Improv

Alex Bonifer
Alex Bonifer 1920 1080 Alyshia Ochse

Today’s guest, Alex Bonifer, has taken a decidedly unconventional route to becoming a standout in some of television’s most unique comedies. A summer improv class, forced upon him by his father, set him on a twelve-year journey through legendary comedy institutions including iO West, UCB, and The Groundlings. Alex went from working as a furniture salesman and Uber driver to becoming a series regular, landing memorable roles in Superstore, Kevin Can F**k Himself, and most recently Jury Duty. Along the way, he developed a philosophy of taking the “big swing” while “caring but not giving a shit” about the outcome. Alex gets candid about the grit, rejection, and persistence it took to get there, the physical secrets behind his character work, and how he stayed in character for his entire audition for “Dougie Jr.”

These are the unforgettable stories that landed Alex Bonifer right here.

About Alex Bonifer:

Alex Bonifer is in the Main Company at The Groundlings. He’s a lead in Amazon’s hit show Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat as rising CEO/hopeless burnout Dougie Jr. Alex can be seen on Liz Feldman’s show No Good Deed on Netflix and recurred on NBC’s Superstore. He was a series regular on AMC’s Kevin Can F**k Himself, opposite Annie Murphy — his character traversed the classic multi-cam world and the darker single-cam world. He’s a proud LA native and a huge Chargers fan.

Credits:

  • Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat
  • Kevin Can F**k Himself
  • Superstore
  • No Good Deed

Guest Links:

THAT ONE AUDITION’S LINKS:

For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don’t forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me: @alyshiaochse & @thatoneaudition

EPISODE CREDITS:
  • HOST/PRODUCER: Alyshia Ochse
  • WRITER: Maddie McCormick
  • WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
  • SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu
Dan Perrault on That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

Dan Perrault
Dan Perrault 1920 1080 Alyshia Ochse

An actor, writer, and producer for film and television, Dan is best known for co-creating and executive producing the hit mockumentary series American Vandal, which won a Peabody Award and earned nominations from the Emmys, WGA Awards, and Critics’ Choice Awards during its two-season run on Netflix.

On the acting front, Dan will next be seen in the Netflix feature Fight for ’84 alongside Jamie Foxx. He currently appears in every episode of The Residence on Netflix and can also be seen in the feature film Crime 101. Upcoming projects include Season 2 of Jury Duty and the feature Love Language, starring Chloë Grace Moretz and produced by Colin Jost.

Dan’s first feature film, Strays, which he wrote and produced, was released theatrically by Universal Pictures in August 2023. The film stars Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, Isla Fisher, Will Forte, and Dan himself in a supporting role.

Most recently, he received a green light for his untitled Grodd/Jimmy Olsen series for DC Studios and HBO Max. He also recently sold a series to FX with the popular sketch group Almost Friday, as well as an animated series to Hulu with the group attached. Dan is currently developing multiple television projects with CBS Studios, 20th Television, Hartbeat, Rough House, Funny or Die, and Revue Studios, while also writing several feature films for Universal Pictures, Picturestart, TriStar Pictures, and Lord Miller.

Credits:

  • American Vandal
  • Jury Duty: Company Retreat
  • The Residence
  • Players
  • Strays

Guest Links:

THAT ONE AUDITION’S LINKS:

For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don’t forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me: @alyshiaochse & @thatoneaudition

EPISODE CREDITS:
  • HOST/PRODUCER: Alyshia Ochse
  • WRITER: Maddie McCormick
  • WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
  • SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu

Richie Moriarty
Richie Moriarty 1920 1080 Alyshia Ochse

Richie Moriarty is an actor, writer and improviser who has appeared in numerous films and television shows. Currently, he stars as Pete in CBS’s hit comedy GHOSTS, which was just renewed for two more seasons. Moriarty can also be seen in the film “Nonnas” on Netflix playing Vince Vaughn’s boss.

Moriarty began taking improv classes in 2004 in Boston and performed for years as part of Improv Asylum’s mainstage cast. After beginning to book roles in commercials and television shows in Boston, Moriarty decided to move to New York in 2013 and began writing and performing at the UCB Theatre. In 2016, he performed at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal as a prestigious New Face Character. In 2018, Moriarty starred with John Malkovich in a CBS teaser broadcast before the kickoff of the AFC Championship game, which won four Sports Emmys. In 2019, CBS Sports had him back to star with John Malkovich and Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl LIII opening.

He has been a recurring character in the television series “The Tick” and guest-starred on “What We Do in the Shadows,” “The Last O.G,” “Adam Ruins Everything,” “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “House of Cards,” “Orange Is the New Black” and “Search Party.” He is also a voice actor who voices multiple characters in “Pinkalicious & Petterific,” “Hamster and Gretel” and in the Stephen Colbert-produced animated series “Tooning Out the News.” His other film credits include “How to Be Single” and “Going in Style,” which he starred in alongside Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman.

Moriarty was born and raised in Rockville, Md., and is a graduate of Boston College. He spent eight years as an architectural photographer photographing homes all over the greater Boston area. So, if you want to nerd out about lenses or f-stops or whatever, he’s totally down. He has also recently completed a massive renovation of his mid-century modern home in New Jersey and has lots of thoughts on grout color and shoe moulding. The stars of his life are his wife, Ciara, their son, Devlin, and their daughter, Loretta. His mom, dad, and sister, Colleen, continue to be his biggest fans.

Richie is a diehard Boston sports fan and a huge supporter of Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety. He and his family are also big supporters of the FSHD Society. Richie can be followed on Instagram and TikTok @richietown.

Credits:

  • GHOSTS
  • What We Do in the Shadows
  • The Tick
  • Search Party
  • Adam Ruins Everything
  • House of Cards
  • Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
  • Going in Style
  • The Last O.G.
  • Nonnas

Guest Links:

THAT ONE AUDITION’S LINKS:

For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don’t forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me: @alyshiaochse & @thatoneaudition

EPISODE CREDITS:
  • HOST/PRODUCER: Alyshia Ochse
  • WRITER: Maddie McCormick
  • WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
  • SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu
Jameela Jamil on That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

Jameela Jamil
Jameela Jamil 1920 1080 Alyshia Ochse

In what might be one of our favorite audition stories in “That One Audition” history, actress Jameela Jamil takes us step by step through every honest and hilarious moment leading to her bookig the role of Tahani on NBC’s hit comedy “The Good Place.” From her first ever audition with renowned casting director Allison Jones, to improvising on the fly during her network test, Jameela says that when you live for the funny story, you ultimately can’t lose — no matter the outcome of the audition. Some of her additional credits include “Poker Face,” “Marry Me,” “She-Hulk Attorney at Law,” and “DC League of Super-Pets.” In today’s episode, Jameela shares techniques for staying present in an audition, lessons learned from her co-stars including Kristen Bell and Ted Danson, and the importance of finding reps who support you in the kinds of characters you want to play. Whether it be leading roles, villans, or comedic supporting characters, there truly are no small parts.

These are the unforgettable stories that landed Jameela Jamil right here.

Resources

GUEST LINKS:
THAT ONE AUDITION’S LINKS:

For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don’t forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me: @alyshiaochse & @thatoneaudition

EPISODE CREDITS:
  • WRITER: Erin McCluskey
  • WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
  • ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
  • SOCIAL OUTREACH: Alara Ceri
Allison Tolman on That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

Allison Tolman
Allison Tolman 1920 960 Alyshia Ochse

Allison Tolman is a Golden Globe and Emmy nominated actress who successfully avoided actually making a living in the field until she was in her early thirties. Before then, Tolman played a veterinary receptionist, personal assistant, children’s theatre teacher, vocal coach, phone sales associate, client services representative, and dog walker – never on film, but in her actual life in order to pay her rent. However, in the fall of 2013 she landed a seminal role in FX’s Fargo and quit her last day job. Her performance as Molly Solverson put her on the map and garnered her a Critic’s Choice Award.

Born in Houston, Texas- Allison holds a BFA in theatrical performance from Baylor University. After graduation, she moved to Dallas where she helped found and foster the independent ensemble-based non-profit Second Thought Theatre, while also learning that being an adult is super hard. In 2009, she relocated to Chicago and was accepted into Second City’s Conservatory Training Program. She went on to write and perform comedy in some of Chicago’s finest dive bars before relocating to California in 2014. There she continues to act, write, and lie to herself about one day doing the nine mile hike in her area where you supposedly get to see a waterfall. Other notable roles include Natalie in The Facts of Life, Live!, Mary Pat in Good Girls, Alma in Why Women Kill, and Seemingly Normal Woman that time she met Katey Sagal at a party. She currently lives in Hollywood with a toothless cat named Bud who enjoys lying on wrapping paper and sneezing directly into her face.

Resources

ALLISON TOLMAN’S LINKS:
THAT ONE AUDITION’S LINKS:

For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don’t forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me (@alyshiaochse)!

EPISODE CREDITS:
  • WRITER: Lizzy Dalla Betta
  • SOUND DESIGN: Zachary Jameson
  • WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
  • ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
  • SOCIAL OUTREACH: Bebe Katsenes

RE-RELEASE: Michaela Watkins
RE-RELEASE: Michaela Watkins 1500 750 Alyshia Ochse

The Road to 100+ Credits: Say YES to Opportunity

Todays guest has over 100 film and TV credits to her name and a career that began with roles in repertory theatre in Portland, Oregon, and ultimately lead her to Los Angeles where she discovered improv and sketch comedy and became a member of The Groundlings. She shares how her experiences doing improv in LA prepared her for the rest of the business, including joining the cast of SNL for one season, and how her departue from the show, seemingly premature at the time, made way for countless new opportunities to expand her storytelling capacity.

A natural talent with an undeniable energy, Michaela Watkins has made her mark through a variety of impressive and unforgettable roles.

Watkins can currently be seen in the fourth and final season of the hit Hulu show CASUAL. The show has received critical acclaim with a Golden Globe nomination and recognition in THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER calling it “funny, strongly realized, self-assured and a joy to watch. After watching an episode, you want another.”  She plays the lead role of ‘Valerie Cole’, a newly divorced sex therapist who is re-entering the world of casual dating.

Up next, Watkins can be seen playing Rob Delaney’s Sister in the new season of CATASTROPHE and playing a tightly wound, full of bravado, federal prosecutor hell-bent on putty Dory (Alia Shawkat) and Drew (John Reynolds) behind bars in the next season of SEARCH PARTY.

Watkins can be seen in the first and second season of Amazon’s Golden Globe winning show, TRANSPARENT.  Additionally, she can be seen in the Netflix limited series WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER opposite Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd.  Prior to that, she was last seen playing the eccentric and loveable ‘Jackie’ on the ABC critically-acclaimed series TROPHY WIFE opposite Bradley Whitford and Malin Ackerman.

Other past television credits include VEEP, THE GOLDBERGS, MARRIED, THE COMEDIANS, NEW GIRL, ENLIGHTENED, MODERN FAMILY, CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, PARENTHOOD, KEY AND PEELE, THE KROLL SHOW, DRUNK HISTORY AND CALIFORNICATION.

On the creator side, Watkins executive produced, created and wrote the comedy series BENCHED with Damon Jones, which aired on the USA Network. This series starred Eliza Coupe.

Tune in

Listen On iTunes

Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“Work begets work. You do this one thing, and then you hear about this other thing. Each little thing made room for another little thing.”

“A good manager will say this to you: ‘We’re doing the long game. I don’t care if you book a stupid episode. We’re looking BIG picture.”

 

RE-RELEASE: Tommy Dewey
RE-RELEASE: Tommy Dewey 1500 750 Alyshia Ochse

Nothing CASUAL About THE MINDY PROJECT

Tommy Dewey may seem casually cool and like he has it all figured out in this business, but it took “letting go” of perfection to land the jobs on CASUAL and THE MINDY PROJECT that made him feel like he could truly relax and embrace a fully realized character. A collegiate track runner at Princeton University, Tommy had big plans for Wall Street signing up for the LSAT twice. On hiatus from a stress fracture, Tommy accepted a challenge to audition for the two coveted spots in Princeton’s improv troupe. No acting experience, but a innate sense of comedic timing and his sports driven ambitious nature landed him one of the two coveted roles out of 100 actors. Tommy not only secured the spot in the group, he eventually was the troupe’s director and writer. Law School was still waiting for Tommy, but Tommy challenged himself with a summer intensive at RODA and now attributes his success to his fall back plan being writing. Yes, this guy can write! Tommy took a year off of acting to create and run the writer’s room for his own show “Sons of Tucson.” Listen in to hear how Tommy deals with nerves, how he runs a casting session for his shows, what really gets you the job, how to stay in the game and how his back up plan now is writing.

Tune in

Listen On iTunes

Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“If you can get to that point where you can relax enough to give them your version of the person, even if they like it or not, you are going to start in a much better place.”

“I was always off book, I wanted to land everything perfectly, but that is not what acting is…acting is what happens in the ethers between two people.”

“Auditioning should be much more of a mess. I mean it should be messy and always searching. The key is being present and creating whatever it is in the ether between whoever you are working with. That’s what the camera needs to see. Not you saying it perfectly.”

 

Rebekka Johnson on That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

081: Rebekka Johnson
081: Rebekka Johnson 1500 750 Alyshia Ochse

The Improv Dream: ‘Yes, And-ing’ Yourself.

This week’s guest caught the improv bug in college and hasn’t looked back since. Rebekka Johnson began her on-screen career putting her comedy skills to good use in an MTV prank show called Boiling Point. Since then she’s been a writer, producer, director, and actress—all in the name of making an audience laugh.

She shares with us how creating the work she loves with her best friends and collaborators has lead her to countless opportunities to shine. From an audition opposite Kristen Wiig, to finally booking her series regular role in GLOW, her story is an example of an artist who puts in the work and doesn’t give up, even when success feels impossible. From negotiating her own contract for a pilot, to how her years of grinding and preparation has empowered her to step into her strength and be fearless in her comedy.

Best known for her work in the musical comedy trio The Apple Sisters and on Netflix’s wrestling comedy GLOW, Rebekka Johnson has performed in various sketch and improv shows across the country for over 10 years, including The Neutrino Video Projects which was an official selection at the HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen. She is a co creator of the award winning Apple Sisters which performed in the 2008 Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. Rebekka voiced many characters in the upcoming Comedy Central animated series, Ugly Americans. She currently performs with Bandit, a Mainstage Harold Team at IO West and recently directed her comedy film, CONSENT.

 

Tune in

Listen On iTunes

 

Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“Even if you’re a good improviser, don’t leave it up to improv. Look at your script, write your jokes before, and then if something else comes up, great! The whole thing with improve is, no matter how good you are, how often can you nail it?”

“The way you’re going to get better at writing is writing.”

075: Michaela Watkins
075: Michaela Watkins 1500 750 Alyshia Ochse

Todays guest has over 100 film and TV credits to her name and a career that began with roles in repertory theatre in Portland, Oregon, and ultimately lead her to Los Angeles where she discovered improv and sketch comedy and became a member of The Groundlings. She shares how her experiences doing improv in LA prepared her for the rest of the business, including joining the cast of SNL for one season, and how her departue from the show, seemingly premature at the time, made way for countless new opportunities to expand her storytelling capacity.

A natural talent with an undeniable energy, Michaela Watkins has made her mark through a variety of impressive and unforgettable roles.

Watkins can currently be seen in the fourth and final season of the hit Hulu show CASUAL. The show has received critical acclaim with a Golden Globe nomination and recognition in THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER calling it “funny, strongly realized, self-assured and a joy to watch. After watching an episode, you want another.”  She plays the lead role of ‘Valerie Cole’, a newly divorced sex therapist who is re-entering the world of casual dating.

Up next, Watkins can be seen playing Rob Delaney’s Sister in the new season of CATASTROPHE and playing a tightly wound, full of bravado, federal prosecutor hell-bent on putty Dory (Alia Shawkat) and Drew (John Reynolds) behind bars in the next season of SEARCH PARTY.

Watkins can be seen in the first and second season of Amazon’s Golden Globe winning show, TRANSPARENT.  Additionally, she can be seen in the Netflix limited series WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER opposite Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd.  Prior to that, she was last seen playing the eccentric and loveable ‘Jackie’ on the ABC critically-acclaimed series TROPHY WIFE opposite Bradley Whitford and Malin Ackerman.

Other past television credits include VEEP, THE GOLDBERGS, MARRIED, THE COMEDIANS, NEW GIRL, ENLIGHTENED, MODERN FAMILY, CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, PARENTHOOD, KEY AND PEELE, THE KROLL SHOW, DRUNK HISTORY AND CALIFORNICATION.

On the creator side, Watkins executive produced, created and wrote the comedy series BENCHED with Damon Jones, which aired on the USA Network. This series starred Eliza Coupe.

 

Tune in

Listen On iTunes

 

Resources

SOCIAL:
NEWS & MORE:
QUOTES:

“Work begets work. You do this one thing, and then you hear about this other thing. Each little thing made room for another little thing.”

“A good manager will say this to you: ‘We’re doing the long game. I don’t care if you book a stupid episode. We’re looking BIG picture.’”

“Your body knows when you hear the thing—that’s the thing for me. I truly believe that we’re not crazy when we feel that.”

“Being safe is not a great plan for being an actor.”

 

074: Katie O’Brien & Katy Colloton
074: Katie O’Brien & Katy Colloton 1500 750 Alyshia Ochse

Today we’re chatting with TWO extraordinary women who took the advice we’ve all heard, “Create your own content,” to the extreme and landed themselves with Series Regular, Writing, and Producing roles on their own comedy show on TV Land. These ladies began performing together in sketch groups in Chicago, where they created their own short-form webseries that ultimately lead them to Los Angeles, where they sold their show TEACHERS to TV Land. 50 episodes later, and they’re here to share what they’ve learned about acting, producing, auditioning, and being a boss!

Katie O’Brien hails from Omaha, Nebraska, but is now an actress and comedienne living and working in Los Angeles. Katie has appeared in Nora Ephron’s, Love, Lost and What I Wore, Key and Peele, and is currently one of the creators, writers, executive producers and stars in TV Land’s hit, underground comedy, Teachers. Katie has also appeared on the Today Show, Comedy Central’s @ Midnight and Kocktails with Khloe.

Katy Colloton is one of the creators, executive producers, writers and actors on the TV Land show Teachers.  This year she has developed TV for NBC Universal and a feature with Bluegrass Films and Scott Stuber.  Katy received her B.A. in theater and psychology from Vanderbilt University.  Before moving to LA, Katy performed comedy in Chicago at Second City, iO, and The Annoyance Theater.

 

Tune in

Listen On iTunes

 

Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“There was so much we learned. It taught me to trust my instincts…I don’t really believe people buy a show, I think they buy your voice…Trust your instincts. They’re buying what you love.”

“So much of this experience for me was that everybody knows more than I do. Because I’ve never done this before. But then I realized, no, nobody knows what they’re doing. Everybody is faking it till they make it.”

“The only thing you have to offer, that’s different than everyone else, is You. I formed a million sketch groups to get attention and be seen. Do a webseries to get noticed, yes. But create something that you want to create, who cares if everyone says no one’s going to watch that.”

VIDEOS:

  • 1
  • 2
Follow @AlyshiaOchse on Instagram
That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse (Footer Logo)

ALYSHIA OCHSE

Los Angeles-based actress, bestselling author, host of That One Audition podcast, entrepreneur, & mother.

MENU

HOME
ABOUT
PODCAST
ACTRESS
SHOP
CONSULTING
COACHING

SUBSCRIBE

©  Alyshia Ochse |  MADE WITH BY CHASE JENNINGS
Enter your
text here

    Subscribe to That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

    Never Miss An Episode