LIVE THEATER 
‘ECHOES’ Dreamlogic troupe based on the JTS Brown. Festival Performance in Richmond: 2ndBest Comedy Festival 2019.

ZOOM and covid changed the world for improvisers. Improv as an art form is still in the midst of this great creative experiment. The challenge — to perform in front of a tiny computer camera along with others present only in frames on your computer. This is so vastly different from in-person, small theater improv. How does one adapt? How does one portray believable and truthful feelings, meaningful encounters, and discover online comedic journeys? How does one use new technologies to give the audience a theatrical experience? I encourage you to answer these questions by exploring the new ZoomProv that is still happening across the globe in our post-pandemic era.

I paused my in-person teaching from 2020 to 2023 to focus on my performance skills while experimenting with how Zoom might enrich improv. Some of the performances below span a variety of styles of improv. They may be useful to students who gravitate toward one style or another. I hope they tickle you in some way and that they encourage you to be more improv-active. Contact me for where you might start.

THE PAULSON FAMILY MEETING ON ZOOM
Five siblings meet regularly on zoom during the pandemic. You can be a fly on the wall and watch their family dynamics unfold. I chose to explore a new character ‘Daisy Paulson.’ A Michael Gellman’s performance show, Vintage Improv, May 2021. 

DEEP DREAM
An artistic and theatrical form not usually seen in improv. The storyteller weaves a dream in simultaneous collaboration with other players who become the dream and who inspire the dream story’s evolution. Created by Inbal Lori and Keng Sam. Inbal Lori, Host/instructor. The European Show: Vintage Improv Festival 2020.

FRENCH-AMERICAN SANDWICH
This class showcase illustrates the UCB style of play in a format called the ‘Armando’ where players tell a personal story and scenes follow that are inspired by the story. Here ‘game of the scene’ is the focus. It is quick and clever and inventive. Will Hines, instructor, May 2020.

THE NURSERY (London)
I played on The Nursery Theatre’s House Team with live zoom shows in 2020. Had a more absurdist feel than most house teams I have seen (which made for a lot of silly fun).  Shows are archived here.

CLOSE QUARTERS FROM A DISTANCE
‘Close Quarters’ is a playful comedy featuring characters who interact with each other in different parts of one location, eg., a mall. The initial scenes take place simultaneously. Adapting the original stage form to Zoom is a feat that required technical gymnastics but with the advantage of props and backgrounds. A RISE Comedy class showcase, Carla Cackowski, instructor, October 2020.

A SCENE DELIGHT
Have a chuckle viewing this five-minute scene “attempting an affair on the other side of the world on zoom.” Performed by two of my classmates (Jen & Arjun) at the Blind Tiger Comedy Theater ‘Extreme Characters’ showcase, Summer 2020. Inbal Lori, instructor.