Charm Scene: Improvised Musicals

Fraudway Festival, Marquee, and more with Allen Lucas! (Chat Scene #5)

We're just a week away from the first annual Fraudway Musical Improv Festival at Chicago's iO Theatre! In this all new episode of Chat Scene, festival creator and organizer Allen Lucas joins us to talk about the festival and his countless new musical improv endeavors at iO (including the amazing new show "Marquee").We'll see you all at the Fraudway Musical Improv Festival, March 6-7. Tickets are on sale now at ioimprov.com.Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Allen LucasMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonCharm Scene is performed entirely by humans in sunny Chicago, IL. For more on the podcast, follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, visit us online at charmscenepod.podbean.com, or email us at CharmScenePod@gmail.com. In listening to this show, we hope you continue to support live human art wherever you find it. Stay charming!

#76: "Ice Cream, You Scream" with Allen Lucas!

The game is afoot! FIVE TIME charming guest Allen Lucas is back once again, this time with a mystery! We take Allen's real life love of ice cream and friendship and turn it into a devious, delicious dessert of musical improv, complete with vats of vanilla, nosey neighbors, suspicious stains, and more. Get the latest scoop on this week's Charm Scene!Want to hear even more of Allen? Don't miss the first annual FRAUDWAY Musical Improv Festival at Chicago's iO Theatre, March 6-7. Tickets are on sale now at ioimprov.com.Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Allen LucasMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonCharm Scene is performed entirely by humans in sunny Chicago, IL. For more on the podcast, follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, visit us online at charmscenepod.podbean.com, or email us at CharmScenePod@gmail.com. In listening to this show, we hope you continue to support live human art wherever you find it. Stay charming!

#75: "Earth, Wind & Tarot" with Daryn Robinson!

The cards have spoken! Daryn Robinson ("My Best Friend is Black," "Shamilton," "She The People") is BACK. Through the power of live Tarot readings, and inspired by Daryn's story about her real-life uncle (a member of the legendary band "Earth, Wind & Fire") we set off through the kingdoms of Earth, Wind, and Fire on a quest to rediscover ourselves - featuring bountiful bindles, swollen skunks, vicious volcanoes, and more. The cycle continues on this week's Charm Scene!Daryn Robinson (she/her) is a Chicago-based writer/performer originally from Washington, D.C. She is a performer at @TheSecondCity, where her credits include She The People, the 2025 Black Excellence Revue, the family-friendly shows No Grown-Ups Allowed and Rudolph Runs Wild, and understudying the Touring Company and ETC Stage. Her other improv shows include: @Shamilton_Musical with @BabyWantsCandy, and @ImprovAusten and @Birdlady.io with @iochicago. Daryn proudly co-produces the all-Black comedy show @MyBestFriendisBlackShow at @TheLincolnLodge, voted @Chicago_Reader’s Best Comedy Show of 2023 and 2024! You can follow her at @daryn_2dream and catch her headlining @CityWineryChi on Feb. 24th (her birthday!!!) with My Best Friend is Black ✨Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Daryn RobinsonMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

#74: "Leveling Up" with Jono Mammel!

Welcome weary travelers! Charming dungeon master Jono Mammel is back for a fantastical improvised adventure, inspired by Jono's real work in "Oops! All Bards." Join us as we enter a magical, musical world of swamps & sparrows, rocks & rolls, taverns & telekinesis, and more. Roll for initiative!Jono Mammel (they/them) is an actor, musical improviser, and tabletop game master originally from Rochester Hills, Michigan. Their Chicago credits include "Anthony Rapp: Home for the Holidays," "Benny Bingo and the Evangelikids," "Fan Fiction," "Puffs," "Shark Tank: the Musical," "Oops! All Bards: An Improvised D&D Musical," "Phony Award Winning Musical," and "Blank! The Musical." They can be seen improvising at Second City in "Baby Wants Candy" and "Shamilton," at the Revival in "Faking the Band," at iO in "Marquee," and at the Annoyance in "Tuesday Musical Improv." When not making things up, they enjoy murder mystery novels, televised cooking competitions, and making time-consuming Italian food.Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Jono MammelMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

#73: Charm Scene LIVE - "Grin and Carrot" at The Last Word Comedy Festival 2026!

We're LIVE again from Williamsburg, VA at the 2026 Last Word Comedy Festival! This year, we looked to fiber-rich comedy major Li for inspiration for an all-new fully improvised musical. Copious carrots, vicarious villains, tasty transformations, and more on this week's Charm Scene! What's up, Doc?Special thanks to the city of Williamsburg for sponsoring the event, and to everyone at The Last Word Comedy Festival. Learn more at lastwordfestival.comRecorded January 29, 2026 at PBK Hall at The College of William and MaryCast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, with introduction by Adam StackhouseMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

#72: "Dan The Man" with Sarah Murphy!

Buckle up, Charmers. We've got Richmond's own Sarah Murphy (Bite Sized Podcast, RIFF, Swiped) for a very special improvised musical, inspired by her real life DAD. It's an Uber ride you'll never forget, with curious kids, hazardous heists, troubled townsfolk, and more! Tippity tap that gas pedal for an all-new Charm Scene!Sarah (she/her) is a wife-guy and improviser from Chicago, IL. She cohosts @bitesizedpod_ and performs with @riffimprov and @swipedimprov around Chicago. In her free time, she volunteers at @pawschicago and fosters kittens. So if you need cat advice, Twilight fun facts, or a loud, gangly woman on your stage then hit her up. Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Sarah MurphyMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

#71: "All's Fair at The World's Fair" with Christian Pitsch!

Step right up! Step right up! See the wonders of improvised musicales as we welcome charming guest and brilliant scientist Christian Pitsch. Motherless mummies, whirling wheels, strange sciences, and more! See something you've never seen before in this all new Charm Scene.Christian Pitsch is a capital-C comedian. You can catch him: hosting "The Open Stage," performing sketch with "Anti Virgin Club," improvising on "TMI," or singing his heart out in his original musical "Pigskin," Saturdays January 31-March 28 at The Annoyance! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Christian PitschMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

#70: "The Burn Team" with Josiah Robinson!

Is it hotter in here, or is it just us? It's another INCENDIARY improvised musical as we welcome former member of "The Burn Team" and charming guest Josiah Robinson! Join us as we go undercover, into a world of smoldering secrets, combustible canyons, and torched Texans. Hope you don't get burned on this week's Charm Scene!Josiah Robinson is a improviser, actor, and podcaster in Chicago. You can find his music improv team Anarchy, the Improvised Rock Opera @anarchymusicimprov on Instagram. And check out his podcast How Star Wars Is It? (@howstarwarsisit) available wherever you get your podcasts.Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Josiah RobinsonMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!"

#69: "Infinite Hot Topic" with Barb Jackson and Hugh Walker!

Let's go to the mall! It's the first episode of 2026, and we've got a DUO. Charming guests Barb Jackson and Hugh Walker (Director and Writer/Composer of "Evangelikids!") join us for an all-new improvised musical, set in the long lost world of US shopping malls. A captive Claire's, a submerged Spencer Gifts, troubling taekwondo, and more. Yay capitalism!
Barb Jackson is a writer, performer, and director originally from Northern California. She has called Chicago home for 4 years, but you can still hear her say something is 'Hella cool dude' when she's excited. Catch her perform in "Improvised Jane Austen" at iO Theater, and don't miss the next run of "Evangelikids," opening January 2026 at The Annoyance Theater! Hugh Walker sometimes performs musical improv, sometimes writes stuff, sometimes plays piano, but mostly watches a man build igloos on YouTube.Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Barb Jackson, Hugh WalkerMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

#68: Challenge Episode! New Years Eve with Just Us (and special guest Maya Tanaka)!

What better way to celebrate the new year than a CHALLENGE EPISODE? We've got the gang together to ring in 2026 with resolute rhymes, timely time signatures, a charming champaign toast, and so much more - including a special surprise appearance from friend of the pod, Maya Tanaka! Happy New Year from all of us at Charm Scene!Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Maya TanakaMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!