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 2020, my friends. And my curriculum needed to get with the times. Goodbye, Dukes Of Hazzard. Goodbye, s/he, his/her, him/her, etc. 2020 brings new exercises, new insights, and new clarifications for teaching. Links have been updated on the Class Materials page, but they're also here. Enjoy!
"Who do you tag out?" I've asked improvisers. "Keep the Crazy," some reply. Have more fun with a fun character. It's a fine thought. "Change the catalyst," I say. The audience loves watching improvisers affected by imagined reality. When we heighten the reality we force the affected character into a heightened reaction. So when choosing […]
Sunday November 10th filled me with pride. My 301 Patterns & Games class performed their showcase. And it was great. Their energy was high. Their support, unwavering. And their commitment to building collaborative patterns using the rubrics' guidance led to hilarious moments. Those rubrics? The One Person Scene. To The Ether games. Help Desk games. […]
GUS, the delightful and talented team from The Baltimore Improv Group, opens its sets these days by asking the audience for "Three non-geographic locations." Asked to come up and lead a practice, I brought this exercise with me. We had a lot of fun with it. You will, too. Have you ever been in The […]
Make a choice the moment you enter stage. Choose to feel. Feel something about something - an imagined object, mimed activity, and/or your scene partner. Allow both you and your scene partner to be dynamic. Here's the final scene from a class building out that progression and its value: [videopress L5WDXzrA] And here's the class' outline […]
When asked for a desired focus for a scheduled coaching session, a Duo sent me the following: Mainly character stuff, fleshing them out versus building out more plot. Getting better at finding and sticking to the game of the scene. What follows is some didactic and exercises that filled two hours. DIDACTIC: How do You […]
I started my Twitter account to drive folks to my site. David Pijor told me what I needed to do on Twitter was get "conversation going." So #ToTheEtherTuesday and #WordAssociationWednesday were born as conversation starters. And I like them as improv pattern practice. Obviously they rely on more on text than emotion and are near-devoid […]
I love Pattern Play. I love the way an ensemble, focused-outward on making each new move in the service of what they individually have seen come before, can make a group look like it has ESP. I love "the moment." I love the way an authentic reaction to a moment -that in no way could […]
My latest Patterns & Games class embraced To The Ether style group games like no other class I've had. They had three To The Ether games in their showcase! It brings a tear to this guy's eye. I'm sharing 4 of them that I (obviously) recorded. They each showcase a nice lesson. The 1 2 […]