012 - Asaf Ronen - On diagnosing improv, choosing the fun scene and The Institution

Talking Shop: An Improv Podcast with Brian Gray

July features an interview with 20+ year improv veteran, author of the book author of Directing Improv: Show the Way By Getting Out of the Way, and Educational Director at The Institution Theater, Asaf Ronen. Asaf has taught improvisation in Canada, Great Britain, Norway and in twenty-seven of The United States. His directing credits include the all-girl group goga, the improvised comic book adventure show Ka-Baam!!, and Death in the City, a dramatic longform improv piece, at the NY Fringe Festival.

Brian and Asaf talk about how he diagnoses improv scenes, choosing the fun script, the philosophy of The Institution, and how his perfect improv scene starts.

Then we play a really fun genre scene with high emotional stakes!

Thanks to The Hideout Theater for hosting us in Austin.

Music in the podcast:

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