Author Paul Teresi Captures the Essence of Improv in ‘Yes And (ish)’

Paul Teresi, the recognized playwright and author, is bringing back a re-release of his fun book, Yes And (ish). Drawing from his unique life experiences in improv and his life on stage, the author traces a fun and sometimes dramatic journey for his characters.

Paul Teresi is a playwright, author, and artist based in Chicago. His books have a wide range of genres, from romance and comedy to mystery and adventure.

Yes And (ish) takes its name from the number one rule of improv theatre. When a person is doing improvisational theatre and playing along with a partner, they should never say no. They should never give a direct no to their stage partner. Instead, what they should always say is yes, and…, to keep the improvisation going and the rhythm building. For Teresi, this is a rule to live by, not just on the stage but also in real life. The book Yes And (ish) draws from these experiences and began its existence as a live performance at the Second City. Chicago, where Teresi is based, is one of the capitals of improv and has many brilliant theaters dedicated to the craft. And in each of these, the golden rule is always yes and all the time.

Yes And (ish) follows Lilly, a rising comedic actress with everything to become a star. However, her career on the stage is impacted by a personal tragedy and her own anxieties, which leave her unable to leave her home due to agoraphobia, a fear of going outside. As she becomes more and more reclusive, the actress starts losing her grip on reality and begins performing for an audience that she painted on the wall of her apartment. Her one hope to go back to the stage and even go outside is the complicated friendship with her neighbor Lee, a washed-up writer and sex addict next door. Lee wants some things of his own and begins filming Lilly in her journey to return to the theatre, but his motives are not entirely pure. He is taking advantage of the chance to showcase his writing skills, and this pushes Lilly to recognize and regain her strength and return to the stage. While the friendship might be doomed to fail, the change it brings to both characters is sure to engage the readers, as it is memorable and heartfelt. 

Paul Teresi first pursued a career in history but left Eastern Illinois University to dedicate himself to writing. He has put out several plays at the Second City Training Center in Chicago, the famous theatre. Live shows are his jam, but he also writes in other mediums and genres. Yes And (ish) is a book sure to thrill fans of heartwarming and funny, biting stories and those interested in the world behind the stage.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Paul Teresi. Here are the excerpts from the interview. 

Hi Paul, Great to have you with us today! Please share with our readers about yourself.

Hi, I am a playwright and an author from Chicago. I love to write interesting stories with no set genre to define my work. I love writing anything from romance to comedy to mysteries and adventure. 

Please tell us about your book, ‘Yes And (ish).’

I recently republished my first book, ‘Yes And (ish),’ which sounds like an odd title, but it comes from the rule I learned at the Second City improv theatre in Chicago that pushes you as an actor to never say no – always say Yes And. It’s a powerful rule to live by both onstage and off, and that is what inspired me to write this story. We originally produced it at the Second City as a live show, you can view the rehearsal trailer on YouTube.  

To me, there was something very powerful and genuine in telling a story about a hilarious friendship that changes the lives of two people who need change the most. The story of a stubborn writer who reluctantly befriends their neighbor, who was a once-successful comedic actress turned agoraphobic, sounds like a silly sitcom plot, but the book pulls the reader into a deeper story between two characters that provide very sincere dialogue, along with shared life lessons of rediscovered joy and redemption.  

Please tell us about your journey. 

My journey was an interesting one. I went to college to be a history teacher but left to become a writer. I started writing plays in the middle of class instead of paying attention to the lectures. No regrets. From there, I went to the Second City, where I wrote and produced a few shows, and then I wanted to tell those same stories in a more novel format. 

What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?

I think to become a successful writer, you need to listen and support other writers as well. You learn what makes them brilliant, and then you hope to God you find your own voice along the way. As long as one writes with honesty and a commitment to telling a story they’ll never give up on, I think those writers tend to grab your ear and tell you a story worth remembering. That’s the writer I aspire to be.

Any message for our readers?

I sincerely hope you enjoy the stories I’ve written, and from the bottom of my heart, thank you all for your time and support. My main message to the readers, in the words of Casablanca, “I think this is start of a beautiful friendship.”

Fantastic! So tell us, how can people find out more about your book?

You can find my book (among my others) on Amazon and can also locate it on Goodreads.

Thank you so much, Paul, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!

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