Treat Them Like… How is a STUDENT like a MONKEY?How is a BUSINESSMAN like a DANCER? How can the inspiration to teach an IMPROVISER come from DOLPHINS? If you can imagine the answers to these questions, you will be a better teacher. TREAT THEM LIKE… is a new section in Read more…
Famous Folk Talk Improvisation Some of your favourite performers got their start with Improvisation. Here’s what some of them have to say. (Thanks to Susan for some of these Links) Amy Poehler – “Improvisation is truly dangerous” Her thoughts about Improvisation is like the millitary. Check it out here – Read more…
SET IT UP! How do you teach a game in class, or set up a show or scene in front of an audience successfully? Are you connecting or confusing your audience? An effective beginning to the show or exercise can make all the difference. Here are some tips and tricks Read more…
CHRISTMAS BALLS! Here’s a character exercise for moving like an old person. I’ve heard this nugget of character development repeated countless times from Dennis Cahill of the Loose Moose theatre. He learned it from Keith Johnstone and it’s easy to understand why it sticks in the memory. Many people play Read more…
Kaivalya Plays – India Improvises! The positive side of the Covid epidemic has been the connections it has made between performers and teachers in the improvisation community. During an online discussion arranged by the Nursery Theatre in the U.K., I was introduced to an Improviser from India. For those of you Read more…
EVERYTHING IN ONE MOMENT “The Dragon flew with fierce intent towards the castle on Mount Lyre” You read that line and you’re pretty certain of what kind of story you are getting into. You have a fairly clear image in your head. You see the clouds in the sky. You Read more…
ARE YOU CREATIVE? A DUMB QUESTION asked too often! one red You were born “creative”. Then you were taught not to be. We should be asking “are you still aware of your creativity?” The number of people who avoid writing, drawing, improvising, and creating because they were told at some Read more…
SCIENCE and EDUCATION under threat Improvisation’s part in the War being waged Dr. Kate Lapane, PhD In February 2020, Dr. Lapane attended one of my classes while I was visiting Rhode Island, USA. The course was ‘Teaching teachers to teach with Improvisation.’ I have little doubt that Dr. Lapane probably didn’t need Read more…
IMPROVISE WHAT YOU EAT U R What U EAT It may surprise you that the food you ingest an hour before the show can make you calmer, quicker, crazier or smarter. Eating specific food alters attitudes. If you know what mood you need to adjust, just eat your way to Read more…
SCORED!!!! In the world of “competitive improvisation” there’s a simple need for scoreboards. “BORING!!“ …you might say. And you would be right. But come on! There are a lot of tedious details in the work we do on stage to make a show happen. It isn’t all show biz and Read more…