What is Search Engine Improv?
SEI is a three-man improv comedy trio working out of Rochester, NY to create innovative improv shows, put on top-notch performances, connect creative people together, and share the benefits of spontaneous improvisation with others.
SEI combines Cal, Law, and John's love for improv with a desire to teach and share with others what it can mean to explore creativity and risk. They work with, and elaborate on, philosophies set forth by some of improvisation's great teachers of the past, and play with their own sense of things in the present, uniting their desire to be performers with their commitment to education and growth.
As performers they adapt shows to suit their audience and venue, drawing from a variety of possible show types, including short-form scenes, games, and the more lengthly Chicago-style long form. SEI has also developed a number of original improv formats including the long-form improvised sitcom, Paul and Vinny Automotive, Lazy Susans, and the group forms GoogleProv and The Tapout. They play college campuses, coffee shops, comedy clubs, as well as improv festivals and theaters.
As educators they teach a variety of short and long-form improvisation classes, all available on-the-road and modified for the actors' ages and skill levels. They also routinely produce episodes of SEI: Say What?, an educational, video podcast about their ideas on improv.
As consultants they provide a variety of adaptable modules for professional, non-profit, and educational organizations interested in an engaging and novel approach to communications, team-building, and creative idea development.
Who is Search Engine Improv?
Law Tarello made his Broadway debut fall 2005 as William Barfeé in the hit musical The 25thAnnual Putnam County Spelling Bee. An original cast member of the cult show MORTIFIED as well as contributing writer in the book based on the show. Law’s improv comedy training includes: The Upright Citizens Brigade, Improv Olympic, and Second City, NY.
Armed with a lifetime of dedication and a degree in Theatre Arts from the State University of New York College At Fredonia, he has worked consistently on a professional level in many facets of the entertainment industry. He can be seen in over 30 national television promos and commercials.Throughout his time as an industry professional Law consistently worked at creating a curriculum to teach performance workshops to students of all ages throughout New York with his company C6. Law finds great fulfillment in translating his professional performance experience into academic expression.
Callid Keefe-Perry is an Educator, Artist, and Community Builder. Currently he serves as the National Coordinator of the Transformative Language Arts Network; offers educational consulting in the areas of interdisciplinary and Arts integration; and is an executive board member on the League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling. By training and certification he has been a public school teacher, focusing on English Language Arts and Social Studies. By inclination he is a creator, always making something new. He has been involved in public performance since 11, when he first indulged his passion for storytelling, adding to it later with theatre, including his current work with SEI and the Village Idiots in Rochester, NY.
Callid likes to think of himself as a pragmatic idealist, so while he dreams big, he also is someone to focus on the nitty-gritty. He has business training in management and marketing from the Simon School of Business; challenge is a plus in Callid's world, and he likes to constantly be learning new things and skills. He believes that the Arts are a huge part of a life well lived, and loves finding ways to expose others to the energy and life that can be found in theatre, especially improvisation.
John Forrest Thompson relocated to Rochester from Chicago where he studied improvisation at the Annoyance, Second City, and the iO Chicago Theaters under instructors that included iO co-founder Charna Halpern, Jeff Griggs (author of Guru: My Days With Del Close), Jason Chin, Liz Allen, Jimmy Carrane, Jon Lutz (SNL, 30 Rock), Peter Gwinn (The Colbert Report), and Joe Bill (co-founder of the Annoyance Theater).
While in Chicago, Thompson performed with and co-founded several ensembles including Laslow, The Mellencamp Kids, Rumpus, Beelzebuddies, The Frankie and Johnny Hour, and the iO Chicago Theater house team Airbourne. He was also a member of the nationally touring hit show Dirty Water which the Chicago Tribune called “Best of the Fringe” in 2005. Locally, he teaches improv workshops and classes independently as well as at the Finger Lakes Developmental Disabilities Service Office. In addition, John directs and mentors local improv troupes like “The Broken Couch” and “Tom’s Basement.” You can see him perform regularly with Unleashed Improv! and SEI.
