GONNA TASTE ME SOME IMPROV!

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Through Improv you can be anyone or achieve anything, WEEKLY IMPROV CHALLENGE: Through Improv you can be anyone or achieve anything you ever wanted! The only limit to what you can do is the limit you place on your own mind. Great Improvisers commit 150% to those choices and believe in what they have created by justifying their creation on stage. Are you ready to unlock your creative power?!

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The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking!-Albert Einstein

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Do you improv about today's hard-hitting issues?

I personally would like to do some Improv on today's hard hitting issues. That requires a troupe well aware of those issues and usually also requires a younger engaged audience.In LA I was part of an Improv group that just explored social injustices. That was fascinating for me. Our approach for the most part was to bring attention to issues in the news or prejudices etc through comedy. Greg

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Every Sunday IMPROV skill work! This Sunday exploring SCENE HEIGHTENING! Last week was SCENE OBJECTIVES! We'll also work on some longform openings!

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It's hard to find good help these days...

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Snowflake - A Refugee (2014)

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That third wheel can be trying in any relationship...

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BIGOT THE CLOWN (by Spoof Troupe) Bigot (pronounced Bijou) is a French Croissant on steroids!!! Starring moi (Le Greg Philippi) with Minchi Murakami, Stephanie Silva, Steve Saunders, April Coffee and filmmaker Charles Dewandeler. To like click "thumbs up" and like this piece of art on Youtube warms my french heart. Next week the children learn to play with fire! Je vous aime tous!!!!  -Gregory

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FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH DISCOVERED AT CATSKILLS COMEDY CLUB!

The Fountain of Youth may be a legendary spring in St. Augustine Florida but on July 6th itʼs the “IMPROVAGANZA!” event at the Catskills Comedy Club in Fort Lauderdale, a day of Improv workshops for all levels!

At “IMPROVAGANZA” attendees will grow their Improv skills, make new friends and learn to welcome their inner child to the stage. Improvisers will speak from the many voices within while enjoying a day of play that stimulates the mind and body!

“IMPROVAGANZA!” unfolds July 6th 11am-6pm Catskills Comedy Club 840 East Oakland Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. All levels! Basic coursework taught by instructors Gerald Owens and Sara Rogers with games directed by Comedian RJ Walker and advanced coursework taught by LA Improviser Greg Philippi. Full day only $25 in advance or $35 at the door!

Instructor Gerald Owens is an actor, writer, director, acting teacher, voiceover artist and filmmaker. His acting credits include network television and feature film appearances. Gerald’s Improv background includes having directed and produced South Florida’s Laughing Gas Comedy Improv Theater Company for many years. Currently Gerald performs with Sick Puppies Comedy troupe. Gerald will be working with Improvisers on sensory/observation exercises, building team work, inventing things, emotional involvement and character interaction.

Instructor Sara Rogers has worked in and around the South Florida film and Stage Industry for more than 20 years teaching, coaching, casting, writing and as stage management and talent. Sara currently teaches at the Acting School of South Florida and the Hollywood Playhouse. Sara will be working with Improvisers on creating characters, physicality, body language and helping Improvisers prepare for the evenings performance.

Instructor Greg Philippi is an Improviser, writer and actor as well as a former Network TV executive with experience on both sides of the camera. Gregʼs Improv background includes long and short form training and performances with numerous troupes. Greg is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory, has trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, Monkey Butler Comedy, the ImprovTrick and Ventura Comedy Sportz as well as having performed and trained with several iOWest based troupes. In Los Angeles Greg performs with The Sauce under the direction of Bill Chott (Disneyʼs Wizards of Waverly Place, Dana Carvey Show).

Greg will be teaching emotional Investment, advanced object work, building a scene from the inside out, characters dancing on the edge, and Improvised Shakespeare through games and scene work with tips and tricks to strengthen play.Instructor RJ Walker is an Improviser, Stand-up Comedian, musician and actor. Walker has been a mainstay of the South Florida Comedy scene for years and brings his expertise to the game aspect of “IMPROVAGANZA!”

Doors open 11:00am for onsite, day of event registration, July 6th. Discount advance registration availble at www.GotULaughing.weebly.com via Paypal or contact [email protected] or phone [phone].

Tickets for the entire day only $25 in advance, $35 at the door. Free parking in front of the club. NOTE: All attendees will have an opportunity to perform that evening following the workshops! Tickets for the evening show $10 for those not attending the workshops with a 2 drink minimum.

“IMPROVAGANZA!” sponsored by Kim M. Clarkʼs Got U Laughing Improv Club. Got U Laughing Thursday evening weekly workshops open to all levels. Details at www.Meetup.com/Got-U-Laughing-Improv-Comedy-Troupe-Plantation

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Lives by my door tunneling in the dirt around the Palm. It's there everyday. Made a sign for it. George lives here but wonder if it might be a Georgette?!

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Books give me super human strength...

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"Must have been someone I ate!"

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Do It Doggie Style!!!! Help a puppy in need! Artwork being auctioned for a good cause to support doggie Chemo treatments and possible surgery and/or donations also accepted. Details at www.LookBeforeYouGeek.com where you can also read "nerdastic mumblings" and fun content... 

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THE CHECKOUT LINE

Yesterday I politely asked the checkout girl at the big box Grocery chain how her day was going. She said it was going okay BUT she'd just arrived at work so she hoped it would get busy and therefore the day would then go by faster. Looking up she noticed no one was around. I said "Oh well I could run through your line four or five times while you wait for someone to arrive. She liked that idea. My wife said no. 

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THE DENTIST

The dentist put photos of my teeth on a screen for me to study saying I could have filings or gum grafts. (In America we have choices, yeah right.) Anyhow, I replied that's expensive and grafts are quite painful so I pointed to a couple places on the film and asked if maybe he could just color in those spaces with crayon and leave it at that. He said Crayon wax wouldn't hold. 

The dentist then asked in this sweet voice, like he had a gift for me; "Ever have a deep cleaning?" I replied; "Yes and I don't want want one." He said; Well your X-rays will determine that!" I thought; "No the guy that pays my credit card will determine that and that's me!" BUT to drive the point home I simply repeated quietly with conviction; "I don't want one." A "deep cleaning" is quite painful and I don't fancy my mouth hurting for a week or two so some dentist can pocket an extra $600 for the "deep clean" experience. Next week I see a Doctor. I'm sure that's going to be a lovely experience. 

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An evening at home w my wife & our friend who came for a night & stayed forever. This is a re-boot of Pesky Mr. P - Dinner Crasher written by @GregPhilippi w @BuffyDakan Dir by @Dewandeler. If you enjoy please do comment and share!

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Muy Caliente! Bay Area Music Awards w Jorge Santana

In the early 90s, I was working the BAMMIES (Bay Area Music Awards) in San Francisco. I had flown up from Los Angeles. I was doing promotion and marketing for BAM magazine and the BAM Network of music publications. A friend was going to take me backstage to meet Carlos Santana. It never transpired. I did get a cool laminated pass which I still possess but never made it backstage.

While waiting I had gone upstairs to a secluded bar area in the back of the concert hall where I noticed Jorge Santana (Carlos Santanas brother) sitting by himself having a beer. In the late 60s and early 70s,  Jorge had led a successful band himself called "Malo". Their first two albums were classic latin rock with horns and multiple percussionists similar to early Santana. "Malo" however presented some of their tracks in spanish which separated them from Santana. Later albums went in a more dance oriented direction and they lost their record deal. The curse though for Jorge was that ihe was Carlos's brother and a guitarist as well. Jorge was constantly compared to Carlos.

That night, Jorge had been touring with Carlos as his second guitarist. The band had just returned from a south american tour. I had so many questions and I wanted to talk music. It was in my blood. First I didn't know whether to call him George or Jorge. Last thing I wanted to do was come off as a poser or insult him. Secondly Jorge was and still is a talented guitarist in his own right but this was a Santana show so was it appropriate to comment on his playing or not? That would undoubtedly bring to light comparisons between the two and he was in the second guitar spot.

Then I didn't have any obscure Jorge career notes but did have some Carlos items. Would it be appropriate for me to comment on Carlos having begun his career by performing in strip clubs in Tijuana Mexico at age 14? And what was Jorge up to at that time? It definitely would showcase my knowledge of Carlos but I wasn't chatting with Carlos. Then there was the fact that the original Santana Band (which only took the name Santana by happenstance) were tough street kids from the east bay barrio. Later one member would go to prison for murder and others had bouts with hard core addiction. Why wasn't Jorge in the original band?  They were hot! Carlos recently finally conceded that the original band, those members that played Woodstock, were the best players he'd worked with and the tightest ensemble. So many thoughts ran through my brain. In the end though none of the above questions came out. I was polite and Jorge was polite. He was busy and I needed to stay on point as a music professional though inside a fan indeed. The show was great and I never ended up going backstage. Jorge was a bit standoffish and maybe thinking I was trying to get at his brother through him. That wasn't the case.

Yesterday I was listening to "Malo" and it all came back to me... Jorge had his 15 minutes of fame. The man was a monster talent but his brother made the grade. The universe is fickle that way. I hope he's doing well. I think I'll go have some Mexican food for lunch, Baja style like they serve in Tijuana.  Muy caliente!