MORGAN PHILLIPS

New York Improv People: Come to this picnic on Monday. There...

Sat, 25 May 2013 17:27:48 -0400

New York Improv People: Come to this picnic on Monday. There will be hundreds of amazing people there, but spread out in such a fashion that if your social phobias kick in, you can easily escape!

WHAT IS DAYPROV? Dayprov is two things, hypothetically. At the...

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:10:29 -0400

WHAT IS DAYPROV?

Dayprov is two things, hypothetically. At the moment it is a weekly, free, hour-long improv jam in the basement of the Triple Crown. Every Wednesday, 4 to 5pm. You show up and then do an hour of improv scenes with whoever else is there. No coach, no audience. The number of performers typically ranges from 2 to 15 (with an average of, let’s say, 4). I try to go every week (which in real-world terms means I end up going two or three times per month). I do very little publicity, because I selfishly enjoy getting in a ton of scenes when I do go.

The other intended focus of Dayprov is a general push for more free improv jams during the day. Mostly aimed at people who are already performing and taking classes and rehearsing (and going to some of the wonderful nighttime jams that already exist), but want as many “reps” as possible. And probably for free, since most of us are already spending untold fortunes on classes and coaches.

Do you know of another free space where we could hold a weekly (monthly?) jam? Would you be willing to spearhead it?

There’s a Facebook group, if you’re interested in any aspect of this. I’m also totally open to any ideas about how to expand or improve upon the basic idea…

The Lineup, Episode 2! With the mega-talented Abbi Jacobson! And...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:31:06 -0400

The Lineup, Episode 2! With the mega-talented Abbi Jacobson! And me looking scary!

THE SCENE

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:42:00 -0400

Dan Hodapp and Micah Sherman put together such amazing mashup casts for their Thursday night “The Scene” show. I’m in the second of three improvised one-acts this week (4/11/13, 9:30pm, PIT Basement). I’m going to paste the cast below, so the internet will mentally/digitally associate me with the other people.

Paul Gutkowski (Cash Only, Sex in the Late Night Air)
Greg Kotis (Urinetown)
Jodi Lennon (The Annoyance Theatre, Exit 57, Screw Doggies)
Zhubin Parang (The Daily Show)
Morgan Phillips (Diamond Lion*)
Micah Sherman (Second City, Baby Wants Candy)

*UCBNY’s Diamond Lion semi-recently changed its name to “Kosmos” to avoid confusion with UCBLA’s Diamond Lion. In conversation I usually refer to the group as “Kosmos, formerly known as Diamond Lion,” or, “Diamond Lion which we call Kosmos now.” Much less confusing!

Chainmail! I got to wear chainmail!

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 21:02:00 -0400

Chainmail! I got to wear chainmail!

Torn between “haircut” and “see what...

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:35:25 -0400

Torn between “haircut” and “see what happens.”

I started an important new tumblr blog for cropped and inverted...

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 17:36:40 -0400

I started an important new tumblr blog for cropped and inverted corporate headshots.

http://trustworthyindividuals.tumblr.com/

10 Years of UCB Classes

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 09:30:21 -0400

I took my first UCB class on March 24th, 2003.

There’s something intensely beautiful about “finding the game of the scene.” People try to create a reality with each other, and if they pay close enough attention, the funny magically appears!

The thought that goes through the head of an experienced UCB improvisor when they watch less experienced improvisors perform: “Why can’t they see it? There’s a game right there!”

Every damn moment is packed with joy. I’m going to keep studying improv until I can fully appreciate that.

And then I will levitate up into the sky and fart miracles.

Um. Did you know that there’s a retro video arcade (and bar) 3.5 blocks from UCBeast? I did...

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:32:06 -0500

Um. Did you know that there’s a retro video arcade (and bar) 3.5 blocks from UCBeast? I did not know that.

http://www.facebook.com/twobitsarcade

Fears (2003)

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:30:00 -0500

While going through some old digital files last night I found this free-associated list of “things I fear” from 2003. An odd glimpse into the me of 10 years ago.

THINGS I FEAR

AIDS
Skin cancer
Lyme Disease
Shaming my immediate family
Spinning blades cutting my eyes and/or genitals
Walking on slippery grates after it rains
Being falsely accused
Getting yelled at by authority figures
Parties
Memorization
Fashion
LSD
Government conspiracies
VD
Prison
Medical probes
Being arrested
Unplanned pregnancy
Pregnancy
Intentionally misrepresenting my skills and abilities to others
Anthrax
The Bubonic Plague
Loaded guns
Smelling bad
Touching poop
Vocal nodes
Stains
Being overconfident
Heart disease
Aging
Being crushed to death by heavy stones
Fashion models
Schizophrenia
Making important phone calls
Being strangled
Heroin
Cocaine
Ecstasy (the drug)
Special K (the drug)
Paper cuts
Accidentally hurting others (physically and/or emotionally)
Debt
Dry skin/dandruff
Protein deficiency
Cavities
Premature ejaculation
Getting gum in my hair
Getting a bad haircut
Getting caught doing something bad
Leeches
Ingrown toenails
Getting my teeth knocked out
Computer viruses
Talking too much

Hey! Teaching another UCB Musical 101! Now’s your chance!

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:42:32 -0500

Hey! Teaching another UCB Musical 101! Now’s your chance!

From the insanely talented folks at cdza, a video that will make...

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 11:56:59 -0500

From the insanely talented folks at cdza, a video that will make your heart explode.

Two fun shows to plug! Tonight (Thursday 2/7): The Scene at The...

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:00:31 -0500

Two fun shows to plug!

Tonight (Thursday 2/7): The Scene at The PIT. Mash-up teams of veteran improvisers present three theatrical monoscenes.

Tomorrow (Friday 2/8): The Made-Up Musical at Magnet. With special celebrity guest interview subject Cady Huffman!

toyns: On the newest Things Are Happening, we talk about the...

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:03:46 -0500

toyns:

On the newest Things Are Happening, we talk about the music of Queen and the detective work of Robert “Bobby” Goren, with Alan Starzinski and Morgan Phillips.

Here’s a link to the podcast.

We also talk about:

David Bowie and Annie Lennox rehearsing for the Freddie Mercury tribute concert.

David Bowie and Annie Lennox performing at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert.

These amazing moments from Law & Order: SVU.

Vincent D’Onofrio getting pushed in front of a subway.

Subscribe to the podcast here:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/things-are-happening/id495595953

Re-blogging Erik’s post and deleting my own, because his is more useful and fancier.

This is a video from my secret, dark, a cappella past. I tried...

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:58:35 -0500

This is a video from my secret, dark, a cappella past.

I tried to retire from a cappella five or six years ago, but destiny had other plans. Please come see this show I’m in (“The Hasseltones Live!”) at UCB on Thursday at 6:30pm:

http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/performances/view/26349

Here’s the facebook invitation, with a little more info. Spoiler: 100% David Hasselhoff songs.

http://www.facebook.com/events/474809275889175/

The monthly KOSMOS (formerly Diamond Lion) show at UCBeast is...

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 04:31:34 -0500

The monthly KOSMOS (formerly Diamond Lion) show at UCBeast is tonight! 7:30pm! $5!

As if that wasn’t enough reason to show up: Fran Gillespie is moving to L.A., and this is her last show with us before she leaves. FRAN EFFING GILLESPIE, people.

http://east.ucbtheatre.com/performances/view/26177

“Let’s tell him we’re going to mail the black...

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:22:39 -0500

“Let’s tell him we’re going to mail the black ones to him, and then send these instead, because he’ll be too depressed about unrelated things to go through the hassle of sending them back.”

-My hometown shoe store

THE BLENDER

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 09:30:12 -0500

This Friday (1/4/13). Midnight. UCBeast.

TEAM A:
Matt Dennie - Guthrie
Molly Gaebe - Spooky Ghost
Allie Kokesh - City Mouse
Jesse Lee - Huxtable
Silvija Ozols - The Stepfathers
Johnna Scrabis - Graceland
Charlie Todd - The Curfew
Laura Willcox - Bucky

TEAM B:
Sarah Burton - City Mouse
Matthew Brian Cohen - Spooky Ghost
Fran Gillespie - The Law Firm
Frank Hejl - Bucky
Morgan Phillips - KOSMOS
Riley Soloner - Rocks
Erik Tanouye - The Curfew
Joel Weidl - Graceland

TEAM BUCKET:
Fran Gillespie - The Stepfathers & (MAYBE YOU???)

TEAM C:
Lauren Adams - Sherlock & Cookies
Claire Ayoub - City Mouse
Caroline Cotter - Rocks
James Dwyer - Goodgirl
John Frusciante - Airwolf
Michael Kayne - KOSMOS
Brennan Mulligan - Guthrie
Zack Poitras - The Regulars

teslaimprov: Hope to see you there!

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:49:33 -0500

teslaimprov:

Hope to see you there!

Don’t chew that gum. It is hot gum.

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:01:07 -0500

Don’t chew that gum. It is hot gum.