Behind the Scenes With Improvisers Susan Messing and Michael Patrick Thornton

I interviewed improviser Susan Messing for Fear No ART Chicago just minutes before she was about to go on stage with actor Michael Patrick Thornton ( Steppenwolf Middletown, ABC's Private Practice). They were performing in Susan's five-year-long run at The Annoyance Theatre, Theatre Messing with a Friend, where each week she invites someone different to join her on stage in an hour of pure improv. To make things more nerve wracking, Susan and Michael were also performing as part of the comedy festival, TBS Just For Laughs.

Having performed improv for over 25 years and a veteran at her craft who has almost cult-like status as a performer and teacher, it is amazing to see how calm she is right before a show. Susan talks about trusting the process, being in the moment and how Chicago is Mecca for this work. She also lets out quite a few swear words along the way, which we have put in a separate out-take video.

Click below to enjoy the pre-show interview with this huge Chicago talent, Susan Messing. If you want to catch her out-takes and her after-the-show, and unedited conversation with Michael after their performance on stage, click here.

Susan and Michael perform together again for one night only at the Steppenwolf Theatre on July 11, and Susan celebrates her five-year anniversary of Messing With A Friend at the Annoyance Theatre with a special performance on July 21.