The first half of an Armando double-header. This podcast will be followed with a recording of Armando in conversation with Slapdash Producer Molly Merwin.

In this recording, Jules and Armando talk about making a new form, the history and future of the UK scene and the Armando Diaz Hootenany and Theatrical Experience

Armando's list of teaching credits is a long one: the Improv Olympic Theater, Victory Gardens Theater, The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, NYU and Michael Howard Studios. He has trained dozens of actors who have performed or written for Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Mad TV, and The Daily Show.

A Chicago native, Armando studied improv under Del Close at the ImprovOlympic, Mick Napier at the Annoyance, and graduated from the Second City Conservatory. He performed in and helped create one of the most popular improvised longforms in Chicago, “The Armando Diaz Experience….” For the last decade, “the Armando” has been performed weekly in Chicago, and is now taught and performed in many other cities including Los Angeles and New York.In addition to writing and producing short films, Armando wrote sketches for the show Upright Citizens Brigade on Comedy Central, and has performed on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.