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
Tuesday Feb 25, 2025
Tuesday Feb 25, 2025
We're "hanging on by a thread" in this week's fully improvised musical - with charming guest Derek Demko! Jealous Jacks, preoccupied parents, dirty dodos, and more. It's a jungle out there in this week's Charm Scene!
Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Derek DemkoMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris Ditton
Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday Feb 18, 2025
Tuesday Feb 18, 2025
It's time to impress your mom as charming guest Natalie Younger takes us back to our collective theatre-kid childhoods in this week's fully improvised musical! Captivating cousins, impractical plays, juicy jugs, and more! It's time for the show!Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Natalie YoungerMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday Feb 11, 2025
Tuesday Feb 11, 2025
Brush up for this week's fully improsived TOOTH-sical as we welcome charming guest Deshawn Mason! Killer cavities, bumbling bicuspids, wisdom-toothed wizards, and more! It's all smiles on this week's Charm Scene!Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Deshawn MasonMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday Feb 04, 2025
Tuesday Feb 04, 2025
Our FIRST LIVE SHOW! We took to the cobbled streets of Williamsburg, Virginia for the second annual Last Word Comedy Festival for our first in-person fully improvised musical - inspired by audience member Kate's real life college story. Break-in baddies, burgeoning board gamers, basketted balls, and more in this week's Charm Scene!
Special thanks to the city of Williamsburg for sponsoring the event, and to everyone at The Last Word Comedy Festival. Learn more at lastwordfestival.com
Recorded January 30, 2025 at PBK Hall at The College of William and Mary
Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard
Music Director: Sam Scheidler
Drums: Adam Eleven
Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday Jan 28, 2025
Tuesday Jan 28, 2025
Escape the stacks. Burn the books. Trail the Oregon. Charming guest Ben Hebert (host of the phenomenal podcast - "Bite-Sized") takes us to a public library in this week's fully improvised musical. But can his thirst for a life outside sway the legacy librarian, the sad sixth grader, or the mad mean Mr. Murray? It's a monoscene spectacular in this week's Charm Scene!
Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Ben HebertMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris Ditton
Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday Jan 21, 2025
Tuesday Jan 21, 2025
Your wish is granted! It's charming guest Will Nicholson - but at what cost?? A magical monkey, a seasoned shopkeeper, his distant daughter, and so much more in this week's Charm Scene. Let's go go!
Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Will NicholsonMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris Ditton
Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday Jan 14, 2025
Tuesday Jan 14, 2025
Live from Sam's apartment - it's Charm Scene! Charming guest Nathan Jansen recounts his time on a mysterious podcast at Edinburgh Fringe and takes us deep into the world of late night variety television in this week's fully improvised musical. Puppet performers, stunt spectaculars, exacting executives, and more! We're on in 5... 4... 3... 2...Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Nathan JansenMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday Jan 07, 2025
Tuesday Jan 07, 2025
Tween theatre ghosts, metaphysical four square, and a janitor with big original dreams. All this and more in the first Charm Scene improvised musical of 2025 - featuring Team Starkid's Ali Gordon! Happy BoOoOo Year!Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Ali GordonMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris DittonFollow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday Dec 31, 2024
Tuesday Dec 31, 2024
Happy New Year from Charm Scene! Raise a glass as we round out 2024 with old acquaintance Keenan Camp! What do a grizzled detective, a bowl or oatmeal, and a mansard roof have in common? Absolutely nothing. Cheers!
Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Keenan CampMusic Director: Sam ScheidlerDrums: Chris Ditton
Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!
Tuesday Dec 24, 2024
Tuesday Dec 24, 2024
Welcome back to PART TWO of our Christmas two-parter, featuring charming guests Ben Auxier and Allen Lucas! Will we make it out of Santa's underground Christmas garage? Will our friends finally fulfill their festive wishes? And just who is the mysterious Holly Rose? These answers and more in this week's Charm Scene! Happy Holidays!
Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Ben Auxier, Allen Lucas
Music Director: Sam Scheidler
Drums: Chris Ditton
Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!