STAFF PICKS: Improvisational Comedy with Erica McIntyre

Photo Credit: Jonathan Vanderweit © 

Erica McIntyre is the Development Operations Manager at Seattle Opera. You may recognize her from McCaw Hall when she greeted you as a Hall Ambassador or from the Allen Room Donor Lounge.

Outside of her workday, Erica performs improv comedy as a Pro Player at CSz Seattle, produces and performs in the monthly comedy show Ten Percent Luck at Northwest Film Forum, and teaches and coaches improv comedy. She also tells horrible jokes to her cat, boyfriend, and whoever is stuck as the checker for her groceries.

Here’s some of Erica's favorite comedy picks to share with you this week:

• - CSz Seattle is still doing live, virtual improv comedy shows! Be sure to check them out to get to watch a live improv show on Zoom and laugh at home during this time. The shows features improv comedy played as a sport—and yes—there is a winner and a loser.
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• - This is my favorite laugh-out loud podcast of all time. The first time I listened to it I cried I laughed so hard! This American Life shares the story of arguably the worst production of Peter Pan to ever hit the stage.
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• - My second favorite humorous story from a podcast was when David Sedaris was featured on This American Life sharing about living in France while not having a full grasp of the language. It gave me serious flashbacks of learning I was saying ‘Bless You’ instead of ‘Pardon Me’ in Italy for months every time I bumped into someone before a kind stranger intervened during my impromptu train blessings.
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• - John Mulaney will always be my favorite stand-up comedian, and his Netflix special The Comeback Kid is a consistent mood booster.
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• - I also loved Ellen Degenres’ Nexflix Special and there’s a special treat about it—it was filmed at Benaroya Hall!
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• - One of my favorite treasures of comedy is watching individuals who just naturally have a great sense of humor. I’m a big fan of Amy Sedaris, and watching her apartment tour is something else! I love the decorating tip of keeping a pair of toddler shoes to put out in any messy rooms and blaming the mess on a toddler who just isn’t there that moment.
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• - Practicing your own comedy while staying home to no audience? Don’t worry! Here’s a video of an attentive audience member for 10 minutes that you can tell any joke to heckle-free (from my lovely high school alma mater)! I’ve been practicing my opera one-liners at home to wow in Zoom meetings and so far they’re too hot to Handel.