Booth One - Celebrating Culture And Conversation

Gary and Roscoe record Episode 47 before a live audience at Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre as part of the 1st Annual Chicago Podcast Festival. Special guest in the Booth Charna Halpern discusses the legendary iO Theater in Chicago, and her work over a 30-year career using improvisation to develop and discover future comedy stars. Her theaters have been a prime conduit of talented performers, writers, and directors for film and television. Graduates of the iO have appeared on Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien, among dozens of others. Mike Myers called Charna Halpern "The Uta Hagen of comedy." And the New York Times labeled her "The Hidden Architect of Modern Comedy." Alumni of the iO include Adam McKay, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Stephen Colbert, Chris Farley, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers, Jason Sudeikis and Vince Vaughn. Under Halpern's direction, the iO Theaters are producing the next generation of artistic geniuses. Charna shares her insight, experiences and advi