READING & WATCHING RECOMMENDATIONS for Improvisers (NOT Specifically about Improvisation) Improvisers can work on their skills from many sources. Here are some book, movie, and television recommendations from improvisers to help you improve your skills. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND I WILL INCLUDE THEM HERE Enjoy
IMPROVISATION READING RECOMMENDATIONS send your recommendations, (books, documentaries, manuals and more) There are SO MANY books about Improvisation. Here is a list of books recommended by the improvisation community and why they like them. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND I WILL INCLUDE THEM HERE Enjoy
THE AGEING IMPROVISER “Aging is not ‘lost youth’ but a new stage of opportunity and strength. – Betty Friedan Expiry Date – all things end This age of improvisation has existed for a relatively short time. Spolin and Johnstone let the beast loose in classrooms and on stage starting around Read more
Audience Interaction Games Respect, Engage, Incorporate The Audience – Your other partner The audience has come to watch the show. Some of them might be willing to join you on stage if you are brave enough and have tools to make it an enjoyable experience for everyone. If you avoid Read more
HOOP GAMES Dancing Poodles A “HOOP GAME” refers to a game improvisers play where the main purpose is to prove how clever the improvisers are. The name, ‘HOOP GAME” comes from the idea of dancing poodles in their tutus jumping through hoops in a circus, cleverly entertaining the audience with Read more
TIPS AND TRICKS UNFROZEN UNFROZEN! Deborah from Vancouver sent me a note after our workshop. She asked: Where to find ideas to help the story. All of a sudden I’m up there and I forget what I do in the kitchen or in the car or at school! Help and Read more
INSTANTLY, A BETTER IMPROVISER Simple tactics to improve your performance SIMPLE STUFF Improvisers constantly forget the reality of stage craft. Caught up in our world of make-believe, it’s easy to ignore audience sight lines. (If you can’t see them, they probably can’t see you) We whisper intimately but forget that Read more
Timing is… every…th..ing tick tock… tick tock… tick tock “It’s always about timing. If it’s too soon, no one understands. If it’s too late, everyone’s forgotten.” Anna Wintour “The right thing at the wrong tme is the wrong thing.” Joshua Harris TIMING TO CONSIDER Let’s look at timing in a Read more
Narrative Avalanche: Surprising Beginnings SURPRISE BEGINNINGS “WHY DID YOU CREATE ME?” That was my first line on stage to my partner at the show on Saturday at the Loose Moose Theatre. My partner’s eyes popped open. He wasn’t “expecting” that offer. Isn’t that how improvisation should be? A little surprising? Read more
HITCHCOCK SUSPENSE! . Alfred Hitchcock points out that if a bomb unexpectantly explodes after five minutes of boring conversation, we have a shocking SURPRISE after the boredom. If the characters know that a bomb exploded at a nearby cafe yesterday and there MIGHT be another bomb in the city, then Read more