Posted on 10.09.09

The Art of Improv: Profile with MB developer Steve Persch

by Stacy

Tricky Mickey improv group performs at The Playground in Chicago Oct. 14th at 8 p.m.
We profile actor, writer, director (and Mightybytes web developer) Steve Persch in our continued support of Chicago Artists Month by talking with our team and friends about their art and creative process. Steve is a member of the comedy improv group, Tricky Mickey, with Mike Abdelsayed and Steve Gensler. Performing next at The Playground in Chicago, Oct. 14th, Nov. 18th and Dec.10th. With three performers, Steve calls it “a more intimate show” with “a greater sense of excitement and possibility.” Rather than with a large group, he says there is “more fluidity moving through characters” because everyone is on stage most of the time.
Tricky Mickey is a long-form improv show where the group asks the audience for suggestions to perform, including “a word that you wish was a color.”
For Steve, the word “fiesta” was a memorable suggestion of this request.
Q: Is there something the audience always suggests?
Steve: “In short-form improv, we often ask for food or object suggestions and always get Jell-O.” Elvis and Britney Spears are also popular suggestions as well, he says.
Q: Tell me about your creative process.
Steve: “Juxtaposition is an idea I explore.” A few themes get placed back to back in his improv. “Also, free-writing on a pad of paper, three pages worth a day often. That’s how the That Guy video happened, free-writing as an assignment in a Creative Process class at Northwestern.
Q: What’s next?
Steve: “A follow up to the That Guy video. I am working on it with James and Travis of Mightybytes for vocals and production.” Steve is also working on writing a play about Camelot currently with one male actor and one female, with each playing Arthur and Guinevere respectively and alternating to play the role of Lancelot.
Want to know more?
Steve Persch’s personal website
Steve’s web work for The Looking Glass Theater
Check out his bio on our company page