Episode 51 – The History of Hit & Run Theater: Part 2

Mendocino’s SnapSessions! podcast presents Episode 51, Part II of their “The History of Hit & Run Theater”, premiering Sunday, March 5 on their podcast website—thesnapsessions.com. Part I debuted on January 29. Whereas SnapSessions! Episode 50 (Part I) focused mostly on Hit & Run Theater’s epic comedy revues of the 1980s, Episode 51 (Part II) catalogues the group’s work as an improvisational theater team. We start with the ensemble’s first improv work in the 80s and follow up over the past decade of improv comedy shows. Episode 51 will showcase more interviews of group members, producers, light techies, as well as musical improviser, Joshua Raoul Brody. It will also feature highlights from the group’s improvisational work from the past few years.

Hit and Run Theater has been an improv comedy group from the beginning, but for most of the 1980s the troupe did a series of written comedy revues, with improvisation playing a side role. There were many reunions that featured improvisation, but as the ensemble regrouped about 20 years ago, they did so purely as an improv troupe.  Part II includes interviews with Hit & Run veterans Ellen Callas, Tracy Burns, Pamela Stoneham, Kathy O’Grady, Harry Rothman, and Steve Weingarten as well as with contemporary players Jill Lemos, Ken Krauss, Christine Samas, Mindy Ballentine, Janet Atherton, Alonya Eisenberg, Dan Sullivan, and Nicole Paravicini. In addition, long-time musical accompanist Joshua Raoul Brody talks about improvising music from scratch based on audience suggestions. Light techie Sallie Werson and long-time Mendocino Stories producer Pattie DeMatteo add their perspectives.

Part II of the History of Hit & Run Theater, includes highlights from various shows of the past decade, from snappy skits to truly fresh musical numbers. Episode 51 is engineered by Marshall Brown and Ken Krauss and stands as joyful oral history of the past decades of local culture. Tune into thesnapsessions.com from Sunday, March 5 and enjoy Part II of the journey of Hit & Run Theater. 

SnapSessions! includes original music by Marshall Brown, production by Marshall Brown and Ken Krauss, voiceovers by Ken Krauss and Doug Nunn, and articles and interviews by Doug Nunn. Our SnapSessions! artist and logo maker is caricaturist, Daniel Stieglitz.

Head to our website thesnapsessions.com to find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud.

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