Why I chose this topic: I’ve been afraid of improvisingActing classes for 7+ years Acting classes at professional theatreShowsHighschool, community theatre, Acting, directing, lights,Improv in everyday life Improving at the mall
It’s a huge part of our cultureSeen on TV (SNL)Seen in all art forms – theatre, art, dance, music, writing, Helps with socialization (interacting with people)Helps people make quick decisions
To get an idea of what improv is, we’ll look at the history of improv.Performers improvised based off of familiar situations that everyone could relate to (Improv Handbook)
Stanislavski believed that actors should be truthful and vulnerable instead of covering up who they really are.
Wrote famous acting trilogy: An Actor Prepares, Building a Character, and Creating a RoleFounded the Moscow Art Theatre in 1897Age 14: joined theatrical group organized by family and soon became central figureBegan producing and directing plays
Viola Spolin – GRANDMOTHER OF IMPROV Influenced first generation of improv at The Compass Players Evolution of the current “rules” of comedic improv (1950s & 1960s) Led to the Second City Son Paul Sills and David Shepherd started Compass Players and Second City; success was the modern Chicago improvisational comedy movement Methods were developed by Jo Forsberg and used in the Player’s Workshop, the first official school of improv in the countryJoan Littlewood – USED IMPROV TO DEVELOP PLAYSProsecuted twice for allowing actors to improv in performance; British law required scripts to be approved by Lord Chamberlain’s Office. Inspectors were sent to performances to check that the approved script was compiled correctlyKeith Johnstone – BROUGHT IMPROV TO CANADA The Theatre Machine Originated in London Led to Theatresports; Johnstone moved to Toronto & brought improv with himDick Chudnow – FOUNDED COMEDYSPORTS, WHICH LED TO WORLD COMEDY LEAGUE Founded ComedySports in 1984 in Wisconsin Led to Comedy League of America National Tournament First was held in 1988 10 teams Now known as the World Comedy League w/ roster of 19 international cities
ViolaSpolin Theatre educator, director, and actress Created the “theatre games” system of actor training Introduced theatre games to children Used traditional game structures to influence social behavior in inner-city and immigrant children Games can be found in her book “Improvisation for the Theatre,” the actor’s Bible
A predominate function of the intuitive: INTUITION is an important tool used in improv, and improv is a big part of intuition.Process as opposed to result: the goal of the improv game is to solve a problem, and the game is over as soon as that goal is reached. This is because improv is the changes, the spontaneity, the involvement in the MOMENT, rather than what happens after the goal is reached.
Seven Aspects of SpontaneityGamesHelps students develop skills and grow in intuition and reflexThe players’ focus provokes spontaneity“In this spontaneity, personal freedom is released, and the total person, physically, intellectually, and intuitively, is awakened.” (Spolin pg. 6)Approval/DisapprovalWrong We are so used to judging things critically and putting “good” or “bad” labels on them (a GOOD baby does not cry too much, etc.)Group ExpressionIt’s a group effort, and there are no leadersAudienceThe audience is usually ignored, but in improv, the audience is a big part of theatreTheir response is criticalAudience involvementTheatre techniquesThe techniques of the theatre are the techniques of communicatingSuch as Stanisavski’s techniques, etc.From straight theatreMuscle memoryCarrying the learning process into daily lifeObserving things outside of the classroom to develop a sharp eyePhysicalizationActing is about using your body to express something
Del Close – improvisational comedy teacher/director/actor/author Began career with the Compass Players Directed/taught at Second City Trained many SNL cast members Founded ImprovOlympic (improv school) along with CharnaHalpern Invented Longform (& the Harold) Acted in movies Ferris Bueller’s Day Off American Graffiti Etc… Acted on stage Diverse roles Hamlet (won Jeff Award) at Wisdom Bridge Theatre A few of the many plays he was in: You Can’t Take It With You, Pal Joey, All’s Well That Ends Well Author Co-wrote textbook Truth In Comedy with Halpern and Johnson Spoken-word comedy album How To Speak Hip Co-wrote Wasteland for DC Comics
The re-birth of improvisation: Chicago (Spolin’s hometown!)Students formed group just for fun; didn’t expect it to become a huge thingThey named their groupThe world wouldn’t have the Second City if the Compass players wasn’t formed
Opened in 1959 in Chicago, quickly becomes hot spot for locals and must-see for touristsSecond City TV won Emmy, went on to become one of the most respected and beloved sketch comedy series of all time
Formal creation of Training Center was what made classes popularImportance in American society: after 9/11, headlines said that it was the death of comedy, yet The Second City knew that America needed laughter in those times. The Second City helped again for Haiti, establishing Comedy Week for HaitiMany famous stars are alumni of The Second City
The objective of the game is to solve the problem that is created.Without a problem, there is no goal. Without a goal, there is no point in playing the game.
Beginner students tend to half-heartedly participate because they don’t want to look like idiots, but really it only makes them look like dorks. The student must fully commit in order to become an awesome improviser.
Wit and speedShort, unrelated scenes driven by an audience suggestion with a predetermined game, structure, or idea
Longform: invented by Del Close (see Del Close slide)Full-length shows Improvised scenes are connected Audience suggestions which drive the narrative of the performance Scenes may be largely unrelated with the exception of a single point of inspiration Seen in Second City, when they have a long series of improvised performancesPantoSummerstage program last summer Developed scenes based on improving scenesThe Harold – constructed improvisational performance; structured improv
Trust is an important part of improvisationIn order to incorporate trust into one’s improv career, players must: 1. Trust that their partner will help them a. Never deny the reality set up by partner 2. Train themselves to trust their first response to a suggestion by the audience or an idea by their colleaguesQuote: trust yourself. Also, improviser must set up a bond of trust with colleagues.
Why learn it? It reinforces our core belief that improv can and should be about stories, rich characters and believable interactions After the formal, technical exercise, it’s nice for the students to get their feet wet by jumping up and doing improv scenesHigh status Gesture infrequently but purposefully Make middle of body bigger and taller Enter someone else’s personal space Speak in short sentences Hold eye contactLow status Touch face nervously Long rambling sentences Middle of body smaller Try to keep distance from other people Giggle nervously
Taking a chance (risk) is one of the most important elements of improv workRisk isn’t as obvious to the audience because the improviser is being guided by their trainingImprovisers turn these everyday skills into an art form
Humans like to share memories with people; before we could talk, we played toys with each other Humans like to gossipAs the actor tells a story on stage, audience members immediately start inventing stories based on their own perspective which they are developing as the play goes onWho is she?Where is she?What is she waiting for?
Improv companies can mime props, sets, etc. Audience accepts that, because improv is about using your imagination, therefore it is BELIEVABLE
If they know something’s wrong, it only makes it worse to acknowledge it. Instead, speak generally to students as if they’re acting in the opposite mannerDon’t be negativeIt’s important to recognize when students step outside of their comfort-zone, but don’t acknowledge that you know it was uncomfortable for them Know what you’re doing. Try out games beforehand so that you know they’ll work for class.It only makes you look weak
6. Don’t rush the students during exercises, warm-ups, and games. Give them time to apply what they’ve learned7. Don’t be afraid to change exercises to fit the needs of your group8. Students should feel comfortable in the place they’re learning. Don’t let anything in the environment hinder one’s growth9. If students become restless, solve the problem immediately and go through a simple warm-up10. Do not teach. Expose students to the theatrical environment through playing, and they will find their own way11. Warm-ups should be before, during, and after sessions12. Be flexible. If things don’t go according to the lesson plan, that’s okay.
Too many volunteers is the best kind of problem a teacher can haveDon’t just tell the instructor what you think they want to hearIf you don’t commit, you’re not going to get anything out of itBy planning ahead to avoid mistakes, you’re defeating the purpose of improvEverything is muscle memoryWork with as many people as you can
Interpreter’s Theatre (article)A technique used to help students become involved with characters in literature.Leslie Irene Coger and Melvin R. Whitesaid that the purpose of interpreters theatre is to “illuminate literature through creative oral reading that calls forth mental images of characters performing an action that exists primarily in the readers’ and audience’s minds”Pamela Smith said that “if simply watching a performance enriched students’ experience with literature, I wondered how students who actually performed the script benefited.”The “we’re in this together” vibe helped the interaction between students to be positiveAllows students to move into higher levels of thinking
The autobiography Actor writes the autobiography about his/her character, in order to understand the person they are portraying The actor must include events outside of the script as well as ones already in the script. Example: if the actor was writing an autobiography about Oedipus, they would include Oedipus’ interaction with the messenger as seen in the script, and his interaction with the drunken man, although not seen in script. Develops depth and forces history. Forces actor to look at the background of the character. Forces students to look deeper than Cliff Notes. The autobiography requires material that isn’t found on Sparknotes or Cliffnotes.The letter Actor sits on stage/playing space, as their character, and writes letter to anoher character in the style of their character. Puts actor into context and makes use of the knowledge garnered from the autobiography.The improv Actors act out scene not seen in the script. (Example: teen subscription classes at People’s Light)
One can’t have a strategy until they’re aware of their environment. From strategy, one can obtain other aspects of the practice of management.
Interpreting the environmentPrinciple of improv: the environment will teach you if you let it, rather than trying to control it. Principle of improv: you can free-up intuition by carrying out contradictory actionsImprov exercise to develop intuitive thinking: Nonsense Naming – individuals quickly walk around room and give wrong names to object pointed at. The exercise shows that it is difficult to break out of familiar patterns of seeing things.Crafting strategyintended: strategy: analytical, planned, controlled, future-oriented, top-down, episodic. Emergent: intuitive, action-oriented, spontaneous, in-the-moment, bottom-up, ongoingKey challenge of improv: recognizing when story is losing effect and redirecting itCultivating leadershipKey characteristic of improv: individuals take different leads and different times“Freeze-n-Go”Fostering teamworkAccepting the offer and then building on it.Jokes are not made at the extent of other peopleIndividuals do not impose themselves on the scene in a controlling wayIndividuals don’t just survive; they work actively to build the sceneIndividuals do not put one another out on a limbHaving common goal is critical for improv workDeveloping individual skillsConcentrate on the moment rather than what could happen or what already happened“Make a Story” exercise (one word at a time)
Interpreting the environmentOrganization members sometimes aren’t able to break out of familiar patterns of interpreting customer needsCrafting strategyStoryline in improv is equivalent to the strategy in organizationsBuild on what others have offered and offer something in returnCultivating leadershipBeing able to take on different leadership roles at different times is heavily dependent upon the ability of the group to work as a teamFostering teamworkDeveloping individual skillsNeed to be committed and engaged in order to be convincingAssessing organizational cultureBusiness of Second is to make people laugh, while business of organizations, a by-product of learning how to improvise is that people laugh
Script/strategy = the PLAN for the theatre/company; the mission statementProducer director/CEO = the leader; the person in chargeSets props/assets = concepts/objects used to enhance the theatre/companyRelationships = interactionAudience/Customer input = the reason why the theatre/company is there
Join improv troupe – performs at festivals and competitions, as well as improv clubsComedy stand-up – very popular, TV, will usually always find an outlet to performTeach workshops – Professional theatres hold workshops. Many improvisers make good improv teachers; they pass down what they’ve learned.All you need is space and willing studentsCorporate entertainment – performing for a group of business people outside of their normal environment
My application was: Teach two improv workshops based on my research. I hoped to learn how to be a good improv teacher and improv student. Film workshops
Research Extensive Read many books, articles, websites Asked questions (interviews, emailing websites) Took classes
Planning Made lesson plans for each workshop Included extra games and warm-ups just in case Workshop 1 Goals 1. Commit. Free yourself. There’s no right or wrong in improv 2. Don’t act, React Definitions “Improvisation” Warm-ups “Who Started the Motion?” “Play Ball!” Concepts Anyone can improvise Seven aspects of spontaneity Games “Mirror” “Tug of War” “How Old Am I?” “Part of a Whole Relationship” Observations Workshop 2 Goals 1. To identify a problem and solve it 2. To create common environments Definitions “Improvisation” review Warm-Ups “Stop At the Same Time” “Environment Game” Concepts Games SHOWING, not TELLING Teamwork Environment How do we know where we are? Games “Gibberish” “The Room Game” “Emotional Hero” “Yes, And” “Nope!” Observations
Chose two experienced seniors and an inexperienced junior and freshman“How Old Am I?” game – students made brave choices and committed themselves to the exercise
“Gibberish” game – adapted well and grasped communication through showing
What did I learn from my students? Everyone had a general understanding of what improv was, but they didn’t expect it to all be games Class reached goal of commitment by the end of class Worked well as a team Anyone really CAN improvWhat did I learn about being a teacher? You don’t always have to stick to the lesson plan When teaching your peers, you must establish your position as the authoritative figure right away Use experienced students to your advantage (use them in examples) Don’t spend too long on one game. When your praise their hard work, they develop more positive attitudes If you’re not clear enough on explaining how to play a game, they’ll never fully understand what you want them to doWhat did I learn from doing my project? I learned to not be afraid of improvising anymore I learned to respect it as an individual art form apart from actingWhat surprised me? How it really is all fun and games, get intelligent fun and games EVERYONE can do it There’s a whole world of improv that I didn’t know about; I didn’t expect it to be such a big thing There are a lot of improv teachersWhat will I do in the future? Look into taking improv classes in Philly Going to Temple University for Theatre Become ACTIVE in improv
Game develops teamwork and gets player’s minds warmed up and active.