Charm Scene: Improvised Musicals
Join Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Music Director Sam Scheidler, and drummer Chris Ditton as they create brand new musicals — completely on the fly — alongside some of Chicago’s most charming music improvisers and performers. Welcome to the scene!
Listen on:
Who is Charm Scene?
Collectively, the Charm Scene team can be seen across Chicago and beyond as members of Baby Wants Candy and Shamilton at The Second City, Phony Award Winning Improvised Musicals at iO Theater, ANARCHY: The Improvised Rock Opera and Tuesday Musical Improv at Annoyance Theatre, Lost Realms: Improvised Musicals From Beyond, RIFF, and more. Members of Charm Scene have performed on tour with Off Book: The Improvised Musical, the Second City Touring Company, and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Episodes
5 days ago
5 days ago
Teen Jesus? Baseball camp? Why not BOTH? We've got charming guest Megan Ramsey (Gums, Duluth, Evangelikids) on a mission to teach you the ways of the lord, and the perfect curveball. Double play disciples, sinless step dads, and the original home run hero himself - Jesus Christ. It's a grand slam in this week's fully improvised Charm Scene. Play ball!Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Megan RamseyMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
We're taking you to the Netherlands in this week's episode of Charm Scene! Boom Chicago performer and charming guest Louie Cordon shares a story from his time in Amsterdam that leads us to a fully improvised musical full of busy beaches, robbers with rizz, and the ultimate park party. Luister nu!Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Louie CordonMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Time to hit the road, deer listeners, as we welcome charming guest Dave Lyzenga for another fully improvised musical! A rambunctious road trip, a burly bartender, and a catastrophic conclusion await you on this week's Charm Scene. Follow your dreams!Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Dave LyzengaMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
We're breaking into the backrooms in this week's fully improvised musical! Charming guest Jonathan Allsop takes us on a liminal journey through flickering fluorescents, ethereal elevators and haunted hallways. Get lost in this week's Charm Scene!Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Jonathan AllsopMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
Disco will never die as charming guest Mo Phillips-Spotts RETURNS, following her incredibly successful, lost to time first episode recorded just minutes before. Sashaying salesmen, dangerous dances, and tremendous technical difficulties on this week's Charm Scene!Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Mo Phillips-SpottsMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday May 27, 2025
Tuesday May 27, 2025
Are you ready for a revolution? Charming guest Jessica Joy is back again - this time for a less miserable (and very french) fully improvised musical! Murderous monarchs, frying frogs, accidental accents, and more! Don't lose your head!
Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Jessica JoyMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris Ditton
Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Calling all pranksters! Charming guest Mike Gospel returns for a spongebob-heavy, fully improvised office musical! Collective costumes, serious supervisors, and goofy goobers galore. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? We do!Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Mike GospelMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday May 13, 2025
Tuesday May 13, 2025
It's our first ever CHICAGO LIVE SHOW! Take the jump with us as we take on the Annoyance Theatre with another fully improvised musical - and a surprise? Confused comas, purchased Portugals, grumbling grannies, and more on this week's Charm Scene!Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin PackardMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonSpecial thanks to Sam MacNerland, Christian Pitsch, Kathryn Courtney, Rockie Wenrich, John Moore, James Salvatore, Jennifer Estlin, and everyone at our home - The Annoyance.Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday May 06, 2025
Tuesday May 06, 2025
Welcome to the world wide web! Brandon Michael Thomas RETURNS for a net-spanning adventure through cyberspace. Digital denizens, bashful "bugs," flirty feet pics and more on this week's fully improvised Charm Scene!Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Brandon Michael ThomasMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday Apr 29, 2025
Tuesday Apr 29, 2025
It's our 40TH EPISODE! We're blowing the roof off this one-room schoolhouse in this week's Charm Scene! Charming guest Kaitlyn Nibbelin joins us for a coming-of-age story like none other. Selfish students, troublesome tree-people, handsome haberdsashers, and more! Who are you taking to the dance?Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Kaitlyn NibbelinMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!