From Robotics to Riffs: Tom’s Improv Journey

Minor adjustments improv group celebrating their risecomedy win

Minor Adjustments Wins RISE Comedy’s Improv Cagematch

Minor Adjustments entered the improv cagematch at RISE Comedy expecting to lose to a well-established team and instead, they walked away victorious. Their winning formula? A fresh take on musical improv, a diverse set of skills, and a carefully structured show. Inspired by This Is Your Musical, they flipped the format, crafting a performance around an alternate-reality version of an audience member’s life!

So how did this group come together?

Tom Williams high fiving a robot

Meet Tom: Researcher Turned Improviser

Tom Williams, a Human-Robot Interaction researcher from Denver, Colorado, spends his days leading a team focused on the ethical design of social robots. Outside of work, he splits his time between two passions: tabletop roleplaying games and, more recently, improv.

His improv journey began in 2023 while on sabbatical in Bristol, where he was writing a book on robotics and social justice. A chance encounter with This Is Your Musical at the Bristol Improv Theatre (BIT) left a lasting impression. He and his partner, both musical theatre fans, still quote the show’s medieval-inspired lyrics a year and a half later: “The people of the medieval period had many things to fear! The lords, the ladies, the forest, the people of the north…”

That first show sparked something and soon, Tom became a regular at BIT, attending The Bish Bosh Bash, Beansville, Stories from the Sixth Floor, and Space Cats, among others.

Tom Williams pictured in front of Clifton suspension Bridge
Stephen Clements leading an improv class

Taking the Leap Into Improv

After a month of watching performances, Tom decided to try a drop-in class. Drawn to the sheer joy on stage, he saw improv as a skill that could enhance his tabletop roleplay – and even his robotics research. His first class, led by Cat Murphy, was so compelling that he kept coming back, primarily training with Steve Clements. By the time he left Bristol, he was hooked and determined to continue improv back home.

The Formation of Minor Adjustments

Back in Denver, Tom enrolled in a Musical Improv 101 class at RISE Comedy. What started as a casual interest quickly turned into a deep passion. Improv was no longer just a tool – it was an art form he wanted to master.

During the course, Tom met Jared Schroder and Cory Welch from the improv group Scribble. The three clicked and began rehearsing musical improv together. Their momentum grew when they met guitarist Eli Hawthorne, who joined as Music Director.

A return visit to BIT in the summer of 2024 reignited Tom’s connection to the global improv community, inspiring him to take the group to the next level. Soon after, they added veteran improviser Michael Wilcoxen and vocalist Mia Paris, officially becoming Minor Adjustments.

Minor Adjustments improv group performing to an audience

Minor Adjustments improv group posing for a selfie

What’s Next for Minor Adjustments?

After their cagematch win, the group has some BIG plans:

  • 25-minute shows in January and March
  • A performance at the Majestic Theatre in Oregon
  • An audition for a recurring slot at RISE Comedy

Advice for Aspiring Improvisers

“You can do it! If we went from ‘no’ to ‘show’ in a year, so can you! But most importantly, improv is about having fun with friends.”

  • Fun: The best scenes come from players noticing and amplifying each other’s enjoyment.
  • With: Even when characters clash, improvisers work together to build something shared.
  • Friends: The best improv happens with people you trust and enjoy being around.

“Take a drop-in class, have fun, and grab a drink afterward—you might just find your next improv family.”

Bringing it back to the BIT

We asked Tom, “If you could perform on the Bristol Improv Theatre stage in the future, what kind of show would you want to do?“

“My instinct, perhaps unsurprising, would be a resounding ‘Musical Improv!’

…but I am still just beginning my improv journey, and part of what I’m loving is just how much there is to explore. Across the three teams I play with, there’s a blend of musical improv, LA-style improv, Chicago-style improv, and narrative, and overall I’m excited to try all of these styles, broaden my skillset, and see what works best for me. 

And at the end of the day, it all comes back to the people. The BIT has a unique and lovely community of players, and in the end, the opportunity to play more with that community is more enticing than practising any one type of style.”

Our Taster sessions

Our Drop-in classes

Our Discovering Improv course

All courses & classes

Minor Adjustments (@minoradjustmentsimprov)

Rise Comedy (@risecomedy)

This Is Your Musical (@tiymusical)

Liza Ryder