(Improv) PodCLASS with Billy Merritt

May 12, 2025

Monoscene - Pretty Flower

<p class="" data-start="132" data-end="283"><strong data-start= "132" data-end="283">Join Billy Merritt and his global gang of improvisers as he continues his delightfully chaotic journey through the many flavors of longform improv.</strong></p> <p class="" data-start="285" data-end="423">Today’s focus: <strong data-start="300" data-end="317">PRETTY FLOWER</strong> — also known as Spokane, or “that thing that’s kind of like Lost meets Marty meets at a haunted pie shop.”</p> <p class="" data-start="425" data-end="828">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).</p> <p class="" data-start="425" data-end="828">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.</p> <p class="" data-start="830" data-end="864">🎭 In class, the students explore:</p> <ul data-start="865" data-end="1154"> <li class="" data-start="865" data-end="932"> <p class="" data-start="867" data-end="932">🧺 A struggling family-run apple orchard turned fall tourist trap</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="933" data-end="1038"> <p class="" data-start="935" data-end="1038">🥁 A post-championship hangover in a high school band room (with questionable closet storage decisions)</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="1039" data-end="1154"> <p class="" data-start="1041" data-end="1154">🥧 A pristine retro diner trying to re-create a 1950s vibe for a mysterious couple who might actually be… ghosts?</p> </li> </ul> <p class="" data-start="1156" data-end="1301">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.</p> <p class="" data-start="1303" data-end="1386">As always, Billy keeps it structured just enough to find the funny—and the heart.</p> <p class="" data-start="1388" data-end="1409"><strong data-start= "1388" data-end="1409">Today's students:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Hill Kane – San Antonio, Texas</li> <li>Konrad Andrew  - Saigon, Vietnam (today)</li> <li>Amber Bellsdale – Washington, D.C.</li> <li>Jason Luna - San Diego, CA (today)</li> <li>Adam S. - Philadelphia, PA (King of Prussia)</li> <li>Murphy McKew – Washington, D.C.</li> <li>Luke Bovard – Berlin, Germany</li> </ul>

April 28, 2025

Monoscene - ROAD TRIP!!

April 14, 2025

Monoscene - Scenic Paint Opening

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