Spitfire Spotlight: Jay Revis
What's your day job?
I'm the Technical Lead of the software development team at Semantic AI.
Do you have any hobbies outside of improv?
I like to collect coins. It's such a nerdy hobby.
What drew you to improv?
I was fascinated by the original British version of Whose Line when I was in college and thought it looked like fun. I started taking classes later when I moved to Atlanta. I was hooked right away.
Jay playing in Improvarama with Ian, Nettle, and Kacey.
What do you like to do most on stage?
I like organic improv, and for me it's all about being in the moment. I'm especially fond of duo improv. I've been digging the monoscene lately (one long scene in a single location, without edits), and I'm working on a workshop to teach it as a format.
What makes a good scene in your opinion?
When the actors are truly in the right now, discovering the scene together rather than inventing it. That's the hardest thing to learn, I think, because what we do goes against everything we know about human nature. We don't want to "be in our heads," but that's the natural state. Letting that go and embracing the collaboration in the moment over the fear of being in front of an audience is almost spiritual for me.
Jay performing in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Aren’t Dead with Amadeus, Matt, and Larry.
What's the most memorable moment you've had at Spitfire?
Probably the first day of teaching Advanced Scenework. It's very special to me, because it's a class that I developed. It has a lot of my personal improv philosophy in it, and it's exciting for me to see students having fun with exercises that I created. It makes me feel like my experience has been worthwhile when I can share the things I've learned with others.
How would you explain Spitfire shows to someone who's never been?
It's not stand up!
How would you describe the Spitfire community in 5 words or less?
Art without Ego.
Jay and Zach dueling in Forced Away.
Larry using the force on Jay in Forced Away.
You can see Jay in Closeline and Whose Line St Pete or with the teams Play with Jay, MEN, and Unrelated. He’s also performed in Breaking News, 3 First Dates, Forced Away, The Twilight Show, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Aren’t Dead, and Weirder Stuff. His other teams include That’s Why We’re Single, 50 Shades of Gravy, and Cuddle Tank. Jay teaches Spitfire’s Level 5 class, Advanced Scenework.