Comedy meets hypnosis in HYPROV, the brainchild of improv legend Colin Mochrie and master hypnotist Asad Mecci. ListenSD caught up with the duo ahead of their highly anticipated show, where they shared insights into blending two unexpected art forms, the joys of audience participation, and the magic of crafting a one-of-a-kind performance every night. Don’t miss this mind-bending comedy experience—HYPROV is coming to The Magnolia December 22nd!
ListenSD: What inspired the concept of Hyprov, and how did you two come together to create this blend of hypnosis and improv?
Asad Mecci: I’m the hypnotist in the show. I was taking classes at Second City, and instructors would often say, “Get out of your head. You’re too much in your head.” As a hypnotist, I understood that to mean: stop consciously constructing the comedy and stop trying so hard to be funny. They wanted a knee-jerk reaction.
In improv, many beginner exercises engage the conscious mind, but the unconscious, knee-jerk reactions are where the magic happens. I wondered: is it possible to hypnotize someone with no improv experience and turn them into a great improviser? And could we raise the bar even further by bringing in the world’s greatest improviser to perform with them?
I reached out to Colin Mochrie through his website, and his longtime manager, Jeff Andrews, responded to my email. I outlined the concept of combining hypnosis and improv, and Jeff was fascinated. From there, Colin and I workshopped the show at Second City in the John Candy Theater. That led to taking it on the road, performing in over 150 cities across North America, including a critically acclaimed off-Broadway run at the New York Times Center.
The response has been incredible—critics like The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes have praised the show. We’ve even received 4 out of 5 stars from Time Out New York. It’s been an amazing ride!
ListenSD: So, people you hypnotize actually become great improvisers? How does that work?
Asad Mecci: Yes! When someone is hypnotized, the part of their brain responsible for self-reflection becomes disconnected. This means they don’t hesitate or second-guess their actions—they just carry out my suggestions.
First-time improvisers often hesitate, look nervous, or use filler words, but hypnotized participants don’t do any of that. When I give them a suggestion, they immediately commit, jumping into scenes fully. Watching Colin Mochrie improvise with these hypnotized volunteers—random audience members we’ve never met before—is incredible. It’s comedy gold every time.
ListenSD: Colin, does this format challenge your improvisation skills?
Colin Mochrie: Oh, absolutely! I feel like I’ve become a better improviser through this show. When I’m working with the Whose Line Is It Anyway? guys, we’re all seasoned improvisers. Even though we’re making it up, we can sort of “write” the scene as we go along.
With hypnotized volunteers, they only live in the present moment—they’re not thinking about where the scene could go. They just add information and keep it interesting, which means I don’t have the luxury of seeing ahead. It forces me to stay completely in the moment and adapt.
ListenSD: Any memorable or unexpected moments from past performances?
Asad Mecci: Everything is unexpected! One that stands out happened recently during a scene where Colin was a superhero recruiting a new team. One hypnotized volunteer introduced themselves as “The Scissors.” Colin asked, “Do you have any weaknesses?” Without missing a beat, they deadpanned, “Rock.” It was hilarious because, of course, rock beats scissors!
Colin Mochrie: Their delivery was so matter-of-fact, it made the moment even funnier.
ListenSD: Colin, when did you know improv was the path for you?
Colin Mochrie: Growing up, nobody really knew what improv was. I discovered it when I saw a demonstration by TheaterSports, and I thought, That looks like fun.
It wasn’t until Whose Line Is It Anyway? came along that improv became a career option. The show really put improv on the map and made it a viable career for people like me.
ListenSD: What advice would you give to aspiring improvisers looking to make it a career?
Colin Mochrie: First, I’d say: don’t. (Laughs) If you can do anything else, do that. It’s a tough career.
But if this is truly what you want to do, then do it as much as you can. Watch the people who make you laugh and study them. Figure out what they’re doing that works and see how you can use that.
Another tip: get hypnotized! One time, we had a professional improviser volunteer during our show. Afterward, someone told us, “I’ve never seen her perform like that—she was totally in control and created characters she’s never done before.” It made me realize: even experienced improvisers can improve by bypassing that self-critical voice in their heads.
ListenSD: How do you choose your volunteers?
Asad Mecci: We don’t pick anyone—they volunteer themselves. We’re very clear: no one has to participate if they don’t want to.
Once they’re onstage, I look for trance indicators, like changes in breathing, skin tone, and pupil dilation. Good hypnotic subjects are people who immerse themselves fully in experiences—like crying during a sad movie or jumping out of their seat during a scary scene. Those are the best people for the show.
ListenSD: Have you ever had a skeptical audience member become a fan?
Asad Mecci: Absolutely! We’ve had skeptics volunteer, get hypnotized, and come away as believers. One woman with crippling social anxiety volunteered, and not only did she become the star of the show, but afterward, she told us it was such a peaceful experience that she wanted to explore improv classes. Moments like that remind me how special this show is.
ListenSD: What’s your preshow routine?
Colin Mochrie: Asad is the professional—he actually does a warm-up. I prefer to relax backstage, usually playing phone board games with our musician, John Hilsen. My philosophy is to be as relaxed as possible so I’m prepared to be unprepared.
ListenSD: What makes Hyprov unique compared to other shows?
Asad Mecci: It’s unlike anything else. We’ve been nominated by the Off-Broadway Alliance for Most Unique Theatrical Experience, and we’ve been praised by critics like The New Yorker and The Wall Street Journal.
Colin Mochrie: It’s completely unpredictable. You never know what the hypnotized volunteers will do, and that makes every performance fresh and hilarious.
Catch Colin Mochrie and Asad Mecci in HYPROV and experience the hilarious fusion of hypnosis and improv live! Don’t miss the show at the Magnolia Theater on December 22nd—grab your tickets here!