MEET THE AUTHOR
ROBERT Z GRANT is a New York-based actor and improviser, and author of IMPROV AND THE ACTOR’S IMAGINATION. He is probably best known for his anonymity.
Robert is a founding member and former co-artistic director of The Collective NY. For over a decade, Robert performed with “Broadway’s Next Hit Musical,” an improvised musical comedy, both Off-Broadway and on tour. Robert trained as an actor with Bill Esper at the William Esper Studio, where he is now a member of faculty teaching improvisation for actors. A very physical performer, Robert also studied Dance at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, clowning with Christopher Bayes at The Public and at Juilliard, and improvisation with Ralph Buckley in the tradition of Second City.
Robert has been performing and teaching improv for nearly 30 years. He has taught classes and workshops for high schools, colleges and universities across the U.S., and as far away from home as South Africa, and facilitated corporate training for companies such as Merrill Lynch, IBM, CNN Money, Pfizer, Astra-Zeneca, Swatch and more. He has taught and/or performed at every major New York improv venue (and even out-lasted some), including UCB, The P.I.T., Caroline’s on Broadway, American Comedy Institute, Improvolution, ComedySportz and The Yes Show, and performed two seasons of “Spontaneous Broadway” with Freestyle Rep.
Robert made regular appearances on all five seasons of “Inside Amy Schumer” (Comedy Central, Paramount+). He also collaborated for several years with the Writers’ Improv Studio to develop and perform improvised stories and characters for film. The first project was a feature titled “42 Seconds of Happiness”, awarded Best Ensemble at the Harlem International Film Festival. The second feature, “The Rainbow Experiment,” premiered at Slamdance.
A second book, IMPROV BUILDS CHARACTER, focusing on the ever-important “who” of improvised work is slated for release in 2025.
Robert continues to try to lead an improvised life, and to share his experience and skills to help actors become more confident and free in their craft and in life.
www.robertzgrant.com