008 - Ric Walker - On the Improvised Shakespeare Company, the 4 qualities necessary to be great at improv, and using stock characters

Talking Shop: An Improv Podcast with Brian Gray

In November's episode, Brian sits down with performer, teacher and writer Ric Walker. Ric has taught Improvisation, Acting and Writing for organizations including Pegasus Players, After School Matters and The Second City. He has improvised with legendary companies such as The Improvised Shakespeare Company, Comedy Sportz Chicago, The Second City and MCTD (Midwest Comedy Tool & Die). Ric is currently an MFA Student at Pitt and an active member of the Pittsburgh comedy community.

Ric Walker

Ric and Brian discuss the process used by Improvised Shakespeare Company and how that show was created in the early days, Ric's informal poll of great improvisers that revealed four qualities of great improvisers and what they are, as well as Ric's use of stock characters, particularly in short form.

We then played two 5 min(ish) character-focused games, one in which we played two characters being interviewed documentary-style and the other in which I interviewed a series of Ric's go-to characters.

Thanks to Zach Simons for audio production and live tech and our new home at Arcade Comedy Theater for hosting the show.

Music in the podcast:

• Talking Shop Theme by Michelle Horsley
• Kick Shock by Kevin MacLeod
• Last Days of Disco by Fhernando

Don't miss Talking Shop next month date and guest TBA!