TALK TO THE HAND “Raise your hand and give that character a voice. The “two” of you are going to have a little fun.” I was directing an improvised show many years ago and there was only one person who hadn’t been on stage. I called her up and saw Read more…
TREAT THEM LIKE CATS THE UNTEACHABLE STUDENTAs a teacher, I’ve always been interested in the “UNTEACHABLE” student. In schools where the staff say a child is impossible, or a boss in a corporate workshop says the employee is difficult, I want to meet those students. Cats are considered by many Read more…
KEITH’S COMIC PANELS A practice with endings Keith Johnstone has a great little exercise for practising the art of ending scenes. He would hand out stacks of “comic panels” in workshops. Each panel contained 3 or 4 drawings, creating tiny completed stories from Charles Schultz’s, Peanuts or Berkeley Breathed’s, Bloom Read more…
END AGAIN An Exercise to Practice Possibilities Ending your story CAN be easy. The first thing you have to do is stop trying to make it great. Pressure to make a great ending will stop you from seeing obvious endings. It will make you hesitant so that even if you Read more…
Treat them like GORILLAS! One exceptional difference between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom is how much we hide and mask of ourselves compared to these other earthlings. By 9 months, we have already learned to ‘present’ our emotions in a way to manipulate others. By Adulthood, we’ve Read more…
SOUNDS GOOD TO ME! The magic of an improvised show is enhanced by a sound improviser who creates the musical ambience effortlessly and sound effects that appears like magic. With the help of a little program called SOUND SHOW created by improviser Laurent Herbin, you can approach that magical level Read more…
BEEP BEEP BEEP Why is it that some people seem to look into our souls while others feel like they are on another planet even though their eyes appear to be looking at ours? The idea of presence is a foggy thing. We’ve all had the experience where we talk Read more…
IT’S ALL GIBBERISH TO ME “A different language is a different vision of life.” – Federico Fellini GIBBERISH – also known as Gromolo in parts of Europe, is hated by some, feared by others. It’s loved by those who do it well and it’s done poorly by many. GIBBERISH is Read more…
The Forgotten Gems of CHAPTER 6! One of the most referenced books in Improvisation is IMPRO FOR STORYTELLERS by Keith Johnstone. MOST people you talk with say, “I’ve never read the thing all the way through.” Keith intended it to be that way. He’s said that it was made to Read more…
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…