Yes, when approaching Tag-Outs it can be helpful for the sake of focused heightening to only tag-out one side of the scene - keeping one character consistent and heightening his/her Personal Game. And yes, when choosing between two players to tag-out it is often advantageous if you replace the catalyst and keep the character reacting […]
Check out this great heightening of a character with a series of Tag-outs. [wpvideo KtSpiLmj ] It's a simple game played the "right" way. The set-up is clear: Nicole establishes that they're at the Grand Canyon and Lauren hates it. She hates that there are no video games and that there are "donkey smells."
Building a game out of heightening the pattern of an interaction isn't just for improv. It's a creation tool. At least if you're looking to create something coherent. Both of these cartoons appeared in The Washington Post's Sunday Cartoon section on September 30th. Read Jef Mallett's Frazz and Tim Rickard's Brewster Rockit below - but […]
Repetition of an interaction establishes expectations for the audience. These expectations can be played to and against for fun effect. As a precursor to Help Desk Games, the short-form improv game Genres can help us practice pacing in repetition of an interaction, and help us flex our memory muscles. [videopress p2AZlu6o] [wpvideo bLwOT0Yc] [wpvideo oMGPUgED] […]
The rhythm with which a game’s mechanic is played helps pace the scene and build it toward an edit. The relationship between “When this happens” “this happens” is useful not only to focus improvisers’ choices but it also connects with the audience. In Short Form, where the mechanics of the “game” are told to the […]
Tonight pre-show The Coalition taught me three new warm-up games. I loved them. I don't know who came up with them but thank you whoever you are. Here's The Deal. Yes, And. I Know, Right?! I Need Three Things Chain. Hype People Here's the evolving list of Warm-up exercises.
Like the 5 Things warm-up? You'll love this one. Or so you will if you're like I was when exposed to this warm-up tonight by Matt Newman. Looking for a nice in-your-head out-of-your-head patterns-on-patterns warm-up?
This was my favorite Organic game from my Spring 2018 Patterns & Games Class. There's just so much to love. This one could never be rewritten as a sketch, and that's an asset to me here. [wpvideo AGWOBpmT] It was born collaboratively in-the-moment with an ending no one set out to see but felt too entirely perfect […]
A quick, fun Help Desk game utilizing the Split Screen. The escalating pattern is fun but the commitment to emotion helps the pattern hit. [wpvideo DX4bsnVV] Listen for the laugh Adrienne gets just by reacting without words. Note the key to the end is that Ben actually feels bad for his allergy to murder. The […]
Aaron Grant once took the stage across from me, making eye contact but planting his feet firmly just beyond the stage right wing. I mirrored him on stage left. He mimed the classic flirtatious fishing move. I played his fish but broke his line bashfully, the stage's distance remaining between us. I danced as someone […]