(Improv) PodCLASS with Billy Merritt

Monoscene - Pretty Flower

Join Billy Merritt and his global gang of improvisers as he continues his delightfully chaotic journey through the many flavors of longform improv. Today's focus: PRETTY FLOWER — also known as Spokane, or "that thing that's kind of like Lost meets Marty meets at a haunted pie shop." Billy starts by tracing the roots of this character-driven form, developed with the group Sentimental Lady and inspired by layered storytelling (think Lost, but with fewer smoke monsters and more apple jam). The Pretty Flower starts with a single scenic mono scene—then "blooms" into supporting cutaways that explore character backstory, heighten stakes, or, sometimes, just celebrate a 74-pie menu. 🎭 In class, the students explore: * 🧺 A struggling family-run apple orchard turned fall tourist trap * 🥁 A post-championship hangover in a high school band room (with questionable closet storage decisions) * 🥧 A pristine retro diner trying to re-create a 1950s vibe for a mysterious couple who might actually be… ghosts? Cut tos, cut backs, musical montages, and a possible mob-connected cleaner all show up in this episode full of bold initiations and gentle chaos. As always, Billy keeps it structured just enough to find the funny—and the heart. Today's students: * Hill Kane – San Antonio, Texas * Konrad Andrew - Saigon, Vietnam (today) * Amber Bellsdale – Washington, D.C. * Jason Luna - San Diego, CA (today) * Adam S. - Philadelphia, PA (King of Prussia) * Murphy McKew – Washington, D.C. * Luke Bovard – Berlin, Germany

Monoscene - ROAD TRIP!!

Join Billy Merritt and his international bench of students as he expertly (and hilariously) guides them through specific iterations of long form improv. Today's class is ROAD TRIP - a character-based monoscene. Our players will be stuck inside a car* heading to a specific and important destination. Think "graduating members of the University of Fairfield, Connecticut's a cappella choir heading to Regionals in New York City." To make things fun, characters are developed over the set by being given GIFTS and answering QUESTIONS from their fellow travelers. Billy leads the "amorphous blob" exercise. Just two blank slates giving each other interesting gifts within BIG INITIATIONS: Clean Parker, Strong Cologne Game, Smart Glasses, Fashionable Color Matches, First Alien Abduction, Captain's Hat, and so many more! The class then plays "classic pairs." We are_______________, going to ________________. YEAH!!!!!!!! Then it's right on to seven people in a car going somewhere. Ergo, a group of accountants is off to visit a pillow factory. Finally, the class does a campfire monoscene in the road trip form. As a group, they "gift" their way to figuring out who they are to each other and why they are on this trip; and then do another round of "gifting" to go a little deeper into the wants and characteristics of the gang. You can HEAR how much fun the students are having giving and receiving these over-the-top gifts! I promise, Billy brings sense and purpose to all of this. Today's students (in order of "appearance"): * Adam S. - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania * Tyler Drew - Seattle, Washington * Hill Kane - San Antonio, Texas * Jason Luna - Los Angeles, California * Amber Bellsdale - Washington, D.C. * Murphy McKew - Washington, D.C. * Luke Bovard - Berlin, Germany *car, mini-van, paddle boat, etc. Next up: Monoscene: Pretty Flower (May 12)

Monoscene - Scenic Paint Opening

Join Billy Merritt and his international bench of students as he expertly - and hilariously - guides them through specific iterations of long form improv. Of the 5000+ known varieties of Long Form Improvisation, Billy Merritt starts the class off with the MONOSCENE with a Scenic Paint Opening. Today's students (in order of "appearance"): * Hill Kane - San Antonio, Texas * Tyler Drew - Seattle, Washington * Luke Bovard - Berlin, Germany * Murphy McKew - Washington, D.C. * Adam S. - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania * Konrad Andrew* - Northern Mariana Islands, U.S.A. * Nicole Beggiani - Providence, Rhode Island *Konrad wins the award for the longest call-in distance. Congratulations, Mr. Andrew. Next up: Monoscene: Road Trip! (April 28) Monoscene: Pretty Flower (May 12)

PodCLASS Explained (the Trailer)

Billy explains what PodCLASS is and what his objectives are in producing it. It's only a minute long. Give it a listen! Thank you, ~The Management~