The Improvisational Life of Actor Isaac Kirk

This well-rounded artist IS committed to using his CRAFT to create meaningful conversations

Isaac Kirk is an award‑winning actor, comedian, improviser, writer, and community advocate who has become a defining face of Third Coast Comedy in Nashville. A native of the city and the second oldest of eight children, Isaac discovered his sense of humor early. He landed his first on‑camera role at age six in a children’s VHS series Barry Bears Very Best Bedtime Bible Stories.

He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in sociology from Covenant College, and later trained under Peter Frisch—the head of drama at Carnegie Mellon, Juilliard, and Harvard—while in Santa Barbara, refining his craft in serious, imaginative, risk-taking performance.

Standing at a mere 6’5”, Isaac is often described as charismatic, intense, and physically commanding; but he manages to bring both warmth and a presence to his work. He is known for embracing improvisational theater as an outlet for vulnerability and truth, and views artistic performance as a platform for dialogue and empathy. 

On behalf of all of us here in Palomino County, we hope you enjoy getting to know him. We think you’ll love Isaac just as much as we do.

Would You Rather: Isaac Kirk Edition

Q: Would you rather only speak in Shakespearean English for a year or have to improvise your way out of every conversation with your landlord?

Isaac: Strong start! I’d absolutely choose to speak in Shakespearean verse for a year over trying to BS my landlord. Those conversations feel life-or-death sometimes, and I’m trying to keep my cortisol levels in check. At least with Shakespearean English, I’d bring some levity to everyday life, for myself and anyone on the receiving end of those conversations. And since my British accent is atrocious, I imagine people would walk away with all kinds of unanswerable questions.

Q: Would you rather perform a 3-hour improv set with no bathroom breaks or co-star in a reality dating show with an ex?

Isaac: Wow. The safe answer is a three-hour improv set, but I like a little chaos, so I’m going with the reality show. Honestly, I think Ryan Seacrest would come knocking after 30 minutes. Now, I’d love to tell you I was the charming, mature, rational human you know and love today, but I won’t lie to y’all like that. It would be must-see TV.

Q: Would you rather have your inner monologue narrated by Morgan Freeman or your childhood puppet from Sunday School?

Isaac: Morgan Freeman all day! He’s the consensus voice of God! 

Q: Would you rather get stuck in an escape room with your entire extended family or do improv with an audience of stone-faced tax auditors?

Isaac: I’m taking the tax auditors, no question. I love challenges, and tax auditors are people too… at least for now. I trust my professional abilities, so winning over a tough crowd is fun for me. We see it all the time, some guy dragged to a show by his date, arms crossed, thinking the theater's lame. From the moment the lights go up, I’m working to break that facade. Stone-faced, no-face, cold case—Isaac in 4.

Q: Would you rather have to perform every improv scene while riding a unicycle, or while being followed around by a child who repeats everything you say—dramatically?

Isaac: Easiest question so far! I have three little humans at home, so drama is already the natural order of things. One of them recently discovered she’s funnier than me, and she’s started weaponizing that power daily. So honestly, being followed around by a child who repeats everything I say with exaggerated inflections and isn’t funnier than me? That sounds like a vacation.

Quick-Take: Improv & Life According to Isaac Kirk

Q: What’s one improv rule everyone should apply to real life?

Isaac: look people in the eye when speaking to them. This ensures a stronger retention of information and allows for organic empathy to flow.

Q: How can improv help in awkward conversations?

Isaac: One of the most accessible tools improv gives us is the idea of reframing. That means responding with bold “I” statements instead of defaulting to polite small talk or follow-up questions after an awkward moment. 

Q: How has improv made you a better human?

Isaac: Improv has given me the tools to be deeply honest and truly present. That’s something I’ve often struggled with. But on stage, you don’t have the luxury of distraction. When the lights go up, all that matters is where you are and who’s across the stage from you. I’ve learned to carry that same presence into my everyday life. I’ve mindfully extracted the simplicity of just being here, now and apply it to my day-to-day offstage. That practice has helped me reduce a lot of the anxiety that used to cloud my thinking. It’s made me more connected.

Q: What would you say to someone who thinks improv is only for funny people?

Isaac: I’d offer a different perspective. In my view, being funny in improv is actually the byproduct of being honest. We live in a world where we’re trained to keep things polite and surface-level, but improv demands that we dig deeper. It’s about revealing the truth of a moment, and when that truth is discovered, especially under pressure, it often surprises us. That surprise is where the laughter comes in. Improv isn’t just for “the funny friend”, it’s for anyone willing to explore emotional honesty in real time. That’s why I believe everyone has the capacity to do Improv, it’s not about trying to be funny, it’s about being honest.

Q: Any improv warmup that doubles as good life advice?

Isaac: The “Do, Feel, Say” exercise is a simple but powerful practice. It invites you to fully engage with life by taking risks, jumping into the unknown, and making mistakes. After you do something, you pause to reflect on how it made you feel, going as deep as possible into that emotional experience. Then, you say something about it, and express it in words. For me, that expression often happens through journaling. It’s how I make sense of my experiences. This practice helps me live life at a higher RPM, fully engaged and in motion, instead of sitting on the sidelines.

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