I had the pleasure of working with Adam for a performance at the Arcade Comedy Theater. This was my big performance after graduating from college, and I truly wanted to savor the entire experience. Adam stood out to me not only for his professionalism but also for the way he brought his scenes to life. He is an exceptionally talented creative, and I learned a lot from him. I needed to interview him to introduce him to The Many Colors of Natalie family.
How do you address and learn from mistakes made during improv performances?
Listening and trying to be present and accepting the new reality. With improv, there really aren’t “mistakes” per se, but you have to adjust. If you go in with a certain idea but someone else steers the scene in a different direction, then it goes in that direction now, and you have to roll with it. There’s a lot of course correction. I used to be stubborn at first and wanted to stick with my idea, or resist what the other person was bringing, but then I learned that if someone gives you an idea, a relationship, a feeling, then it’s literally a gift and you just have to accept it, and it makes the scene better. It’s one of those things where you just have to let go and roll with it. You have to meet your scene partner halfway for it to work.
What Character Development Techniques do you apply in Improv Contexts?
Trust your first instincts. Make strong choices. Have strong opinions on something in that world. I enjoy more grounded scenes where you can return to the character, and then the next time around, you’ll find what you did the first time through and heighten certain traits that were previously built. I would also say just going with something, then committing hard to it.
Can you discuss how you build and maintain trust with fellow improv actors?
Have your scene partner’s back. Don’t leave anyone hanging. If someone starts a scene, follow their idea and be buds. I think there’s trust and safety. Also, in reverse of that, if you go out there, you should trust your scene partner or whoever is entering the scene has your back as well. Having classes with the same group over a period of time helps. Or just having regular practice groups to fool around and be silly with really helps too. I’ve become good friends with some improvisers, and I think that relationship just reinforces the trust/fun on stage as well.
What is your creative process for writing songs, and where do you typically begin?
Usually something hits me and will affect me, and I’ll write subconsciously and get out the idea or the bulk or the lyrics. Later, I’ll come back and refine them and add other ideas. If I’m lucky, something hits me like lightning, either all at once or a phrase or line in a song lyric. Then I’ll come back time and time again and refine it. Then at the end, I’ll bring out the guitar or, in some cases, keyboard and put some chords down. Then I’ll develop a chord progression and melody. Or other times it doesn’t come nearly as easily, and I’ll just chip away and write one word at a time, one line at a time, and keep chipping away until something is there. Lastly, if it’s something I’m recording, I’ll think about guitar parts, bass parts, vocal harmonies, and things like that. Lately, my in-studio collaborator has been Daniel Blake of Schoolhouse out in Hunker, PA. We kind of speak the same language, and he can help me shape and focus ideas. He’s also a super talented multi-instrumentalist. We’ve gotten to parts of songs where I’ll hum out a melody but can’t quite play it on an instrument, and he can bridge that gap by bringing his expertise to various instruments and adding a really professional touch.
How do you envision your continued growth and development as an artist?
I’d love to write more songs and perform more. I’d love to perform both solo and with other collaborators and hopefully as a band again. In terms of acting and improv, I want to do more musical improv and improvise songs into scenes and be more completely silly. I want to just improvise more in general. I want to get better and just be in the zone more. I want to audition for more productions and try to find more acting opportunities. I just want to keep getting better and try to find real moments to bring to life on stage.
What impact do you believe your acting contributions have on the audience’s experience?
Honestly, I’m not sure. I would hope to be engaging and keep audiences engaged with what is happening and create an entertaining experience. In comedy, I want to make people laugh and enjoy the moment, and in drama, I want people to experience and feel something sincere. Ultimately, people feel something that good. I just want to do my best and keep improving!
To explore Adam’s musical works, please click on the photos provided below.
Click on photo to access The Long Way Home:
“The Long Way Home” (Latest single) Is special because it was chosen to open the last show I participated in, playing at the beginning of each performance. The show also featured another original song of mine called “Hope.” – Adam Meurlli
Click on the photo to access Hope:
Click on the photo for access to all of Adam’s recorded music with lyrics:
I had the opportunity to meet and work with Adam on a production that just ended last month. He displayed that he is a very serious actor, working and refining the nuance of his character. He had to figure out how to play a sort of smart aleck along with also being a caring and loyal friend. Adam worked this out so well and rose to the challenge. He also played a small comedic role in the same production. As written, that part is just throwaway, but Adam made it his own and turned it into one of the most humorous scenes. He also treated me to a CD of his music, which is a fine listen! I had a great experience working with Adam and hope to do so again in the future.