TIPS AND TRICKS EMOTIONAL BODYPARTS Emotional Bodyparts Characters can drive stories. Sometimes the characters become the stories and carry the performer into places they hadn’t expected. When the mind follows the body, there’s always an interesting destination. Instant creation of engaging characters is here at the tips of your explosive 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
RED or BLUE or Decisions and Details The Game Lately I’ve noticed MANY improvisers getting stuck at the point when decisions should happen. AND those who can make decisions rarely know what to do with their choice. SO… I’m taking an old game (well a year-old game called LEFT OR Read more
LET’S BEGIN Starting Points Most people get stuck starting scenes in the same way, over and over. Here are some alternate ways to begin… Reach out Your hands know where they are before your brain sorts it out Take a Walk Let your legs lead you to the place you Read more
TIPS AND TRICKS START -in the middle START – in the middle “…and that’s how I defeated the dragon and fell in love with your mother. Goodnight Jonah.” Starting a scene with the middle or end of a conversation can be a fun gift for your partner. It’s not typical 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
PREDICT IT! PREDICTIVE RESPONSES There’s nothing magical about expertly knowing the outcome of actions on stage… but it sure looks like it from the audience point of view. Let me explain: Paul is chopping food in the Kitchen. Anna walks in and says what most improvisers say, “Oh, you are Read more
TIPS AND TRICKS NO FEAR! NO FEAR FEAR is the main issue for Improvisers to overcome. Fear of being accepted, Fear of being noticed, not noticed, doing well, following the rules, being good enough… etc etc etc. EVERYONE has fear on some level. The question is how to deal with Read more
TIPS AND TRICKS – OPEN BOOK – WARNING!!!! ACTHUNG!!!! ADVARSEL!!!!! CAUTION!!!!! ATENCIÓN USE QUICK TIPS WITH CARE!Easy Tricks are no replacement for good technique and risk taking. Use these little tricks ONLY WHEN THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY, MIND-BENDINGLY NECESSARY. Whatever… You won’t listen t me anyway. BUT DON’T COME CRYING TO Read more
Walkin’ Talkin’ Directors often tell actors not to walk as they speak. “Plant your feet, then talk. It gives your words more weight. It makes you stronger,” they say. So, when I heard the premise of the following exercise, I, unfortunately, let this implied rule lingering at the back of Read more