Improvisation Notes

These are random notes from random notebooks I've collected in various classes and workshops over the years.

• A beginning improviser is adding tools to the toolbelt - skills that can be used in every scene - or just some scenes. An experienced improvisor looks to "sharpen" these tools. These tools are:
  • Listening
  • Remembering
  • Reincorporation
  • Acceptance (Yes, And!)
  • Accents
  • Pantomime
  • Characters
  • Mirror and Heighten
  • Timing
  • Understanding the Games
  • Point of View
  • Genre
  • Character Motivation "I'm going to _____ if it's the last thing I do!"
• Make a STRONG CHOICE and stick with it - ESPECIALLY if you're endowed as Grandma.
• "If you're not having fun, you're a fucking asshole." (sorry about the language, but that's the true sentiment.)
• When you fail, step up, hold your arms over your head and say proudly: "I HAVE FAILED" then everyone applauds.
• Failure is all about experiencing the unexpected - and that is what improv is all about.
• It's all made up. We can be anyone, anywhere, doing anything. Live a fantasy!
• Before entering a scene, make sure you know What Is True (that's the YES) and ask What Else Is True (that's the AND)
• Pick a strong character affectation - it's easier than an accent. Also, more fun.
• If you don't know what to say, it's because you have not been paying attention.
• If you do not know what to do, then do what the other person's doing until you each figure it out.
• It's okay to be a Theatre Person.
• REACT and THEN speak. Every time your partner speaks, ask "And how does that make me feel?" If it's not affecting you, pick a reason for it to affect you. If you don't feel anything, then repeat what they said in your head and really feel what they are trying to say. If they are truly not giving you anything, pick a strong emotion and react anyway. Go for truth first.
• There are only 4 emotions: Mad, Glad, Sad, & Afraid. Pick an emotion at the top of the scene and decide to react to whatever your scene partner says with this emotion. Your brain will justify the reaction. It's weird.
• Pull a negative scene towards a positive emotion.
• Make eye contact frequently. Maintaining eye contact raises the stakes of a scene.
• Do ten mother/daughter scenes - each one different - and find the range of these characters.
• If someone keeps asking questions, react to the question-asking - DO NOT ANSWER THE QUESTIONS!
• When a scene becomes about "The Thing" - DESTROY THE THING
• Don't add too much at once - no one will want to be in your scene with you.
• If the audience gets to the joke before you, you FAIL
• Being vague is not being generous.
• It's okay to be a mess.
• Heighten the Misteak! Mmmmm... steak!
• Name each other something inspirational. ("Oh, there you are, Captain Fritz!")
• Heighten the problem. ("Ow! My other kidney!")
• Give your partner the gift of not talking too much.