Remember this Simpsons bit with Krusty about hemorrhoids and riding bikes? That "I can ride a bike again!" idea jumps into my head a lot (more often than a person should really think about hemorrhoids...probably). I think about it in conjunction with that "It's just like riding a bike" expression used to refer to an […]
It's all about the Set move. Remember: Anything's an Offer. A group of improvisers gather pre-show. They take off excess clothes. They empty their pockets. They ask about each other's day. One guy tells a story about an out-of-the-blue run-in with an old friend that happened that day. Another improviser tells her own story about […]
Learn rigidly. Play loose. The Johnsons are the most dyed-in-the-wool Improv As Improv Does Best group there is. Makes sense. I coach them. They were taught the contents of this website. They learned the mechanics of spontaneous collaboration. But the desire has never been for them to conform to one style of improv as dictated by […]
I adore this scene. In just over a minute 10 players flood the scene. They evolve by following and reacting. Even though a central player emerges, there is no leader. Listen to the audience's reaction. Yes, it comes at a great place in the pacing of a pattern-heavy show. Yes, the final line is a […]
The Johnsons' suggestion was "Cat Food." Thus, Cat Videos. The whole show is worth watching and is included at the bottom of this post. But first: Mr. Mittens. [wpvideo NdNpnKCD]
I get excited every time Alan Volmer and Jonathan Nelson start a scene together. They're able to create rich character with rich worlds expressed through rich reactions on a dime. This scene begins beautifully, with Alan establishing some physical business and Jonathan establishing a Personal Game for himself. When Alan references his prediliction for spider […]
Boldly choose. Boldly commit. Accept everything your scene partner says and does. Accepting doesn't mean you have to like it, but you have to allow it to happen - and to repeat. Commit. Push forward. And you'll find yourself on the other end. Stopping forward momentum to discuss, argue or otherwise conflict will kill you […]
I (and the audience) loved this show from The Johnsons. It's a terrific showcase for their ability to find and build scenes together as an ensemble. [wpvideo rK6IDTZk] The Johnsons are: Scott Beckett, Shawn Hambright, Townsend Hart, John Hilowitz, Jonathan Nelson, Lauren Serpa and Alan Vollmer
"Do we have to stick the sequence in Hey Everybody games?" students ask. No. Of course not. Play organically. Follow the game where it goes. Don't ever feel constrained by the pattern. But. There's power in the pattern. Watch the following Hey Everybody game from a Johnsons' show. It ain't pretty, but it's illustrative. Watch […]
A solid show from The Johnsons. They do a To The Ether Opening followed by 4 first beat scenes (though the 4th tends to have a group game quality about it) and then a run of scenes leveraging old material and focused on patterns and games. [wpvideo 5csEl2f5]