Armando

The Armando — also called the Armando Diaz Experience — sits right where storytelling meets scene work. A monologist, often a guest or a company member, shares a true, personal story sparked by an audience suggestion. Then the improvisers play scenes inspired by its content, its themes, or its emotional resonance. After a set of scenes, the monologist comes back with another story — maybe a brand-new one, maybe a continuation — and another round of scenes follows. The magic is in the back-and-forth between real human experience and theatrical imagination: a story about a childhood birthday party might spin off into scenes about disappointing gifts, competitive parents, or a surreal trek through a collapsed cake. The Armando teaches you to mine real life for inspiration, to listen for emotional truth, and to honor the source material while taking big creative leaps.

• Grab a one-word suggestion from the audience for the monologist.
• The monologist tells a true, personal story (1-3 minutes) sparked by that suggestion.
• The troupe plays 3-4 scenes inspired by the story — chasing a character who got mentioned, the emotional tone, an offhand detail, or a bigger theme.
• The monologist comes back with another story — a fresh one, or a continuation of the last.
• Another round of scenes follows.
• Keep alternating monologues and scenes for the rest of the set.
• You can also weave the monologist into scenes as a character or narrator.
• Wrap when the theme or emotional arc feels complete.

• Stage space. A monologist (guest or ensemble member). And an audience suggestion.

• Armando Diaz Theatrical Experience: The classic iO Chicago version where the monologist is a guest performer, often a celebrity or writer, sharing stories from their life.
• Living Room: Scenes all originate from characters in a living room or party setting, grounded in realistic relationships.
• Musical Armando: The monologue inspires improvised songs alongside scenes.
• The monologist role can rotate among ensemble members, with each telling a story and then joining scene work.