About
A completely new form of improv inspired by the classic Old Time Radio shows of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. The cast of Improvised Golden Age of Radio (IGAR) takes the themes, language, and technology of the era to create an immersive improvised audio soundscape for their live audience. Taking advantage of dozens of toys on their live foley table, the sound effects and performances paint a hilarious picture of a classic drama-gone-wrong.
Join the cast of IGAR live in Chicago, on tour, or on our weekly podcast for a ridiculous improvised journey to the past.
Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
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Director, Co-Creator, Cast Member
Eric Pedersen
Eric has been improvising in Chicago since 2007. Charles and Eric came up with the idea for this show in 2014 and like true improvisers did nothing with it for ten years. He's very excited you've decided to give it a listen.
Co-Creator, Host
Charles Cotterman
Charles was born in the wrong decade has been listening to Old Time Radio ever since in an attempt to get back to his correct timeline.
Founding Cast Member
Jordan Reichardt
Jordan has been improvising for years and joined the Chicago scene in 2023. A founding member of Golden Age, she also performs at The Annoyance and at iO with Harold team Dad's Records.
Founding Cast Member
Ashley Whitehurst
Ashley has been performing improv in Chicago for over 15 years. A long time teacher at Second City, Ashley helped develop this show and performs with Eric and Jordan in their globally travelling group, Wolftown.
Founding Cast Memeber
Ben Vigeant
Ben has been performing improv in Chicago on and off for the better half of seventeen years. His other main creative outlet is his online comic publication, Phil.
Founding Cast Memeber
Joe Hartenstine
Joe started his performance career as a professional magician in high school and transitioned into improv in his native St. Louis. A Chicagoan for nearly 20 years, Joe has studied at The Annoyance, Second City, and iO where he met and was cast on Harold team Electric Mayhem in 2008 with Eric, Carly, and Philip.
Founding Cast Member
Carly Olson
Carly has been in theater her whole life and a consistent staple of the Chicago Improv scene since 2007. She currently performs with Ten Dollar Comedy weekly at Second City and was an integral part of creating the Improvised Radio form.
Cast Member
Philip Amler
Philip has been improvising in Chicago since 2007 and for years before that in his native Georgia. A member of numerous Harold teams at Chicago's iO Theater, Philip has been performing with Improvised Radio since early 2025.
Cast Member
Peter Corey
Peter has over 20 years of improv experience and is a board member of High Stakes productions with which he also performs in Hitch Cocktails at The Annoyance and Clued In at Second City. Peter also performs weekly in Ten Dollar Comedy at Second City with Eric and Carly.
Cast Member
Shelby Burton
Shelby has over 25 years of improv experience and has been a constant staple of the Chicago scene that whole time. Shelby is also owner and director of the non-for profit Bughouse theater in Chicago, which hosts Improvised Golden Age of Radio on the first Sunday of every month.
Technical Director
Ed Zak
Ed has a degreed in audio engineering and brings over a decade of experience in various audio roles. Ed has been technical director since IGAR began.
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Foley Artist
Katlin Schneider
Katlin has been a part of IGAR since the start in 2024. A co-producer and most frequent foley artist, you can hear Katlin's sound effects on the majority of our recordings.
She produces and hosts the monthly comedy showcase Forward (In Comfortable Shoes) every first Saturday at Bughouse Theater.