Off Book: The Improvised Musical

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It takes years for a Broadway musical to hit the stage, but on OFF BOOK: The Improvised Musical, you get a brand new original musical every week! Each episode, Jessica McKenna, Zach Reino and a special guest create a new musical on the spot. Accompanied by Scott Passarella, King of Pianists, Pianist of Kings.

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Recent Reviews
  • Juldooz
    Blown away
    These guys are such professionals, every song a masterpiece, lose my mind every time I hear them.
  • Transformed Taylor
    Niche but perfection!
    I am only JUST finding this podcast!!! What they do is incredible. I love their chemistry, wit, intelligence, and unhinged ability to bring joy in this specific unique way. It takes a lot of knowledge and hard work to do what they do successfully.
  • Urdrizttktaaktaoalts
    Fantastic
    Makes me smile to no end to listen this after work!
  • EVP 2003
    Makes my day better
    The show brings so much joy to my day! These are brilliant, talented, improv artists! I find myself thinking about all of the episodes weeks later. Genius. Fun. Amazing. Happiness. All things good.
  • MrAchmedFoley
    True talent
    They are trying so much harder and doing so much more than other podcasts. In the (approximate) words of Adam Brody’s character in “Thank You For Smoking”: It kind of makes you want to stop listening to other podcasts, but I guess you kind of have to.
  • Melodie22
    I wish I knew about pod this years ago
    This podcast is such a gem. I have a good time every time. Even though I only found Zach and Jess (and Scott and Dana and Brett) recently boy howdy do I have a backlog full of joy and fun guests to work through with this pod! While they’re not releasing every week like they did 2017-2023 we still get plenty of new content at less regular intervals that I’m eagerly looking forward to (particularly the live shows!). I’m a new(ish) sleepy baby (anyone wondering why I’m a sleepy baby - it’s from Episode 10 with Will Hines) and I hope anyone who reads this review and isn’t already a fan becomes a sleepy baby real soon!
  • Rabidshrew
    Tons of fun
    Zach, Jess and Scott are absolute treasures. Every episode has been a blast so far (on episode 48).
  • Mr manderpants
    Just amazing
    The worst thing about this podcast is that it ended, definitely worth your time!
  • droupkicksoup
    Well worth your time!!!!!!
    Late to the game when finding this podcast, However i cant stop laughing, this podcast is a most for anyone!!!!!! Started following from dropout which lead me here. This podcast I cannot process how good it is to just find time to laugh in my stressful day at work and life.
  • vettreu
    Forever and Always a Sleepy Baby
    I will adore this show until the end of time. It is endlessly funny, witty, clever, and kind. I can play this in the car with someone who’s never heard it, and five minutes in they’re laughing out loud. I was crushed to hear that this version of the show has ended, and while I haven’t started version 2.0 yet, I fully intend to. I love that there’s a huge back catalogue I haven’t had the pleasure of listening to yet. Zach and Jess are an amazing comedy duo and I cannot wait to follow their careers and see what else the create!
  • Usidude
    Awesome podcast
    Don’t have to be into musicals to love this podcast- I wasn’t and I am! If you’re thinking about jumping in, some of my fave eps and good ones to give u a taste are: #7, 10, 15, 32, 33, 36, 42, 44. Order doesn’t matter, just throw one on and give it a shot. One of my top podcasts for sure. Zach and Jess are amazing humans <3
  • Ughnicknames111
    Totally unique and charming
    It is *the* improvised musical podcast. Vibes are good! Talent is off the charts! Subject matter is light enough that I do use this podcast to help battle insomnia. Also a really fun listen when fully awake, particularly for musical theater fans.
  • Mustered the dog
    If your a Musical nerd you must listen
    Resisting for the third for time (I know psychopath behavior) and I have to say better then the Beatles
  • Kludgel
    Stupidly good
    It’s been six years since I heard it and I still randomly get “Dang dang dang” stuck in my head. Lovely fun
  • CptnCbnt
    I will not be getting out of here.
    Better than The Beatles.
  • tiannaj23
    B ware!!
    I suggest not listening to this in public unless you don’t mind strange looks from others as you wheeze/silent laugh
  • orkroner
    Not a goodbye, just a hi-hi-hello to a new era!
    I discovered this podcast in the fall of 2021 and it has been making me unfailingly happy ever since. If you’ve ever wanted something to listen to at work with a giant grin on your face, this is the podcast for you. And even if musicals aren’t your thing, you’ll be drawn in by the masterful storytelling and weaving of plots, motifs, and references in a way that you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. I know I’ll definitely been relistening to the whole catalog and excitedly anticipating whatever Zach and Jess’ brains come up with next.
  • Haiemaie
    Thank you
    Thank you so much for giving my weeks a dose of joy and fun in a difficult time! You guys made the world a bit brighter, much love to the whole famband!! And best wishes on your future adventures!
  • nicname87654rd
    Genius
    Wonderful that people can be so talented and the guests so brave.
  • Hex Arcanist
    More rhymes than McCartney
    You should also watch Dropout. Then you can see them do this on camera. Love you guys, thank you for bringing so many moments of nonsense in a world that takes itself too seriously.
  • cfrhjg
    Better than the Beatles!
    I was so surprised about this, but it's true! You are all better than the Beatles!!!!
  • Katie O'Reilly
    Magic
    Zach and Jess are magical.
  • ShelfHealth
    Every place I cry is my son’s favorite band!
    He is three and will request “Dinosaurs stomp around” by name even with the weird shrek bit he knows almost every word. Not always child friendly, but always funny. Been listening since the first year, some of my favorites are the fam band. They keep getting better!
  • persephales
    These two are musical comedy masters!
    I learned about this show from the comment section of YouTube (oddly enough and not dropout) on their play it by ear episode. These two are just amazing. I love how playful they are and absolutely fearless they are at approaching songs with like zero info or prep time, it’s truly an impressive thing to witness. I just started listening but straight out the gate You’ve got some real bangers here…That “citizen public radio” bit had me literally GUFFAWING so loudly that my family stopped me to ask what I was laughing at so hard. 😂 You two really are incredibly talented I’m learning improv myself and I’m still sooo bad, I wish I had 1/5 the talent you two do. I showed your “whimsy on wheels” episode (dropout) to my brother and I caught him singing it at work 😅 Honestly you two should put out an album of some of your super popular songs because people like me would buy it 💯
  • Hanksingled
    Live at the Bourbon Room
    It blows me away that y’all can do this in your living room, it’s even more impressive to excel in front of a live audience. This was one of the best episodes - great music, so funny. Love the podcast.
  • lexicon7
    Better Than The Beatles
    I was just listening to a random episode and it struck me, all on my own, with no prompting, that this podcast and the improv songs they make are better than the Beatles. 100%. Just had to share this random thought.
  • peameme
    so fun
    listened to the ben schwartz episode bc I love his energy and was so delightfully surprised at how fun this podcast is, I was smiling the whole time lol five stars
  • retro p🔺
    Thank you
    What an incredible show! Such great talent and creativity. The Fam Band episodes are my favorite. Thank you for making me smile for years.
  • JRack :)
    Guest ideas: also I can’t stop laughing
    Hello! I have just found this podcast and I am already hooked 😂! I have no idea how getting guests works but I think it would be also if Rhett and Link from good mythical morning were on an episode! I was also thinking if would be awesome if Colleen Ballinger and Erik Stocklin were on the show but then I did a little looking and I saw Colleen has already done an episode (having listened yet like I said I just started listening and by that I mean literally yesterday) anyways I would be cool to have them both on now that Eric has shown his own musical skill in their Relax podcast! Also also I found this podcast after listening to the musical episode of game changers! Keep up the good work!
  • AceOddrey
    So Funny
    I love this podcast so much. It literally has me laughing out loud with every episode I listen to.
  • Hevvring
    My favorite podcast
    This podcast is so funny and I’m not even a huge musical fan. They just have this amazing skill to make even the silliest concepts sound convincing and amazing and I wish the songs were on Apple Music so I could listen to them whenever they’re THAT good
  • anonymoooooooooooooooos
    Awesome
    I tried to listen to this in class but I couldn’t stop laughing
  • Sissa-Belle
    Amazing
    Literally cannot get over how talented they all are.
  • Rach @TNF
    I cry laugh every episode!
    Fantastic improv! Hilarious plot lines! Amazing music! A must listen!
  • BleakPigeon
    Every episode is worth your time
    I’ve not yet listened to an episode that didn’t make me laugh out loud
  • Lo Holly
    Top tier, never stop
    I can’t explain how much joy this podcast brings me. I listen to it almost daily and have replayed some episodes too many times to count. It’s a perfect blend of brilliant, clever, quick wit and silly, joyful, stories- PLUS beautiful, unexpected harmonies and insanely good instrumental talent. I wish this crew infinite success. In a world of scripted crime shows and know-it-all opinion podcasts, open your mind to some smart musical chaos and get ready to smile.
  • 2460madi
    ❤️
    Better than the Beatles
  • quitemichael
    Been listening since the beginning
    Fear the Ocean is a top 20 episode, very good!!
  • Weerdo
    Hysterical
    What a great blend of improv and musical theater! Jess and Zach and their guests are hysterical! Must listen.
  • alexduane
    Shocking
    It’s a complete atrocity these guys aren’t more famous. I am reminded every episode how incredibly talented these folks are.
  • EmDunbar
    Love
    Off Book videos popped up on Tik Tok & I had to track down the podcast. I’m amazed. Funny. Ingenious. Ridiculous. I’m in love.
  • wiNkwOnk:00
    the best thing in my life
    wow. i’ve been listening for about 7 months now. i remember when i first read the concept, i thought “that must be the dorkiest cringiest thing ever.” i was WRONG! i can’t stop listening honestly, zach and jess are drop dead hilarious. i can’t imagine the amount of dedication and work it takes to get good at something as difficult as musical improv. true talents!! and of course so are scott, dana and brett. they all blow my mind every episode. thanks for this podcast, it’s incredible.
  • WossamottaU
    Scram? Shoo? Is that you?
    Thanks for this podcast. When my many worlds collide, I am thankful to find a through line. Amazing! Highly recommend.
  • H at DL
    Best podcast ever
    Found this podcast during the early days of the pandemic and couldn’t get enough. Every episode is genius. Zach and Jess are so great that I sought out their guest appearances on other podcasts because there is never enough content. If you catch up on their podcast, check out their album “The Calendar Album “.
  • aromatic custard
    this (off)book will change your life
    I listen to this so much that when I have other podcasts on it’s confusing when they don’t break into song in the middle of conversation
  • Julia C
    The best podcast in the history of podcasts
    I said what I said.
  • Asa_Phelps_00
    Greatest Podcast of all time!
    This is hilarious and displays just a ton of talent! I discovered this through Dropout’s show Gamechanger where they did this for an episode. This makes me so happy. It’s the perfect escape from my real life I get transported to a ridiculous non-stop hilarious and often times very catchy world.
  • Z Aaron
    Can’t stop listening.
    I found the pod through Game Changer and have since neglected every other podcast in my library. Get through one complete episode and I guarantee you will not be able to stop listening.
  • KCDawgtheIII
    Astonishing!
    I found this podcast through their guest spot on Game-changers. But, podcast doesn’t just change the game it completely outclasses it. The first few minutes are cringeworthy. How this could possibly work? But soon you are along for the ride. Their ability to set up a story and bring it full circle within an hour is incredible and I believe it’s taken them years to hone. If you like this podcast, you’re not going to find anything like it again. Savor it.
  • Waf123456789
    Magic is Real
    Full cheese: you know how some things will remind you that there is so much joy to discover in this world? Off Book is one of those things. It’s so smart, so fun; it’s actual magic. I’m ecstatic to be here. Thank you, Zach and Jess, for your brilliance and heart. Take caution if listening while driving because some moments will take you OUT.
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