Audiences love Musical Improv. LOVE it. They know you're collaborating in-the-moment to build something out of nothing AND YOU'RE FOLLOWING A TUNE AND YOU'RE RHYMING!!! Musical Improv is hard. It's hard to make up with songs in-the-moment. It's harder still to make those songs a backbone to a compelling story, with rich character and emotion. It's […]
Jive Turkey is Chris Ulrich and Joe Randazzo. They've been working on a two-man format where all the worlds connect. There's certainly a through-line of a plot here - finding one character's spouse, trying to have a threesome with said spouses, etc. - but what I like here is that the worlds are more connected by […]
A "Blackout" is a short scene with one big punchline. In sketch, or in improv with a tuned-in booth operator, the lights would go out on stage after the punchline, designating the end of the scene and earning the name "blackout." Blackouts are fun. They can help vary the pacing of a long-form show. They […]
Seek symmetries. Empower asymmetries. Establish rules of cause and effect. Repeat. These steps help guide a group of improvisers in crafting a collaboratively-established game they can heighten together. "Simplify," is my directive to students learning how to build group games organically. If you have more than two or three perspectives each vying to be heard, […]
This is a fun show. Lots of support. Big group games. Many recurring patterns through the show. Invested characters. Accepted endowments. And some authentic Improv As Improv Does Best moments. Enjoy! [wpvideo VThQG06T] Horse Apples is Matt Newman, David Pijor, Matt Micou, Patrick Gantz and Joey Tran Thank you, District Indie Improv Festival for having […]
There's more than one way to build intensity over time. Both scenes work in an improv context. No doubt. But I prefer the second iteration. The second scene is more dynamic. Yes, both Bobs are altered by scene's end and both scenes progress, but in the second scene Bob's change is clearly delineated to establish […]
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 […]
Not a super fan of a scene? Don't sweep it under the rug - you may want to forget about it but the audience may not be able to. Better then to double down on it. Use the Help Desk dynamic to heighten the interaction and turn a "not great" initial scene into the base […]
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 […]