy Theater performer, Improviser, Dad, and all-around great guy! In our Interview with Ben, we discuss Ben's Improv "origin story" and roll from there right into Synergy's new show: A ROLL OF THE DICE. Each scene is created by chance! What are the challenges? What are...

It's here! It's here! Synergy Theater's THE MATING GAME opens at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, CA, this week, Thursday April 13th! Visit SyngeryTheater.com and look for "Performances" to get your tickets now. In this interview - which took longer than expected to schedule (Benny explains why) - Benjamin "Benny" Garcia joins us for the first time. Benny is an incredible Improviser...

What's The Mating Game, you ask? Well, Valerie Regalia, creator and director of Synergy Theater's upcoming new show The Mating Game, answers all your(my) questions. And for the first time Kenn Adams, Synergy Theater's Artistic Director, joins us! We talk about what stands out when improvising a play about relationships. We also discuss The Mating Game's dreamlike and metaphoric qualities. By the e...

Welcome to The Mating Game! Valerie Jord and I discuss Synergy Theater's upcoming show based on the 1970's game show The Dating Game. The MATING Game begins April 13th, 2023, at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek California. Valerie and I also talk about our memories of the 70s, the origins of this podcast, and why Valerie hasn't taken any Improv classes yet -- even though she's Synergy's #1 fan, v...

Hello Friends! Valerie Jord and I are happy to let you know that Synergy Theater is back at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, CA, with a new show: Spontaneous Myth & Magic. If you could help rewrite ancient myths, what suggestions would you make? What new stories would you prompt about the origins of everything? Visit SynergyTheater.com , click on Performances, and get a front-ro...

Eileen Tumlin is here! Eileen is a teacher, architect, improviser, aspiring puppeteer and more! Valerie Jord brings wonderful questions to the interview and we talk about Eileen's first foray into Improvised Theater, introverts, Hitchcock, why Hitchcock chose to film Psycho in black and white, and what Eileen (and Hitchcock) find creepy that others may not. Spontaneous Hitchcock ends October 30, 2...

In this episode, Valerie Jord and I are joined by Paul Hansen - Synergy Theater student, Hitchcock fan, and more. Paul's knowledge of Hitchcock, Shakespeare, and the snack habits of Singapore monkeys is a treat! Spontaneous Hitchcock is here and the rest of Synergy Theater's 2022-2023 season is on the way! Get your tickets now at SynergyTheater.com . 

In this interview with Nikki Vilas, Synergy Theater performer, we have fun talking about costumes for Spontaneous Hitchcock. How does the cast find the right period-appropriate pieces? What styles do they adapt? What about period-appropriate set pieces? Also, Valerie Jord shares what she enjoys about the pictures and video she takes - including what she captures of the stage sets before a Synergy...

Hello! There's just a few days left. Synergy Theater will be back in the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, CA, October 20-30, 2022, for Spontaneous Hitchcock! You'd be crazy to miss it. But if you still need more convincing, just listen to our guest and Synergy Theater performer Valerie Regalia. We talk about everything from performing improv with your mother after a freak bicycle accide...

If you're not "dying" to see Synergy Theater's Spontaneous Hitchcock by the end of this episode, then you should check your pulse! Synergy Theater will perform their Spontaneous Hitchcock - A Thriller in the Style of the Master of Suspense - at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, California, October 20-30, 2022! Grab your seat, (you'll only need the edge), by visiting SynergyTheater.co...

Find out all about Synergy Theater's Improvised Hitchcock from Griffen Bier and Valerie Jord! We find out: What is a Mid-Atlantic accent? Which Hitchcock film spooked Valerie for life? How do you use silence in an improvised scene to build suspense? Which Hitchcock film would you pick to enter as a cameo appearance? Plus Hitchcock trivia!