Improvisation at the Speed of Life

The TJ and Dave Book

T.J. and David are internationally known, award-winning, master improvisers from Chicago's legendary scene. This in-depth look at the techniques, principles, theory and ideas behind what they do is both authoritative and entertaining. Since their early years playing the iO (formerly Improv Olympic) and the Second City mainstage theater (where David won a Joseph Jefferson award for best actor in a revue), TJ and Dave have been performing for over fifty years combined - fifteen as a team. David worked with improvisation guru Del Close, in development of the The Harold, the preeminent longform theatrical structure, and both are multi-award winning actors.

Steven Colbert says, "One of these guys is the best improviser in the world. And the other one is better."

Forward by Amy Sedaris.

Other endoresements: The New York Times

T.J. Jagodowski

TJ Jagodowski began improvising in the mid-1990s. He has been a member of The Second City as well as a performer and teacher at iO (formerly ImprovOlympic) and The Annoyance theaters. TV and film credits include Sonic ads, Stranger Than FictionThe Ice Harvest, The Great and Powerful Oz, Prison Break, and Get Hard. TJ is co-founder and co-artistic director of Chicago's Mission Theater.

David Pasquesi

David Pasquesi (Current cast member of AMC's acclaimed "Lodge 49" and HBO's award-winning "VEEP") has been improvising since the early 1980s. He studied with Del Close for years and was on one of the original Harold teams at ImprovOlympic (now iO). David wrote and performed four reviews at The Second City (Chicago) where he received a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actor in a Review. He has played Steppenwolf and the Goodman theaters, and his many film and TV credits include VEEP, Strangers with Candy, Boss, Angels and Deamons, and the Ice Harvest. He is co-founder and co-director of The Mission Theater in Chicago.

Marketing & Publicity
  • TJ Jagodowski alumnus of the Second City and iO (formerly Improv Olympic) theaters, performs regularly with all variety of Improvisation group.
  • Smart, witty, masters of their craft, Jagodowski and Pasquesi have a gift for entertaining, even while informing.
  • Perfect companion text to acting, theater arts, and comedy classrooms, but a fun read for anyone.
  • Pasquesi and Jagodowski cut their chops on Chicago's legendary theaters - The Second City and ImprovOlympic (formerly iO Theater)
  • Learn how the improvisers behind "The TJ and Dave show" create hour long shows out of thin air.
  • Internationally known as the best long-form improvisation duo, they have performed and taught master classes around the world.